It has been two years since the introduction of the Bikeshare Feasibility and Implementation Plan for a bikeshare system for the city of Natchitoches and the students at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. The plan proposed to provide 127 smart bikes with 37 parking lots around the city.

The plan’s intentions were to improve the city’s economy and tourism, provide transportation, establish a balance with drivers and promote a healthy lifestyle and environment.

Vanner Erikson, the bikeshare and pedestrian master plan co-chair, said numerous factors stalled the process of the smart bikes. A huge factor was COVID-19, but the plan should resume soon.

“Hopefully in the next few months to a year, we hopefully may see some things,” Erikson said.

Erikson said the bikeshare idea was prompted by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

According to Erikson, DOTD recommended a master plan for pedestrians and biking in order to go forth with more road plans and infrastructure.

“We got the Rapides Area Planning Committee grant through them to complete the plan,” Erikson said.

Erikson said the Rapides Area Planning Committee completed the research for the bikeshare plan in the span of a year. Alongside the Rapides Area Planning Committee, community leaders contributed heavily to spreading the word.

“That was our role in terms of telling them who they need to talk to, and where they need to go,” Erikson said.

Erikson pointed out the lack of public transportation in the city.

“Just the bare necessity of getting to the doctor’s appointment or getting to buy basic groceries, people can’t get to stores,” Erikson said.

Erikson said students at the the Louisiana School of reap benefits as well.

“Think about our LSMA campus,” Erikson said. “They’re not allowed to have vehicles. The ability to ride a bike could be a lot different.”

Vianna Patterson, a junior social work major, said the smart bikes will be a good asset to students and the community.

“It would be a good way to encourage healthy exercise that can benefit people’s mental and physical health,” Patterson said.

Timothy Holdiness, a senior biology major, said it embraces modernity.

“We are getting closer to having the technology that other universities do that are in more metropolitan areas,” Holdiness said.