Two years after the launch in 2022, students are still riding SPIN electric bikes and scooters around Kent. With over 200,000 SPIN rides in two years, the system has been a continuous success.

Chris Lukas, assistant director of outdoor adventure, said Kent’s partnership with SPIN started with the goal of benefiting students’ physical and mental health.

“The idea was to provide a healthy alternative form of transportation for the community,” Lukas said. “Being outside and in the fresh air is good for mental and physical health, so that’s why it was initially implemented.”

David Kaplan, professor of the Department of Geography, helped develop the previous bike share systems before SPIN with the intent of offering sustainable transportation to the community.

“We worked on things like a bike share system, which evolved into what we’ve done now,” Kaplan said. “Scooters and bikes are a great way to reduce demand for cars.”

According to Lukas, there has been a huge increase in rides compared to the previous bike share company. There were 30,000 SPIN rides this fiscal year, while the previous company had about 20,000 rides per year.

Lukas said on average, riders spend about eight minutes per trip and go about one mile. 

“It’s an efficient mode of transportation for going to class or the library,” Lukas said. “A lot of people in Kent don’t have to have a car or use the bus to get on the outskirts of campus.”

Lukas highlighted the positive impact of SPIN’s efforts to engage with both the campus community and the city while promoting the safe use of electric scooters and bikes.

“SPIN has been very willing to have a presence at events around campus and in the city,” Lukas said. “Interacting with students and helping them understand how to use the system safely has been a huge success.”

Maverick Jefferson, a graduate business management major, said he has used electric scooters to avoid traffic. 

“I have rode the scooters a few times to get places quicker,” Jefferson said. “Everyone can benefit from them though, whether you want to beat traffic or don’t have a car.”

Kaplan agreed that the biking system is beneficial for people looking to get to their destination quicker or who want to avoid worrying about parking.

“Sustainable transportation is really important,” Kaplan said. “It’s not only good for the traffic congestion but also for the environment.”

Amy O’Malley is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].