MSU Bikes: Cycling and recycling

Plug the persistent problem of thousands of abandoned bikes on a sprawling college campus into the demand for affordable bikes and you get a perfect match.

The Michigan State University Bikes Service Center, located in the heart of campus along the Red Cedar River, is a great spot to rent a bike, short or long term; buy a refurbished or new bike; and find quality equipment, repairs, advice and information.

As an arm of MSU Recycling, the center isn’t advertised, but it’s open to the general public, not just the MSU community, year-round.

Each semester, hundreds of bikes are abandoned or impounded on the sprawling MSU campus. Shop technicians fix them up, get them ready to ride and sell them for affordable prices.

The service center’s bikes aren’t only more affordable but often of a higher quality than many used bikes.

The center never buys used bikes, so buyers can be sure they aren’t buying a stolen bike. The shop also accepts private donations, collects bikes at community recycling events and gets bikes from off-campus apartments with abandoned bike issues.

This year, the center is expanding its rental options, short and long term, with premium rentals of gravel bikes, road bikes, touring bikes, fat bikes and other models.

The rentals not only serve visitors without a bike but also allow potential buyers to try various models before springing for an expensive model to take home.