The new Dero Decker remains fully u-lock compatible.
The new Dero Fat Bike Tray is compatible with the Dero Decker system.
Easier to set up, smoother to use and more affordable.Campus Bike Parking: An Introductory Course
A+ Bike Parking
First and foremost, quality bike parking on any campus means more than just something to lock to (that would barely qualify as a passing grade). Good bike racks and bicycle storage should be u-lock compatible, protect students’ bikes from the elements, and be numerous enough to meet demand. Everyone hates searching for a spot to park when you’re already late for class!
Bike shelters are a great example of quality bicycle storage that protects students’ bikes from bad weather. In the above photo, a student at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN checks out a bike from the campus bike share program. The Kolo Shelter is a perfect solution for fitting two-tiered systems, like the Dero Decker, to double up on bike parking capacity.
A bike room at Portland State University.It should be no surprise that bike rooms receive an “A” grade in our book. Fully enclosed, secure parking, like in Portland State University’s Bike Garage, includes both two-tier and floor-mounted parking options, which accommodates many different types of bikes. Many bike rooms are furnished with public bike repair amenities, such as the Fixit repair stand and Air Kit bike pumps.
Keep Students Rolling
The Dero Fixit public bike repair stand.Bike repair stands don’t only belong in bike rooms. They’re perfect for busy bike paths, in or outside student residence halls, and in central public spaces on campus. The Dero Fixit provides all the necessary tools so students can perform basic bike maintenance. Add either an Air Kit 2 or Air Kit 3, and students have the ability to repair flats or top off the air in their tires.
Public bicycle repair stands are also great educational opportunities. Many campuses teach fix-a-flat or tune-up classes at the stands, so students can learn how to use all of the tools available to them. Here are a few videos that colleges and universities made to highlight their campus bike repair:
University of Iowa, UT Arlington, Tufts University, Penn State, University of Oregon.Encourage Active Transportation
College campuses have high numbers of active people in a concentrated area. Dero ZAP is our automated commuter tracking program and is used to incentivize and gather data on students’ commutes at campuses across the country.
At the University of Minnesota, Dero ZAP has been used to track both faculty and students’ commutes since 2012. Steve Sanders, Alternative Transportation Manager at the U, says that “Since the program’s inception in 2012 we’ve seen increased bicycle mode share and a deepened cycling culture. We’ve also been extremely pleased by how many women are actively participating – over 40% of participants are women.”
For more information on Dero ZAP, watch our “How it works” video.
Cultivate Campus Identity
St. Olaf Collage chose to highlight their logo in this custom laser-cut Bike Bike Rack.As more colleges and universities invest more resources into their biking infrastructure, custom racks are a great way for schools to stand out and add a personalized touch to their bike parking. At Dero, we’ve had years of experience making custom projects a reality. All we need is your school’s logo or mascot.
Feel confident you’ve mastered Campus Bike Parking 101? Time to take your biking game to the next level: consider applying for Bicycle Friendly University (BFU) status through the League of American Bicyclists. Dero has been a Gold certified Bike Friendly Business for over 4 years (you can read our story here), and we hope you “ace” your BFU application!
Every Day is Bike to Work Day
How long have you been biking to work?
- Colin, web/graphic designer: About 7 or 8 years.
- Natalia, sales coordinator: 10 years!
- Ben, marketing specialist: 7 years.
- Ted, sales representative: About 12 years.
- Andy, general manager, VP: 10 years
- Bri, marketing director: 17 years…holy moly!
What got you started?
- Colin: Bike to Work Day, actually!
- Natalia: It was quicker than walking and cheaper than the bus. These days I just plain enjoy it. On the few days when I drive, the stress from the drive always makes me wonder why I hadn’t ridden.
- Ben: Didn’t want to own/buy a car. When I got one, realized I’m a lot less stressed when I ride vs. drive.
- Ted: Somewhat necessity, I didn’t have a car during my internship in college and realized that cycling was a great way to get around. After that I began moving away from the mountain bikes toward more commuter based ones that allowed me to carry items with greater ease and swiftness.
- Andy: Starting work at Dero got me into bikes and on a path to spending all my income on bikes. The staff at Dero back in 2007 was surprised when I drove on my first day, so they took me under their wing and helped me get a few bikes and the essentials to start riding. That experience completely changed my life for the better. I got healthier, stronger, happier, motivated, and had a competitive outlet again.
- Bri: It was the easy choice in college. Affordable, door-to-door parking, and fast.
Favorite part of biking to work?
- Colin: Much more relaxing than driving.
- Natalia: Seeing all of the critters, being present and surrounded by nature and seasons as they change.
- Ben: Pounding out Strava Segments™
- Ted: I love feeling awake and energized when I roll in the door and it’s great that “how was your bike commute?” is such a common discussion here. There’s a lot of camaraderie when it comes to battling rough weather or cruel headwinds.
- Andy: The chance that I’ll get to low-five an oncoming fellow rider and wave to everyone I see on a bike. It really starts my day out on a positive note.
- Bri: Biking along the Mississippi and crossing the river as well. I’m so lucky that my commute is mostly car-free and so scenic!
Least favorite?
- Colin: Mixing with traffic.
- Natalia: The wind.
- Ben: Not getting the KOM on Strava Segments™
- Ted: Rush hour traffic through downtown is always a bit nerve-wracking but I hate driving downtown in rush hour WAY more than biking through it. Traffic can be unpredictable and generally no one is in a great mood when they’re barely moving.
- Andy: Not of fan of mega headwinds coming out of the north.
- Bri: Marshal Ave NE, since I have to bike without a bike lane with traffic on my left and parked cars on my right.
What’s one thing you’ve learned that you would share with someone who’s never tried riding to work?
- Colin: It’s not so hard and you can cover several miles pretty quickly on a bike.
- Natalia: Wool is warmer! Being comfortable commuting is all about what gear you choose and often many cost-effective merino wool items can be found at secondhand stores in the sweaters section. One person’s “out of style” is my winter mid-layer!
- Ben: Tailwinds are great ways to help get that extra speed to take your favorite Strava Segment™ KOMs.
- Ted: A lot of people say they don’t have time to bike to work, but I find that my times aren’t significantly higher than by taking a car. Any distance can sound daunting before you try it and some days those miles absolutely fly by. A well fitting bike can completely change your perspective on cycling for transport. Many who remember the heavy clunky bikes of their youth haven’t taken the time to visit their local bike shop and go on some free test rides of the latest models where an informed bike shop employee can adjust a new sleek bike to fit you and your cycling needs.
- Andy: Just do it! You’ll be happier, more productive and enjoy coming to work. That busy rush hour auto traffic is such a negative experience in the morning, might as well do it by bike and feel great about yourself.
- Bri: It doesn’t have to be everyday, just try it once a week to see if it makes sense for you.
Anything else you want to share?
- Colin: Don’t worry about getting “all sweaty”. Mornings are pretty cool even in the summer and you don’t have to race in. Enjoy the ride.
- Natalia: This was my first year riding with a basket and it’s changed my life. I bungee my portable speaker into it and my lunch and I learn while I commute!
- Ted: Having a workplace that realistically encourages cycling as transport like Dero is a huge factor in my desire to work here. It’s really nice to have a workplace that, although hardworking and professional, appreciates that their employees can work hard in shorts, tennis shoes and helmet hair.
- Andy: RIDE YO BIKE…Always
- Bri: Bike commuting has improved my life exponentially. It’s my predominant physical activity and mood enhancer. It gets my blood moving and wakes me up for my workday and gives me time to decompress on my way home. It’s also fun!
Trailhead Design
Public bike repair is a necessity for any trail or bike path. Even the best prepared riders can’t anticipate when they’ll be stuck without the right tool, and the Dero Fixit stand has saved many a stranded cyclist. Each stand comes with an array of tools, including allen wrenches, philips and flat head screwdrivers, box wrenches, and tire levers. They are at home on any kind of trail or path–from a BMX park to a riverside esplanade. We love having several Fixits installed along the Midtown Greenway bike path in our hometown of Minneapolis!
What else might bicyclists need while out riding? Air! Over the years, we’ve designed two high quality, heavy-duty air pumps for repeated outdoor public use. Our Air Kit 2 model handily attaches to Fixit stands, and the Air Kit 3 (pictured above) has an integrated air pressure gauge, which is important for off-road riders who need to finely tune their tire pressures for certain terrains.
The Pump Stop is a useful accompaniment to our Air Kit bike pumps, which holds bikes upright while filling tires with air.
Designed specifically for trailheads and bike parks, the Saddle Buddy™ offers a temporary resting place for our two-wheeled companions. Though it is not designed to be a lockable bike rack, it’s perfect for stowing your while gearing up for the ride ahead or taking a break between runs.
Traditional bike parking is also a welcome addition to any trailhead or bike path. Above are the Dero Helix Racks featured next to the famed Elroy-Sparta Trail in central Wisconsin.
Want to make your trailhead stand out? Our custom designs can include logos, signs, and even fully custom bike rack shapes. Pictured above are custom laser-cut bike racks we designed for the town of Pequot Lakes, MN, which is located on the Paul Bunyan State Trail in northern Minnesota.
Finally, bike shelters can be included in your trailhead design to provide welcome protection from the elements. Whether covering way-finding signage, a public bike repair stand, bike parking, or picnic tables, shelters are an important trailhead design element that can serve all trail users. Notes From a Bike Parking Nerd: Public Bike Repair
Fixits
Public bike repair goes with quality bicycle parking like a smile while riding your favorite two-wheeled steed. Riders never know when they’ll need to make a minor adjustment, whether it’s tightening brakes, pumping up tires, or adjusting seatpost height. Bike repair amenities like our Fixit and Tool Kits are at home in nearly any setting–secured bike rooms, city parks and trails, covered bike shelters, college campuses, and private businesses. Both the Fixit and Tool Kits include all the necessary tools to perform basic repairs and maintenance, and they’re securely attached using aircraft grade stainless steel cables and tamper-resistant fasteners. Also check out our crowdsourced map with locations of nearly 900 public Fixit stations around the world.
Differences between Air Kit 2 & Air Kit 3
We offer two heavy-duty air pump models to accompany your public bike repair. The Air Kit 2 and Air Kit 3 were both designed from the ground up by Dero engineers, are constructed from quality steel tubing, and require minimal upkeep to maintain (more on this later in the post). The primary differences between the two models are: Air Kit 2:- -Both Fixit-mounted and freestanding options
- -Smaller footprint
- -No pressure gauge
Air Kit 3:
- -Freestanding mount only
- -Larger footprint
- -Includes waterproof, anti-fog pressure gauge
Pump maintenance 101
Our Air Kit pumps both feature lots of moving parts. And like the components on your bicycle, worn out or abused parts occasionally need to be replaced to keep them functioning optimally. The most common maintenance you will perform on your Air Kit is replacing the hose and/or pump head. Fortunately for you, we have detailed video and print instructions that walk you through this process for replacing the pump head and hose on an Air Kit 2. Additionally, nearly all of the replacement parts for our Air Kits (and Fixit stands) can be easily ordered on our website.
