There's a new kind of parking garage at Boise State, geared toward bike riders. Although it only has 65 spots, they're covered spots with two different forms of security; and it's much cheaper to park your bike, than to park your car.
"I'm saving a lot of money, because I only bought a parking permit once, and it was ridiculously expensive," said BSU student, Lenna Villanueva. Campus parking permits can often be more expensive than your Sociology 101 textbook.
Students are figuring it out more and more, that riding your bike to class is the way to go. "Save some gas, not having to have another car, insurance, all that," said BSU student, Braden Storrs. (He's in our ward)
"I live about a mile from campus and it's faster for me to ride my bike to than it is to drive," said James Fraser, another BSU student.
"We definitely see more and more people taking shuttles, using our car share program, coming by bike, walking," said Casey Jones, director of Transportation and Parking Services at Boise State University.
A new campus bike barn, in the Brady parking garage off University will provide 65 spots for secure bike storage. While there are still many places on campus to lock up your bike for free, there's one thing those spaces don't offer that the bike barn does, and that's 24 hour security. "They want to know that their bike will be there when they come back after 8 hours of being on campus," Jones said.
Not only that, but the new barn will keep your bike out of the cold wet weather. "Environmental benefits, and financial benefits, health benefits, you know it's just something we should be accommodating," said Jones.
For only $15 a semester you get key card access to the gated area, and your own rack to doubly lock up. "With that will come four full days of free [car] parking for those times when the weather is just not cooperating," said Jones.
Although some students would rather save their money, and lock up their bikes for free... "It just makes more sense for me to park it and then move it with me, and then when I'm done I can just leave instead of having to walk over and pick up my bike again," Fraser said.
It might be a great new option for others. "For someone who may be here longer during the day, throughout the day, you know that could be something really worth while for them," said Storrs.
BSU says they enjoy seeing everyone ride to and from campus on a bike. During the Boise state game on Saturday they tested out a bike valet service that was a huge success. They are planning to have at least two bike valet lots for the next Bronco home game against Toledo.
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