Seeking Sustainability –
Thompson Rivers University (TRU), located in Kamloops, BC, was seeking a transportation solution to address both campus mobility and parking issues. Hard winter months and that fact that TRU’s campus is located on top of a hillside, presented some challenges for TRU to host a traditional bike share program.
The Campus Sustainability Office tackled this challenge by purchasing 112 electric bikes, of varying models, for a campus bike share program through a local partnership program with bike shops. The multi-faceted program is comprised of campus bike share and an individual ownership program. For the ownership program, TRU offers to finance the purchase of an E-Bike to faculty members to encourage them to “ditch the car” and ride to work.
TapBike Solutions provides adaptable technology
TapBike Solutions provides adaptable dockless bike share technology which converts standard bikes, including E-Bikes, to smart share or rental bikes. The conversion is done by mounting a Bluetooth wheel locking system, controlled by the TapBike App, to the bike. The wheel locking system contains “lock-to” technology which allows for bikes to be secured to bike parking racks or street furniture.
A unique program calls for a unique solution
Although TRU’s initial launch of a library bike share program was successful, there was a desire for on-demand access and data tracking for the existing E-Bike share fleet. To address the program desires, TRU licensed the TapBike bike sharing platform, which includes Bluetooth wheel locks, controlled by the TapBike App, and a dedicated operator fleet management environment.
Click here to learn more about TapBike’s Operator Licensing Program;
https://tapbike.com/bike-share-technology/
Within hours of the first installation of the TapBike system onto a TRU bike, the campus E-Bike fleet was converted to a smart bike share fleet. Happy riding TRU!
Increasing campus sustainability was one of the top five 2014-2019 strategic priorities for TRU. Coinciding with the priorities, a strategic plan was developed based on the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, & Rating System (STARS) by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). TRU was named a STARS Platinum institution by AASHE in 2018, making the university the first institution in Canada and the first master’s-designating institution to achieve this impressive distinction.
