Basil Bike for Boris wannabe

By Jonathan Tomlin

Students at Keble College will soon be able to rent out a College bike to travel around Oxford.

Keble College JCR passed a motion this week to introduce the shared bike, which students will be able to rent for up to three hours.

JCR President Basil Vincent proposed the motion, causing the scheme to be dubbed ‘Basil Bikes’, after a similar system in London.

The bike will be free to use, but students will be fined for any damage done, or if they return the bike late.

Students will also have to surrender a set of keys, their bod card or bank card as a deposit while they use the bike.

The JCR will select the bike from the abandoned ones left around the College, and will replace it if stolen.

The JCR also voted to spend up to £250 to buy a helmet, bike lock, and to restore the bike from the racks.

Keble JCR President Basil Vincent said: “Having spoken to the JCR after a gearing-up period over the Easter brake, I’m wheely happy to announce that we’re willing to fork out the money – a little more than a penny farthing! I’m firmly in the saddle on this, and the stabilizers are off.

“Honestly, I’m glad it’s done before the next election cycle. As for my detractors, in the words of one of my political heroes I say this: ‘On your bike!’”

Vincent hopes to select the bike this weekend, and have it up and running by fifth week.

During the pilot, the College will only rent out one bike, but Vincent hopes that this could be extended to three.

The JCR supported the motion by 29 votes to one, with one abstention.

It is not the first time that Keblites will be swooning over Vincent’s initiative. In Michaelmas 2011, he commissioned a surreal welcome video for freshers in which he styled himself as “The Daddy”.

The video shows the President eating Eton mess off the naked chest of one of his underlings, and is interspersed with cuts to one student handcuffed to a bed.