of the PSU Bike Co-op.]
32 year-old Portland native Ian Stude is a busy guy these days. When the Center neighborhood resident isn’t enjoying Portland’s bike fun culture, he’s in charge of the Bicycle Cooperative at Portland State University.
Ian has worked at the PSU Bike Co-op since 2004 when he was the sole employee. Now, as membership has grown, he manages two part-time employees and is heavily involved with plans for an upcoming major expansion and construction of a new, Metro grant-funded bike parking facility on the campus.
As these exciting projects take shape, I thought it’d be a great time to get to know Ian and learn more about bikes at PSU.
How many bike commuters and bike racks are there at PSU?
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We currently have approximately 1800-2000 bike commuters at PSU. We have 400 bike racks on campus, nearly all being capable of double occupancy, so that puts us at almost 800 spaces. Luckily for us, our commuters’ schedules tend to vary, so we don’t need to accommodate all 2000 bike commuters at once… at least not yet. Due to the increases in both total population and percentage of bicycle commuters, we have lots of plans in the works to bring more (and more secure) bike parking to PSU.
is no match for the throngs of cyclists at PSU.]
What’s your official title?
I’m the Transportation Options Coordinator. I’m chiefly responsible for managing the PSU Bicycle Cooperative and our on-campus bicycle parking programs. Recently, I’ve also taken on managing a small transit information office we run on campus and coordinating all of our transit accounts (TriMet, Portland Streetcar, etc).
What big projects are you working on right now?
- Well, I’ve got lots of irons in the fire right now, but here a few that I’m really excited about:
- Future Bike Co-op Expansion: A proposal (including architectural designs and budget) has been submitted to the administration. If approved, this would mean a very expanded and deluxe new home for the Co-op.
- Future Bike Parking Facility: Our department was just awarded a $50,000 grant from Metro to build a stand-alone bike parking structure with 24/7, card-access control that will accommodate up to 100 bikes.
- New, Expanded Website for the Bike Co-op: Portions are complete and can be viewed now. Some edits remaining and several new sections to be debuted in the near future.”
What’s the best thing about riding at PSU?
- My favorite thing about riding to and around PSU is the diversity of riders. We really see it all because PSU is such a diverse school. It’s really one of the few places in Portland where you can interact with people from all over the world. Oh yeah, and my other favorite is Bike Polo. That’s the bee’s knees. Our weekly Bike Polo night (open to all!) will be returning once the daylight gets a little longer — stay tuned for more exciting details!
Photo: Kevin Hedahl
And the worst?
- I’d have to say the worst is the issues with theft and the perception of theft. College campuses are always a target for bike thieves, but I think we are making some serious inroads to making PSU a much safer place to park your bike.
Besides your work at PSU, are you involved with the bike scene in other ways?
- In addition to my work at PSU, I have enjoyed a lengthly love-affair with Shift. I’ve especially enjoyed helping out with Breakfast on the Bridge, Pedalpalooza, and the Multnomah County Bike Fair. I’ve also been known to lend my hand to the People’s Republic of Polo, Flimed by Bike, the BTA, and the CCC.
Besides bikes, what really gets you excited?
- Besides…bikes…? Uh, what? Actually, I’m a huge fan of local food and farmer’s markets. I’m hoping to squeeze in some volunteering for the Portland Farmers Market this season. I’m also really getting into bicycle touring and… oops, that’s about bikes, isn’t it…
Yes Ian, that’s about bikes.
Really though, thanks for taking time to tell us more about your work. It sounds like some exciting things are happening at PSU and we hope you’ll keep us posted.
If you work or attend PSU, you should become a member of the Bike Co-op. You can learn more on their membership page. Once you’re there, don’t forget to poke around the rest of the snazzy new PSU Bike Co-op website.
I bet Ian patches tubes at the shop…..
Me Ian Like, Ugh…..
(That was my best caveman)
Good job sir…..
Anytime I have dropped by the Coop, while working or not, I have had nothing but courtesy, and immediate help and or repair, or have had the toool to do the job handed to me.
Just want to chime in and say that the PSU bike co-op is amazingly resourceful. I don’t think people realize how broad a spectrum of services they can offer (ordering parts at good prices and helping members with all kinds of maintenance).
As a satisfied member, I highly recommend it! (and props to Ian for being especially helpful)
Jonathan, you should’ve included some of the statistics on mode splits at PSU.. I don’t have them on me, but I saw them in the fall and it’s amazing how much bike commuting has grown on campus. This is my second year as a student there and I’ve noticed a hearty increase in bikes parked on campus, even through the winter. It’s actually becoming difficult to find bike parking on sunny days, whereas almost all the racks are full on cloudy/rainy days even. l think there are a number of factors leading to the increase in cycling, including, of course, the helpful service at the bike co-op on campus. Other factors would include increasing parking fees, expensive Trimet passes (relative to student incomes), chaos on the bus mall and the resulting increased transit times, and peer pressure (it’s “cool” to ride a bike at PSU). I bike on campus almost every day now because the transit times have increased so much in the last year. It takes me 30-40 minutes to get to campus by bus as opposed to 25 minutes on bike. I think others may share that experience.
Ian is the most helpful guy ever.
I’m out of school now so I don’t use the coop anymore, but I’m stoked for the people who will get to use the new space.
And thanks, Ian for all your help while I was in school.
By the way Ian,
I chased down a guy I thought was on your MB-0 this afternoon.
Turned out not to be it, but we all know how few of those there are left (due to the fact that they break), so I gave it a shot…
For anyone who hasn’t been to the shop, it’s the size of a large CLOSET which makes it especially amazing how much they can do there.
Seeing Ian on the Bridge is always a welcome sight, especially because he’s often bringing pastries.
All the other praises already sung here are right on target – is it any wonder that he’s an Alice B Toeclips award nominee?
Thanks for all you guys do at the co-op! Glad to hear that you got the grant for a secure bike parking structure, we need more parking on campus, I can’t believe how quickly it fills up.
cheers!
PSU is lucky to have Ian — he’s smart, energetic, and just plain loves bikes, and it shows. I bet he’s got hundreds of “notches on his belt” of cyclists who are riding to PSU because of his efforts.