Students and community members around Kent’s campus will have a new way to get around starting March 7.

A new partnership with SPIN, an electronic bike and scooter service, will provide 100 electric bikes and 100 electric scooters within the city of Kent. The e-bikes and e-scooters will be available to the entire Kent community.

The new bikes and scooters will be an advantage for students with long treks across campus said sophomore architecture major Shane Harris. 

“These bikes will make getting to class much easier and I won’t be all sweaty from hiking up the hills around campus,” said Harris.

After a few companies reached out to Kent State, the department of recreational services formed a committee to consider the options. 

“We invited different companies to submit a proposal to come to Kent State University,” said Chris Lukas, the assistant director for outdoor adventure. “We included lots of people from the city of Kent, student organizations, including public safety to be part of that committee to help us pick a company.”

 Making trips to downtown Kent will be more accessible for students– as well as trips to grocery stores and other shopping locations within SPIN’s GeoZone. Within the zone, there are a few no-riding zones, however, those areas are either parking lots or places with high traffic.

The Kent GeoZone covers all of Kent Campus and expands as far as Mike’s Place and the Field House.

“As long as you’re within that area and if not then let’s say you’re a block away, you just walk to the nearest spot,” said Jim Kraus, the senior assistant director for the department of recreational services.

SPIN offers four different payment plans for users: pay-as-you-go, hourly, daily and monthly passes. The app also has promotional deals, including a $10 free credit for new riders.

Users who answer the entirety of  SPIN’s safety quiz correctly can also receive a $5 credit, as well as the chance to order a free helmet. SPIN will be hosting tabling events and safety events where students can earn riding credit and helmets. 

E-bike and e-scooter riders must follow the rules of the road by looking after pedestrians, adhering to signage and driving in the correct direction. SPIN also limits users’ speeds in a certain area. Failure to comply will result in fines. 

Lukas also said if riders do not park their vehicles in the correct zones they will continue to be charged until it is corrected. This system will hopefully stop users from leaving their vehicles in trash cans and on top of roofs. 

Students can download the SPIN app on their mobile devices to begin using the service.

Brianna Phillips is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].