Many students around the Upper School (US) may have already noticed the new structure outside of the wood shop. Complete with a roof and three wooden walls for easy access, this is the new US bike shed.
Funded by an Innovation Grant and built in collaboration with the facilities team, this project is a culmination of three years of work by US Science Teacher Jay Shah and US Library Co-Director Shawnee Sloop. The bike shed is close to complete, with electricity to be installed in late September.
Dr. Shah said there were previously not enough structures and storage spaces to support cyclists at the school.
“The actual infrastructure at the school was quite limited. There weren’t a lot of robust locking options for bikes. In a way, that set forth some messaging of what is the expectation of how you arrive to school: Drive to school, and park in the parking lot.”
The main goal of the bike shed was to promote alternative transportation.
“I’m not saying that everyone has to bike,” Dr. Shah said. “But if those who can do, then it supports others in the community that can’t. So, it’s more of a community-minded outlook on transportation. How what you do can affect others in a positive way.”
Ms. Sloop said the project also frees up parking spots for students and faculty who need to drive.
“We really wanted to increase biking and try and change biking culture in and around BB&N. We know that one of the biggest struggles is parking and getting here for faculty, staff and students. So, we were hoping that by promoting biking … by having a bike shed that has lighting and a roof and is more secure, we can promote more people wanting to bike to campus.”
Ms. Sloop and Dr. Shah collaborated with the facilities and operations team in determining the architecture and construction of the bike shed.
“We’ve been working with Derek Bross, who’s the head of the facilities and operations team,” she said. “We went back and forth, and ultimately, the shed doesn’t have doors. Then, we got into the struggle of people needing a certain key or ID card to access it. It just felt easier to have three sides and a roof, so it is still protected, and it is more protected than the previous bike rack.”
Previously, bikers had been able to store their bikes at various bike racks around campus, but they were not weather-proofed.
Troy Song ’26, who bikes to school, said the new shed has succeeded in attracting more bikers.
“It opens up a lot more accessibility to students who want to bike because I’ve definitely noticed the area around there being a lot more full than it was before we had the bike shed,” he said. “The weather proofing is the biggest part: You can feel safe. Before, a lot of people would push their bikes underneath the stairwell in the English wing, but now the bike shed exists.”
Troy said the only problem with the bike shed could be its size.
“When I looked at it today, it was already full. It might need to be bigger if the demand is high enough.”
US English Teacher Sam Crihfield started biking to school this year.
“I hope the bike shed encourages more people to bike to school,” he said. “I actually started biking because of the encouragement of Dr. Shah and Ms. Sloop and their enthusiasm, so I hope that more people are inspired like I was.”
Even if the bike shed is full, there are other spots on campus where people can store their bikes.
“There’s a spot inside the stairwell,” Mr. Crihfield said. There’s also the bike railings, so I’m happy because the more places the better, and people can find it out. Maybe someday, we’ll have another one. We’ll see.”
From Oct. 5 to Oct. 11, Ms. Sloop and Dr. Shah are bringing back their Bike Week challenge from last year (See Vol. 53, Issue 5: “Pedaling for Prizes”) to encourage more biking to school.
