Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions…

How do I get a bicycle?

We start accepting online orders for ‘Year Rentals’ in the beginning of July, and for ‘Semester Rentals’ in the beginning of December. We rent our bikes on a first-come, first-served basis, so by ordering online you will ensure yourself a quality bike for the upcoming year.

Will you do repairs on my bike if I didn’t rent it from you?

Absolutely, we are a fully operating repair shop and can accommodate all types of bikes. Getting maintenance done on a bike is very simple – just drop by Bears Bikes during store hours. It is rare that we cannot complete a repair in-store so we should have your bike back to you in about a week. If your bike requires repairs beyond our capabilities, it will be transported by us to Cursed Bikes and Coffee.

What if I have an issue with my bike?

During the first two weeks of school all repairs on Bears Bikes are free of charge. After those two weeks, repairs will be charged as usual. For a rough estimate on your repair please see our repairs pricing sheet.

What methods of payment do Bears Bikes accept?

Bears Bikes prefers customers to check out on our website before coming to the store. If absolutely necessary, we accept cash, check, and all major credit cards. We also take Venmo. Unfortunately, at this time, we cannot accept Bear Bucks.

What Is the transaction fee?

The fee comprises appropriate state and local sales taxes, and transactional fees.

*In the event of a return, transaction fees will not be returned as the payment processor ‘Stripe’ does not refund transaction fees.

What happens if i lose the key to my lock rental, or the whole lock?

If you lose the key to your lock rental (or the whole lock), visit our shop during our store hours to get a replacement. $30 will be deducted from your security deposit.

What happens if I need my lock cut?

If your lock is jammed and cannot be opened (or you simply forgot the lock combination), please view our lock cutting service.

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What is the deposit for?

Bears Bikes takes a $200 deposit for the bike and lock. The deposit is to ensure our bikes are cared for and returned to us. The easiest way to make sure that a bike stays in good condition is to ride it regularly and store it underneath one of the many bike shelters. Bikers can also be absolutely confident that if their bike is locked properly, it will not be stolen. In online transactions, the deposit will be shown as the shipping fee. The safety deposit of $200 will always be returned in full at the end of the rental period as long as the bike is returned to us in good condition.

When do I pick up my bike?

You can pick your bike after receiving an email or text that your bike is ready. The text will include your bike number, lock number, lock combination, and location of your bike. At this point, you can pick it up at your convenience.

What does it mean to be registered with 529 Garage?

529 Garage is a registration program that we use to register our bikes. When a customer rents a bike and lock from Bears’ Bikes, both items have already been tagged with matching stickers that have been logged in the 529 Garage database. Therefore, if for any reason a bike is stolen from a Bears Bikes customer, the officers can find it, identify it, and get it back to the customer.

Do rentals include helmets?

Helmets are not included with bike rentals. We are currently not selling helmets at this time.

Why do you ask for shipping address when placing online orders?

The shipping address will be the address where we mail the security deposit return check (if we are not able to return your security deposit to your original form of payment) when the year is over and we receive your bike in good condition. Please make sure this address is accurate.

What if i decide i don’t want my bike after renting?

Bike rentals can be returned for a full refund for the first 1 week of the rental period. After 1 week from the initial rental date, no refunds will be issued.

The safety deposit of $200 will always be returned in full via a check sent to the shipping address inputted at checkout so long as the bike is returned to us in good condition on time according to Bears Bikes communications sent via email. It is the rentees responsibility to read all communications sent by Bears Bikes.

For our storage packages, there are no refunds after the last day of class for the given semester.