7A - Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

Opportunity:  At UF, many students spend a lot of time walking long distances every day.  These are students that probably do not have parking decals or even cars, and probably don't live close enough to simply ride a bicycle to campus.

The who: UF students
The what: Don't have a bicycle to ride on campus
The why: Live too far away, commute to campus on bus, don't own a car

Testing the who: Do other students commute to campus from a distance by bus or carpooling?
Testing the what: Would it be beneficial to ride a bicycle on campus?
Testing the why: Is there a way that UF could provide bicycles to students that commute to campus?

Interview feedback
Person number 1: This individual expressed that she commutes to campus via city bus every day she has class.  She said that she used to have a bicycle to ride on campus that she would leave locked up at the same spot for when she would get off of the bus, but it had gotten stolen.  She said that her bicycle was a very convenient means of transportation on campus.

Person number 2: This individual commutes to campus via city bus every day he has class.  He said that he tried bringing his bicycle with him to campus, but when the bus would arrive, the bicycle rack on the bus would be taken up and he would have no room to fit his bicycle.  As a result, because this was the typical thing that would happen, he stopped bringing his bicycle.

Person number 3: This individual drives to campus.  He said that parking can be very difficult at times, so he would park his car in one location and leave it there during the duration he is on campus.  He said that having a bicycle to get from place to place on campus is very convenient.  He does not want to risk getting in his car and spending another ten to twenty minutes searching for a parking spot again, and he also stated that he gets to his classes much faster on his bicycle as a result of avoiding the traffic.

Person number 4: This individual gets dropped off on campus by her parents.  She is a freshman and lives in Gainesville.  She said that she has a bicycle, but does not want to leave it on campus out of fear of it getting stolen or having parts stolen off of it.  She also does not want her bicycle to be exposed to the elements.  She said that she wishes there were a way she could bring her bicycle with her, but that there is no room in her parents' car.

Person number 5: This individual lives on campus.  He does not own a car because he does not see the point, being that he lives close enough to his classes.  He said that he used to have a bicycle, but didn't secure it well enough and became complacent with the security.  He said that he didn't think it would get stolen, but it got stolen anyway.  He said that sometimes he takes the bus on campus, but doesn't always bother waiting for it.  When he can afford it, he will buy another bicycle and have better locks for it.