Today I come before you, citizens of the world, but especially of Fort Collins, with a plea: save our bike library! Let me explain - for the past few years - I'm not sure how many, because I've been away for quite a few of them, and when I last lived here, the place in question was an ice cream shop - for the past few years, Fort Collins, Colorado, has been blessed with something particularly awesome, and completely unique, as far as I'm aware - a bicycle lending library. If you stop by our bike library, you are allowed, no matter your age, income, or place of residence, to check out a bicycle in Old Town, Fort Collins, and ride it all over town for as long as five days, for, get this, absolutely nothing. No cost. No catch. That's it. Have you ever heard of such a thing? Unfortunately, the grant that makes this possible is coming to an end, as all good things do, in all too little time. The city is now asking interested parties to submit a survey, so that they will have some idea how widely the library is used and appreciated. They are asking scary questions like, "Should a fee structure be put into place, how should fees be calculated - hourly, weekly, etc.?" In short, I am afraid that they are about to ruin everything that is good about it. Please don't let this happen! I think the bike library is invaluable. It is good for the environment. It is good for tourism. It gives a not inconsequential bit of very needed help to the city's homeless population. And, not to be overlooked, it is fun! I hate to see it go!
I realize most of you probably don't live in Fort Collins, but if you do, or plan to visit, or just enjoy filling out surveys, please let the city know how important this program is!
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