University of California, Los Angeles
IN-4: Innovation 4

Bruin Bikes Program

The UCLA Bruin Bikes Program was first launched in 2008, at the inaugural UCLA Sustainability Fair, and was the beginning of a series of incremental improvements in order to grow bicycle ridership on the UCLA campus. UCLA Transportation originally purchased 14 bicycles, five of which were provided to the UCLA Guest House and Tiverton House. The other nine bicycles were provided to different departments on campus. The bicycles provided for the UCLA Guest House and Tiverton House are available for visiting guests to check-out, free of charge, while staying at UCLA. Guests can use the bicycles for their transportation needs or for leisure rides around campus and into the adjacent Westwood Village. The bicycles provided for the departments are intended for employees to use as an alternative to departmental vehicles, in order to run short errands around UCLA.

By 2009, more departments on campus were interested in participating in the Bruin Bikes Program. Through funding provided by the UCLA FITWELL Program, UCLA Transportation and UCLA Recreation were able to procure an additional 24 bicycles. Seventeen bicycles were provided to departments on campus, and the additional seven bicycles replaced an outdated bicycle fleet that the UCLA Bike Shop rents for daily and weekly rates. Through the partnership with UCLA FITWELL, ‘active sustainability’ was coined. Active sustainability can be described as matching personal healthy living with better sustainability practices.

By 2010, another branch grew out of the Bruin Bike’s tree, the UCLA Bike Library. Through a grant awarded by The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF), UCLA Transportation and UCLA Recreation were able to purchase 50 bicycles and construct additional storage space to operate the Bike Library. The Bike Library allows students to rent a bicycle for $35 per quarter. The Bike Library is ideal for students looking for an inexpensive bicycle for a temporary period. UCLA impounds close to 100 bicycles annually, many of which are abandoned by students who are enrolled with UCLA for a short period of time.

UCLA Recreation has supported the Bruin Bikes Program since its inception. UCLA Recreation oversees the UCLA Bike Shop, which sells bicycle accessories, and performs light bicycle repairs. The UCLA Bike Shop is responsible for overseeing maintenance and repair of all the bikes that are part of the Bruin Bikes Program.