This fall, a new spin will be added to an old mode of transportation on campus. Parking and Transportation has partnered with viaCycle, a startup in the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) spearheaded by Georgia Tech graduates, to bring bike sharing to campus. The company creates technology that enables more efficient bike sharing systems, and is looking for summer beta testers.“Bike sharing isn’t new, but at universities it’s always been manual before,” said Kyle Azevedo, CEO of viaCycle and a 2010 master’s graduate of the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. The idea is that all students, faculty and staff with a valid BuzzCard will be able to use bicycles that will be locked at bike racks around campus. The bikes are secured electronically and can be locked and unlocked through a simple phone call, text message or smartphone app, and will have GPS tracking so viaCycle can locate the bikes at all times. Users would pre-register with viaCycle to verify their Georgia Tech status and receive an account number used to check bikes in and out.
“We think the ideal model would be to have a prepaid balance that you deduct from as you go,” said Siddharth Doshi, viaCycle’s chief technology officer and also a 2010 master’s graduate from Tech’s mechanical engineering program, in regards to a payment structure. viaCycle will come to campus to recruit participants during its trial phase; early adopters will benefit from getting their first few months free.