Winter-Weary Bikes Get TLC at Annual Bike-to-Campus Day

May kicks off cycling season, and last week faculty, students, and staff rode to campus on two wheels for Columbia’s annual Ride-Your-Bike-to-Campus Day. Outside the P&S and Black buildings on May 2, cyclists showed up to get free tuneups for their squeaky gears and flabby tires, buy helmets and locks at discounted prices, register their bikes with the NYPD, pick up bike maps, and check out other services, information, and discounts.

This year, the annual Ride-Your-Bike-to-Campus Day, sponsored by Public Safety, drew approximately 300 bicyclists, one riding 28 miles for a tuneup.

Richard Remigio, a first-year PhD student in environmental health sciences who lives in Washington Heights, did not have to travel very far, but he wanted a tuneup and to register his bike with the NYPD and Public Safety before exploring the city by bike.

"I used to ride my bike a lot when I lived in Washington, D.C., but I have been a little timid about riding in New York,” he said. “But now that the weather is warm, I want to ride around, get to know the neighborhood, and take advantage of the landscape and fresh air.”

In addition to bike services, Public Safety offered free engraving of laptops and cell phones to help prevent loss or theft, the Office of Environmental Health and Safety offered information on lab safety, the FDNY was on hand with fire safety information, and for those who prefer four wheels to two, ZipCar was there to sign up Columbians for low-cost memberships.

“Today was a great day,” said Ricardo Morales, manager of crime prevention programs at Columbia. “More and more people are riding their bikes, and we want to give them the resources to do it safely,” he said.

Public Safety also offered free paper shredding on the same day in its annual “Shred Fest.” Throughout the year, Public Safety also offers self-defense classes, free electronics engraving, bike maps, and discounts on locks for bikes, computers, and more.

To find New York City bike paths, click here. And to find bike racks around the CUMC campus, click here. If you would like to receive emails about Public Safety offerings and events, email rm29@columbia.edu