Memo of Transmittal

To: Cheryl Andrus, UPD Access Commuter Services

From: Westin McHaney
Date: 11/26/2016
Subject: Proposal to Improve On-Campus Bicycle Repair Stations
Attached is my analysis and recommendation report concerning Cal Polys Bike Repair
Stations. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the bike repair stations around Cal
Polys campus, propose several alternatives for refurbishing and upgrading stations,
and recommend a preferred approach.
Alternatives Considered
The air pump is the most important part of the repairs stations, and several of the
pumps at current stations are non-functional. Four possible pump replacement options
are considered in this report.

Alternative 1: Do Nothing Dont replace pumps

Alternative 2: Dero Air Kit 2
Alternative 3: Dero Air Kit 3
Alternative 4: Cyclehoop

Methods
Primary Sources
Locating Existing Repair Stations
Survey of Repair Station Characteristics and Condition
Correspondence with UPD Commuter and Access Services
Secondary Sources
Wolfson College Bike Maintenance Society
Web Search for Technical Information on Bike Pumps
Findings
Information discovered through my research methods is reported in the Results
section. This material is presented in the Analysis and Conclusions section.
Final Recommendation
The apparent best alternative resulting from my analysis is Alternative 3, replace the
current pumps with the Dero Air Kit 3. I also preset several other program
recommendations for your consideration.
Please contact me if you have any questions or comments.

Prepared for Cheryl Andrus

Alternative Transportation Coordinator

Proposal to Improve On-Campus Bicycle Repair Stations

Prepared by Westin McHaney

Submitted 11/26/16

Table of Contents

Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 1
Purpose.................................................................................................................................... 1
Background.............................................................................................................................. 1
Methods....................................................................................................................................... 1
Primary Methods...................................................................................................................... 2
Locating Existing Repair Stations.........................................................................................2
Survey of Repair Station Characteristics and Condition.......................................................2
Correspondence with UPD Commuter & Access Services...................................................2
Secondary Methods.................................................................................................................2
Wolfson College Bike Maintenance Society..........................................................................2
Web Search for Technical Information on Bike Pumps.........................................................2
Results......................................................................................................................................... 3
Primary Methods...................................................................................................................... 3
Locating Existing Repair Stations.........................................................................................3
Survey of Repair Station Characteristics and Condition.......................................................3
Results of Correspondence with UPD Access & Commuter Services...................................5
Secondary Methods.................................................................................................................6
Wolfson College Bike Maintenance Society..........................................................................6
Web Search For Technical Information on Bike Pumps........................................................6
Analysis and Conclusions............................................................................................................7
Service Objective and Features...............................................................................................7
Cost.......................................................................................................................................... 8
Robustness.............................................................................................................................. 8
Numerical Analysis of Pump Alternatives.................................................................................9
Recommendations..................................................................................................................... 10
References................................................................................................................................ 11
Figures Referenced................................................................................................................... 11

List of Tables
Table 1: Typical Bicycle Repair Station Tool Inventory and Purpose [2]...............................4
Table 2: Bike Repair Station Condition Assessment [3].........................................................5
Table 3: Numerical Rating of Pump Options [6]......................................................................9
List of Figure

Figure 1:Typical Bicycle Repair Station [1]..............................................................................3

Figure 2:(from left to right), Air Kit 2, Air Kit 3, and Cyclehoop public bike pump[4]...........6
Figure 3: Example of Gauge on Existing Campus Pump [5]..................................................8

Introduction
Purpose
The purpose of this report is to evaluate the bike repair stations around Cal Polys
campus, propose several alternatives for refurbishing and upgrading stations, and
recommend a preferred approach. Once implemented, the recommendations will
provide improved facilities so students can complete their own basic bike maintenance
which supports an important element of the campus transportation strategies.

Background
The main campus of Cal Poly is over 1,300 acres in size and has a student population
of over 20,000 [5]. Students typically need to cross broad areas of campus to travel
between parking lots, dormitories, class rooms, sports facilities, and other buildings. A
student often needs to travel between many buildings during their day. Bicycles are in
common use at Cal Poly as they are a fast and effective means for students to get
between buildings. Bicycles require various maintenance to remain operational and
students can simply complete the most basic maintenance tasks such as filling tires with
air and making adjustments. Basic bicycle maintenance requires a few simple tools and
Cal Poly has provided a number of bike repair stations strategically located across
campus. The repair stations themselves are subject to wear and vandalism, and the
current state of the repair stations has resulted in varying degrees of reduced
functionality and hence there is a need to refurbish and upgrade the bicycle repair
stations.
The objective of this report is to recommend the refurbishment and upgrade of the bike
repair stations to not only provide the essential basic tools, but also provide a more
robust bike pump, which is the most important element of the repair stations.

Methods
The recommendations for the refurbishment and upgrades of the bike repair stations
was based on the assessment of relevant data during this study. Various data collection
methods using different sources was necessary because of the lack of centralized
information.

Primary Methods
The following three primary research methods were used:

Locating Existing Repair Stations

I researched campus transportation planning documents related to bicycles and
completed site visits to identify the locations of bicycle repair stations around campus
[6].

Survey of Repair Station Characteristics and Condition

I completed a visual survey of all the bike repair stations around campus and noted, the
tools present and the pump characteristics and condition[3].

Correspondence with UPD Commuter & Access Services

I emailed the UPD Commuter & Access Services, Alternate Transportation department
requesting information regarding the bike repair station. I received a reply from Cheryl
Andrus who provided relevant information [1].

Secondary Methods
In addition to the primary research methods, two secondary sources were researched.

Wolfson College Bike Maintenance Society

I found the following proposal online, that presents different public bike pumps and their
prices [4].

Web Search for Technical Information on Bike Pumps

I searched public bike pump on Google and found two manufacturers of public bike
pumps: Dero and Cyclehoop.

Results
The information that supported the basis for Analysis and Conclusions in this report was
based on the above primary and secondary research methods, which are discussed
further below:

Primary Methods
Locating Existing Repair Stations
I researched the Campus Zoning and Design Guidelines sections, related to bicycles.
Although the campus planning documents recognize the importance of alternative
transportation including bicycles, I could not find a map showing the location of all the
bicycle repair stations. Therefore, I completed site visits around campus to locate the
repair stations in order to survey the characteristics and conditions.

Survey of Repair Station Characteristics and Condition

The repair stations are intended to provide basic tools for bicyclist to make simple
repairs to their bikes. A typical repair station is shown in Figure 1

Figure 1:Typical Bicycle Repair Station [1]

Each station is equipped with a similar set of tools and the type and purpose of the tools
is summarized in Table 1, below:
Table 1: Typical Bicycle Repair Station Tool Inventory and Purpose [2]
Tool
Pump

Purpose
Inflate tires.

Notes
May include pressure gauge. Should be able to
connect to both Presta and Shrader type valves
Tire Spoons Removing tire from Need at least two
rim
Phillips
Various
minor One typically provided. May be useful to have more
Screw Driver maintenance tasks than one size
Blade Screw Various
minor One typically provided. May be useful to have more
Driver
maintenance tasks than one size
Open Ended Various
minor Three different sizes typically provided
Wrenches
maintenance tasks
Allen
Various
minor Several different sizes typically provided
Wrenches
maintenance tasks
Torx Wrench Various
minor This is a less common hardware type, although this
maintenance tasks type of wrench is essential when needed.

The tools are mounted to cables attached to a metal frame that also has an integrated
rack for holding a bike during maintenance. The pump is typically bolted to the
concrete.
Based on my experience as a bike rider and one who completes a lot of my own basic
maintenance, I concluded that the typical inventory of tools would be sufficient for many
of the basic bike maintenance tasks. The question was whether the tools were present
and if the equipment was functional at each station. I completed a visual survey of the
equipment at each station which is summarized in Table 2, below:

Table 2: Bike Repair Station Condition Assessment [3]

Do both
type
of
Station
Station Pump
valves
Pressur
Location #
condition work
e gauge

Phillips Blade
Tire
screw
screw
spoons driver
driver

Open
ended
wrench
Set

Allen
wrench Torx
set
wrench

Top
PCV

Yes

Yes

Yes 3

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes, 2

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes, 2

Yes

Yes

yes

yes

Yes, 3

yes

yes

of

Yes
1

Fair

Yes

PCV
volleyball 2

Fair

No

PCV
to
campus 3

Poor

No

Campus
full set

Fair

Yes

Yes
No
No

In addition to visually evaluating the repair stations, I contacted the campus agency
responsible for the installation and repair of the maintenance stations [1].

Results of Correspondence with UPD Access & Commuter Services

I called several departments before I was directed to Cheryl Andrus of the Alternative
Transportation Department which is part of UPDs Access Commuter Services. Via e
mail I asked her the following questions and her responses are summarized below each
question [1].
1. What budget do we have to improve/repair the bicycle repair stations around campus?
The air pump itself is nearly $400.00, and we repair as we are able and
replace when necessary. There isn't a set budget for replacement or adding
these stations, however if a need is found, we can certainly look into adding
this to our annual budget.

2. What initial research went into the design of the bike repair stations?
Unfortunately, the administration that was here at the time of the decision on
which vendor to use for the bike repair stations is no longer working at Cal
Poly. I cannot locate any documentation on why they chose the vendor we
are using. I believe all bike stations on campus are Dero, which is where we
previously purchased bike storage lockers as well.

3. Do you have plans to repair the current stations?

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The air pump itself is nearly $400.00, and we repair as we are able and
replace when necessary.
4. How long have the current bike repair stations been installed?
UPD/Commuter Services installed the 2 stations located near the core of
campus, while Housing purchased and installed the other 3 located at Poly
Canyon Village and near PCV on the bike path. Those were installed I believe
in 2008. Ours were prior to that.
In addition to my primary research methods, I employed several secondary research
methods to provides additional context and technical information.

Secondary Methods
I researched several additional sources of information as summarized in the following
sections:

Wolfson College Bike Maintenance Society

This was my main source for finding what pumps to choose from. They gave prices for
each model of all the commercially available pumps on the market today [4].

Web Search For Technical Information on Bike Pumps

The bike pump is the most important component of the bike repair station, because
without air in the tires, a bike is useless. Given that the visual field review indicated
pump issues at a number of the stations, additional research into appropriate pumps
was warranted. A web search for public bike pump on Google resulted in two primary
manufacturers of public bike pumps: Dero and Cyclehoop. For public bike pump
installations, Dero is a US company that makes the Air Kit 2, and the Air Kit 3, while the
Cylclehoop pump is made in Britain [4]. The three pumps are shown in Figure 2 below:

Figure 2:(from left to right), Air Kit 2, Air Kit 3, and Cyclehoop public bike pump[4]
The additional technical research conducted on public bike pumps coupled with the
results of the primary research techniques was evaluated and is presented in the
Analysis and Conclusions section below:

Analysis and Conclusions

The bike repair stations are an important resource for supporting the use of bicycles
across campus. The stations should be located where students need them, should be
equipped with all the tools needed for basic repairs, and should be inspected and
maintained in good operating condition. Based on these goals, the stations with
inadequate or broken tools should be inspected and the missing or broken tools should
be replaced. In addition, the pumps are the key component of the repair station and all
nonfunctioning pumps should be replaced.
Pumps are much more complex, expensive, and subject to wear and abuse than the
other tools provided at the stations. Therefore, a pump should be chosen that provides
reliable long term service. The following three pump replacement alternatives were
developed for consideration:

Alternative 1: Do Nothing Dont replace pumps

Alternative 2: Dero Air Kit 2
Alternative 3: Dero Air Kit 3
Alternative 4: Cyclehoop

To evaluate these pump alternatives, the following criteria were established:

Service Objective and Features

Cost
Robustness

These criteria are discussed further below:

Service Objective and Features

It is important that the pump meet the basic service objective and additional features
can add service value. The basic service objectives are to inflate bike tires and adapt to
both Presta and Shrader valve styles. An additional potentially useful feature is the
addition of a pressure gauge.
While the basic pumping feature is essential, the pressure gauge is a useful additional
feature. Low pressure will make it hard to ride the bike and wear tires faster. An over
filled tire is at risk of popping and the ride will be bumpier than usual. The pressure
gauge falls under the Service Objective and Feature criterion as well as the Robustness
criterion discussed below, because pressure gauges are an area of potential failure.

Cost
Cal Poly spent $400 purchasing the existing bike pumps, and currently has a flexible
budget for maintenance of bike repair stations [1]. Replacement pumps of similar cost,
i.e. Dero Air kit 2 and 3, that are $400 to $600, would likely meet with approval, while a
pump that is considerably more expensive, i.e. Cyclehoop that is $2000, may be difficult
to justify [4].
Higher costs, however, may come with greater robustness as discussed below.

Robustness
For the bike repair stations to provide ongoing serviceability, the equipment needs to be
robust. The pump is subject to the weather, heavy use, and even abuse. When
comparing robustness, the handle and plunger, the hose, and the housing are most
critical. As discussed above, if a model includes the pressure gauge, it needs to be
designed to withstand the duty. Most pressure gauges are air filled and are subject to
water intrusion as seen in the example of a typical pump on campus shown in in
Figure 3. Others are oil filled and can withstand the weather longer than the air filled
versions.

Figure 3: Example of Gauge on Existing Campus Pump [5]

Numerical Analysis of Pump Alternatives

Although each criterion is important, they are not equally weighted. Therefore, an
evaluation method was used to compare the alternatives using an Importance
Weighting for each evaluation criterion. The Importance Weighting is from 0 (low) to 5
(high). Then each alternative is Rated against the criterion from 0 (low) to 5 (high). The
Importance Weighting is multiplied by the Rating for each alternative yielding the score
for each criterion. When the scores for all the criteria are added for an alternative, then
an aggregate score is produced for comparing the alternatives numerically.
The results of this analysis for the four pump alternatives is presented in Table 3 below:

Table 3: Numerical Rating of Pump Options [6]

Optio
n

Description
Importan
ce

Do Nothing

Rating
Score

2
3

Air Kit 2
Air Kit 3

Rating
Score
Rating

->
->
->
->
->
->

Co
st

Robustn
ess

Pressu
re

Total
Score

19
15

12

12

24

27

Score
4

Cyclehoop

Rating
Score

->
->
->

10

16

20

25

Recommendations
Based on my research, I have determined that Alternative 3 is the apparent best
alternative for the replacement of the degraded and non-functioning pumps at the bike
repair stations.
In addition, it is recommended that the university also do the following to enhance the
opportunity for students to maintain their bikes:

Replace missing tools at each repair station

Regularly inspect the condition of the bike repair stations and maintain records.

Evaluate the number and location of bike repair stations as part of the long term
alternative transportation planning to ensure that the stations are meeting bicycle
transportation needs.

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References
[1]C. Andrus, "Bike repair stations," 2016.
The interview will be held on 11/14/16, the interview questions are
[2]C. Sorrel, "Public Bike Pumps Could Civilize Cities," in WIRED, WIRED, 2011.
[Online]. Available: https://www.wired.com/2011/03/public-bike-pumps-couldcivilize-cities/. Accessed: Nov. 13, 2016.
[3] W. McHaney, Bike Repair Station Inventory Check, Survey. 11/13/16
[4] Wolfson College Bike Maintenance Society, "Proposal for Open Bike-Repair Stands
in Cambridge," in Democracy Cambridge, 2015. [Online]. Available:
http://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/documents/s29181/Bike-RepairProposal.html.
[5] "Cal Poly Quick Facts," in Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 2014. [Online]. Available:
http://calpolynews.calpoly.edu/quickfacts.html. Accessed: 2016.

Figures Referenced
[1] Figure 1. Bike Repair Station, http://locallygrownnorthfield.org/post/tag/bike-repair-stand
[2] Table 1. Bike Repair Station Tool Inventory and Purpose, McHaney
[3] Table 2. Bike Repair Station Condition Assessment, McHaney
[4] Figure 2. Bike Pump, http://www.dero.com/product-category/bike-repair/ ,
http://www.cyclehoop.com/product/pumps-stations/pump/
[5] Figure 3. Pressure Gauge, McHaney
[6] Table 3. Numerical Rating, Mchaney

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