MC Contributor\/Staff Writer<\/em><\/p>\nThe Zagster bike sharing program is promoting health, fitness and a fun way to commute around campus for Jackson State University students.<\/p>\n
The program, which is a part of the \u201c1 Fit JSU\u201d initiative, made its debut at Jackson State in September.<\/p>\n
The primary purpose of the Zagster program, according to Mark Dickerson, JSU Recreation Complex Assistant Director, is to promote a fun way to travel and exercise.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe received a grant originally from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Mississippi and originally in that grant there was a piece of it that was for a bike share program,\u201d said Dickerson.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cSo we looked at it and we tried to do it in-house first and then we looked at other national programs such as Zagster and said this is a great way to facilitate fitness activities while also providing students with transportation from one side of the campus to the other.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are currently 12 bikes available for use in the program.<\/p>\n
Students can find the bikes at Zagster check-in\/check-out stations located in front of the Student Center, JSU Recreation Complex, and the John A. Peoples building.<\/p>\n
The service is free for the first two hours and $3 for every additional hour.<\/p>\n
According to pedbikeinfo.org, bike sharing is an innovative transportation program.<\/p>\n
In bike sharing, short distance point-to-point trips provide users the ability to pick up a bicycle at any self-serve bike-station and return it to any other bike station located within the system\u2019s service area.<\/p>\n
Not only are the bikes helping students zip through campus, but they are also helping students get proper exercise without even realizing it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bikes are a way to break from the monotony of the gym and have a fun free workout,\u201d said Keleigh Williams, a junior psychology major from Sierra Vista, Ariz.<\/p>\n
To rent the bikes, students must go to their provider\u2019s mobile app store and download the Zagster app.<\/p>\n
After following the directions and providing credit card information, students must find the bicycle located at a Zagster dock and enter the bike\u2019s number into the app and press, START RIDE.<\/p>\n
They are then given a code to the lockbox.\u00a0 Once done with the bike, the students must return the bike to a Zagster dock and close the lockbox.<\/p>\n
They must then go back to the app and enter, END RIDE.<\/p>\n
After your two free hours are up, the app will charge $3 for every hour after that.<\/p>\n
Shane Savannah contributed to this story.<\/em><\/p>\nPhotos by William Kelly.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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