Kent State launches new bike sharing program

KENT, Ohio - Flash Fleet is a new program at Kent State that lets students on or off campus grab a bike and ride to and from class.

The students can use the bikes from 8 a.m. till 9:30 p.m. ,seven days a week with a valid university ID.card. The plan is to relieve car traffic congestion, with student enrollment at 25,000.

"It's an alternative form of transportation, a great method of transportation, so we're looking at the sustainability side of things with hopes that we could increase the bike culture here at Kent State, where students and facility, staff members wouldn't have to rely on car transportation," Kim Rufra with Kent State said.

"For students like me, who don't have their own car and who don't have their own bike, it's a great program and it's free. You can go to numerous locations on campus," student Sam Chambers said.

The university has invested $30,000 to buy 50 hybrid bikes, and there has already been long lines to try out the bikes.

"If we could get a few of these people to get out of their cars, park them and use these bikes, it would be a lot more helpful," student Marie Supanich said.