Luke Fredrickson ’22 graduated magna cum laude this year with a bachelor of science in computer science and a minor in statistics. During his UVM career he also volunteered an estimated 20 hours per week with UVM Bikes!, UVM’s student-run bicycle cooperative, and served as both the treasurer and president of the club.
“I like to joke that I double majored in CS and bikes,” he says.
On June 3rd, he will embark on a 6200-mile solo bicycle tour from Seattle to New England (traveling west to east avoids the peak of fire season). “I’ll pedal the TransAmerica Trail, then head up the east coast to Acadia National Park. From there, I’ll noodle back to Burlington so I can see all the friends I’m saying goodbye to now,” he said.
Fredrickson grew up in Seattle and credits his grandfather with igniting his passion for cycling.
“When I was in 8th grade he invited me to do one of his favorite rides, which starts at the entrance of Mt. Rainier National Park and tops out at the Paradise Visitor Center, a climb of 3,300 feet over 17 miles.” After taking in the rewarding view, the ride doubled back around for an exhilarating downhill coast. “I was on an old Raleigh road bike my Dad got for $200 on Craigslist, and I felt like it was going to rattle apart underneath me—I was hooked after that.”
When he considered college options, UVM felt like a good fit. Vermont reflected a culture similar to the Pacific Northwest, but provided a fresh environment to continue his adventures. Fredrickson immediately connected with the bicycle co-op, the UVM club cycling team, and the wider cycling community. At UVM Bikes!, he preached the joys of getting around by bicycle to anyone who would listen.
“The overall mission is to make riding bikes as equitable and accessible as possible for everyone at UVM—students, staff and faculty,” he said. “One way we accomplish that is though our rental program.”
Bicycles abandoned on campus, if not claimed by the owner, are donated to UVM Bikes! Fredrickson and his fellow volunteer mechanics get them in good running order and rent them to students for $25 per semester. Bikes that the club passes on are donated to local non-profit organizations like Old Spokes Home in Burlington, which provides similar services for local community members.
He and the other club members—Fredrickson says there about 12-15 active student volunteers per semester—serve more as educators than mechanics. “We’re not like a traditional bike shop, where you drop off your bike and come back later. At the co-op, you pay with your time and attention—and you come out of the process having learned something tangible. It’s an education-focused model.”
UVM community members have full access to the tools and stands in the shop, he added. “Anyone can come in and work on their bike for free. “We give them advice and assistance along the way.”
The club uses their budget to subsidize the cost of common parts like brake pads and inner tubes, providing them to UVM community members at a steep discount. Fredrickson says it’s another way to ensure finances aren’t a barrier to anyone who wants to ride.
"Whether it’s not being able to afford a part, not having the right tool for the job, or just not knowing how to do a repair—we’re here to help.”
Abby Bleything, Sustainable Transportation Program Manager at UVM and advisor for the group, is proud of how UVM Bikes! has flourished the past few years.
“Luke and his team revamped the club, creating more connections on campus, like putting together a fleet of touring bikes for the Outing Club and creating a website with an online request system for bike rentals,” she said.
She notes that Fredrickson and colleagues also accomplished the task of moving the club’s headquarters from the Hills basement into Booth House, a spacious and airy building on South Williams Street.
“The move really changed the entire dynamic, creating a friendly and inviting space that matched the students’ passion for the club’s mission,” she said.
UVM Bikes! received the 2022 Outstanding Recognized Student Organization Award from SGA this year, and Fredrickson received the Sustained Commitment to Service Award from student life.
“When I ride around campus, I see bikes we’ve helped fix everywhere,” Fredrickson said. “It feels good knowing we’ve had a real positive impact on campus.”