Next to a homecoming display and the attention-seeking cries of Christian advocates, an annual transportation tradition rolled on Tuesday in front of the Memorial Tower.
The Student Government bike auction took bikes that were abandoned on campus from the spring semester through the fall semester and put them in the hands of deal-seeking cyclists.
The bikes, many of which had bent wheels, missing seats, rusted chains or creeping vines coming up their frames, were sold to anyone interested — provided they could outbid those around them.
About 300 bikes were up for auction at the event, and about 250 were sold, said SG Assistant Director of Transportation Brian Davis.
“I’d say the average price we sold them for was about $15 to $20, with some of them going as low as $5,” Davis said. “I think the highest bid [a bike] sold for was $180, but that was a really nice [bike].”
Richard Ladet, kinesiology senior, bought three bikes — two for himself and one for his roommate, all for a little less than $200.
“I’ve been wanting a bike,” Ladet said. “So why buy an expensive one when I can get an almost-new one for cheap?”
Ladet said the bikes he bought could cost a total of almost $1,500 if new, and he had a trick up his sleeve to figure out whether to spend his money.
“A lot of it is just going by name brands … but I also did some research,” Ladet said. “It’s easy to pull out your iPhone and look [the bikes] up.”
The bikes were lined up on the street and given brief tests of their tires, gears and brakes before bidding began.
Megan Garrett, animal science sophomore, bought a bike for $15 that she said only needs a little air in the tires to be street-ready. Garrett said she lives on campus, and the bike will be useful to ride to class.
The funds for the bike auction will go back into the University cycling community, according to SG Director of Transportation Matt Wyatt.
“The money goes into a fund that is used exclusively for bicycle infrastructure [on campus],” Wyatt said. “That means things like more bike racks and bike pumps.”
 
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Contact Frederick Holl at [email protected]