Where is the OBP Shop?
Can I buy or trade parts, components, or frames?
How do I donate?
What are you looking for in a donation?
Why should I rent?
How do I get a rental bike?
How long is the wait?
What is the checkout protocol?
What are the rental expectations?
How long do I get to keep the bike?
What if I need the bike for more than one semester?
Something broke on the bike I got and I can’t ride it safely. Can I have another one?
What if the bike/a part is stolen?
What if I am in an accident?

Bike Shop

Where is the OBP shop?

The shop for the Orange Bike Project is also known as "The Cage".  It can be found on the bottom floor of the Guadalupe Parking Garage (GUG) at 16th & San Antonio St. in the southeast corner. See Map

Current OBP Shop Hours:

TBA. OBP will be closed for the winter break. Hours will be updated at the beginning of the spring semester.

Come get involved and volunteer to build a bike library for UT and to learn useful bike mechanic skills in the process. We have the space, tools, and knowledge to help you work on your own bike or to teach you basic bike maintenance and repairs on recycled bikes. Useful how-to videos can be found at Bicycle Tutor.

Can I buy or trade parts, components, or frames?

Unfortunately, no. We are not licensed to sell or provide parts under the University system. We can only accept donations (which are tax deductable). If you are in need of new or used parts on a budget, try YBP or the local monthly bike swap meet FrankenBike.

Donations:

How do I donate?

You can drop-off any bike or shop-related donations at the cage during normal hours above. If these hours do not work for you, please [email protected] email us so that we can arrange a different time. 

What are you looking for in a donation?

The library is for the college community so a large range of sizes and types of bikes is great, but kid bikes need not apply. We take bikes in any condition, but a bike that will need a complete build up is very time consuming and will most likely not get worked on for some time.

Bikes that can’t be fixed to become rideable will be striped for components, which are very useful in fixing other bikes and maintaining an operational fleet. We are working to partner with the CEC Recycling committee to recycle and dispose of all of our waste sustainably.

Donation Wish List

     BIKES!
     Storage Containers (All sizes for sorted parts)
     Label Maker
     Bike Lubes and Cleaners
     Bike Lights
     Saddles
     Usable Tires and Tubes
     Repair Stands
     Digital Camera
     Bike Shop Tools
     Miscellaneous Tools (screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, etc.)

Checking out a bike:

Why should I rent?

Maybe you don’t know what type of bike is for you or you don’t know how biking will fit into your lifestyle. Before investing money on a bike and accessories, you can test bike commuting out with us. We will help maintain the bike throughout the semester and perform maintenance at the end of the semesters.

At the end of your experience at UT the bike is passed down to the next generation of Longhorns to use, cutting down on bike abandonment and disuse. We hope to grow our service so we can accommodate short-term rentals for dorm students who wish to run errands or go on recreational rides off campus, but who don’t need a bike for getting to classes daily.

How do I get a rental bike?

The rental bikes are $20 dollars and includes an U-Lock for the entire semester. The rental fee can be paid by either cash or a check made out to the Campus Environmental Center with Orange Bike Project in the memo line. As OBP rentes bikes to new renters after the midsemester point OBP coordinators may reduce the fee to $10 for the remainder of the semester.
You must be a current UT student to rent a bike from OBP. We have a link for the waitlist here or you can find the waitlist form on our website. Enter all of the necessary information and then we will contact you via email when a bike is available.

How long is the wait?

As of right now we have about 60 rentable bikes. The average wait has been about one semester from the time you add yourself to the waitlist to the time we email you for a checkout. This fluctuates depending on the demand each semester and how many bikes we are able to add.

You can cut down on your wait time by volunteering in one of two ways: 1) volunteering 10 hours of time with OBP will bump you up to the top of the waitlist, OR 2) the second bike that you fix to good condition at The Cage is yours to use for the semester.

What is the checkout protocol?

At the shop we will work with you to get you a bike that fits you best. We will make all of the necessary adjustments and add various accessories if available. You will need to bring your UTEID, rental fee and sign our checkout liability form.

What are the rental expectations?

Under state law “a person operating a bicycle has the rights and duties applicable to a driver operating a vehicle.” You will be expected to follow the same rules of the road with the rental bike. Riding responsibly will ease tensions and foster a better environment between motorists and cyclists, as well as keep you safe and keep the OBP program in a good light.

Austin does not have a mandatory helmet law but it is recommended to use one while riding. OBP cannot check out helmets for sanitary reasons but the University Health Services offers low-cost helmets that can be purchased at their pharmacy located in the SSB. The Kickstand also sells helmets as well as other vital bike accessories, and provides an air pump to keep tires inflated properly.

The bike must be secured properly. We provide you with a U-lock for a reason. We work really hard to get these donated bikes working and safe for you to ride for free. We don’t want to lose the hours of work we put in, so we require you to always keep your rental bike properly secured when left unattended. This means that the U-lock must secure the frame and front wheel to a bike-rack.

Locking a bike to signposts, railings, or fences puts the bike at risk of being stolen or impounded, as it is against UT policy for bicycle parking. Locking around the frame or just through the wheel is improper. Use common sense when leaving your bike. Leaving it downtown overnight or leaning it against the rack while you run in to turn in a paper is unacceptable. If the bike is stolen while you were neglectful, you will be held liable for its loss.

Lastly, it is your responsibility to keep the bike in good working order. We are here to help you do this. Bring the bike back to the shop if it needs any tune-ups, maintenance, or repair. We don’t want you to stop riding it because it stops working. It is okay for you to take the bike to any local bike shop for work if you would like, but we cannot reimburse you for any out of pocket expense. If you have neglected to maintain your rental and have not adequately communicated with us on any issues you are having with your Orange bike you may be responsible for additional charges during check-ins at the end of the semester.

 

Having a rental bike:

How long do I get to keep the bike?

Once you get a bike you will be able to keep it until the end of the semester. Check-in emails will go out two weeks before the semester ends and the final due date will be the last day that the dorm halls are open. There will be a check-in schedule during which the shop will be open multiple hours for multiple days. Bring back the bike during any one of those times before the due date. Failing to do so will result in a final notification warning. Then a stolen bike report will be given to UTPD with your information.

What if I need the bike for more than one semester?

All bikes must be turned in at the end of each semester for check ups. We do allow renewals for the next semester. If you renew the rental, you will be able to pick up the same bike you had the previous semester or have first pick at any bikes fixed up since your last checkout, as long as the previous borrower is not renewing. A new checkout liability form will be filled out for each semester.

Something broke on the bike I got and I can’t ride it safely. Can I have another one?

When you rent our bikes we want you to be able to ride it as much as you can and to be safe. If there is any work that needs to be done on the bike, we suggest that you stop riding the bike immediately and bring it back to the shop during normal shop hours for a fix-up. If the problem will take more than one shop day to fix we will do a swap with a working bike if needed and available.

If the problem is urgent you can email the co-chairs directly to set up an individual meeting at the shop.

What if the bike/a part is stolen?

If a bike is stolen you must notify us as soon as it happens. We have all of our bikes registered with the PTS system, inventoried, and photographed. We can provide the authorities and the bike community at large with a description so that they can be on the look out for our bike. The sooner we file a police report the better the chances are for recovery.

Do not try to keep a lookout for the bike on your own with the hopes of finding it before the check-in date. If the bike is stolen while being properly secured you will have nothing to worry about, so please be forthcoming and honest.

If any part is stolen off the bike such as a seat/seat post or accessories, we will try to remedy the loss at the cage with a replacement if necessary. If we deem certain parts are particularly vulnerable we will provide you with additional security such as a seat cable, which you will be expected to use.

What if I am in an accident?

First, don’t panic. No one wants to be involved in an accident but unfortunately they do happen. If you are in an accident while riding a bike be sure to take the following steps:

• Make sure you and everyone involved is okay, and call for emergency medical services (9-1-1) if care is needed.
• Check to see if there is any property damage. If there is damage to the bike or to the other party’s property, call UTPD (on-campus accident) or APD (off-campus accident) and file an incident report. Give your statement to the police. Be sure to get the other party’s contact and insurance information before you leave the scene of the accident.
• Take photos of the scene of the accident and of any damage to the bike or the other party’s property. Even if you can only snap a few photos on your camera phone, they may be very useful in more serious cases.
• Contact us to let us know that you were involved in an accident with the bike. Give us a description of the event, the incident report number, and any other contact information. Bring the bike in for an inspection and to fix any damage.
• If you were not at fault we will work with you to fix the bike as soon as possible, or will give you a replacement bike if necessary and available. If you were irresponsible and found to be at fault for the accident, you will lose your rental privileges and may be expected to cover the cost of replacement parts