In a college town, seeing students biking to class is not uncommon. In Starkville, it’s no different. According to several bicycle enthusiasts throughout town, this fall semester will have more students than ever biking around town and the Mississippi State University campus.

Mike Harris, Director of Parking, Transit and University Services, said nearly 175 university-owned bicycles will be available for students to use around campus this semester.

There are 75 bicycles currently in rotation, with an additional 100 bikes set to arrive in October. While there is no fee to use the bikes, the Park and Ride program has a changed a bit from last year. In the past, the bicycles were parked in various spots across the university campus. When one rider left the bike parked, another rider could use the bike until they no longer needed it and parked it for the next rider to use. This year, Harris said, the bikes will be issued to students for the entirety of the semester.

The Park and Ride program has been implemented on the campus for the past several years. During that time, Harris said there was no accountability on the part of the bike’s rider. If the bike was damaged, Parking Services had no way of knowing about it. This year, if a bike is damaged, has a loose chain or a flat tire, the student can bring the bicycle in to Parking Services to be repaired at no cost.

Outfitted with MSU colors and logos, the Park and Ride bikes are specific to the university and can not be purchased in stores. They are also only allowed for use on campus. If a student wishes to ride a bike throughout town, Boardtown Bikes owner Jan Morgan said the popular Specialized brand bike may be the way to go.

Morgan said the brands Harc, Lock and Masi are popular among students as well. Boardtown Bikes carries road and mountain bikes and most students typically buy the road bikes to get to and from class.

Morgan, an avid biker, encouraged students to wear a helmet. Morgan was involved in a bicycle accident in May 2011 when she was hit by a vehicle. Morgan was in a coma for five weeks and said at one point, she was not expected to live. Miraculously, she has recovered and said wearing a helmet may have saved her life.

While there has been heated debates over the city’s newly imposed helmet ordinance, Morgan said that insisting on wearing helmets is not so much a matter of the cyclist’s abilities, but factors outside his control.

“It’s about the (person) who is texting and driving. It’s about the dog that runs out in front of you or the car that unexpectedly buzzes by you,” Morgan said.

First introduced in March 2010, the city’s helmet ordinance originally called for all people ages 16 and younger be required to wear a helmet. At the second public hearing held in April 2010, the ordinance was amended to include all riders, regardless of age. While politicians and citizens alike have debated whether a city can mandate to an adult his or her wearing a helmet, it’s a settled issue for Morgan.

“I will always wear a helmet,” Morgan said. “Anyone who seriously rides a bike wears a helmet.”

Her sentiments are echoed by Harris, who said Parking Services also gives students a free helmet when they receive their bike. While students are not required to wear a helmet on campus, Harris encouraged students to wear one, saying their safety is most important.

There is also an advocacy group, Starkville in Motion, that encourages helmet use. Founded in 2004, the group has 285 members and is continuously growing. In addition to helmet advocacy, Starkville in Motion promotes the transportation needs of cyclists, promoting the development and maintenance of bike lanes through out the city.

The group has worked closely with the city for the multi-use pathway that Mark Duncan, President of Starkville in Motion, hopes will be completed later this year. The pathway starts at Lynn Lane and crosses the city, ending on the MSU campus. The pathway will be open to bicycles, joggers and walkers. A date for construction has not been set.

Morgan said student bikers often travel down University Drive where there are lines clearly marked for a bike lane. She is also hopeful the city will consider a “rails to trails” project that converts abandoned railroad tracks into trails and multi-use pathways for bikers and pedestrians

In the meantime, Morgan encourages cyclists to exercise caution and follow the rules of the road.

“There are a lot of bad attitudes toward cyclists by motorists,” Morgan said. “But cyclists have a responsibility, too.”

Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.