Plans for a bike share program at the University of Windsor are in the early stages.

The Windsor chapter of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group is behind the idea.

"We’d like to bring it to the whole city. But it seems like a logical step to give it to university students first," said Windsor OPIRG member Angela Demarse, the woman spearheading the effort.

She was scheduled to meet with the Windsor Bicycling Committee on Wednesday and discuss how to move forward.

"I'd love to see a bike share program in Windsor that is tied in with the post-secondary institutions, as we'll see a huge influx of students travelling between the west end and downtown in the next couple of years," committee chair Kari Gignac wrote in an email to CBC News. "Providing them an alternative to driving into the core is needed, and a bike share program is the perfect way to get more students exercising daily."

Demarse has only been pursuing the idea for a month. She estimates a start-up cost of $20,000. She is looking for businesses to either offer free repair or free replacement bikes once the program is up and running. "We're still shopping around," Demarse said.

Demarse said a ride or rental would cost $5. She said the goal is to make the service free for students, who could then use the bike for an entire day. She did say the program could be subsidized through a small fee added to annual student fees.

That would likely mean a referendum similar to the one about a universal student bus pass.

"Maybe an opt-out would be the best solution," she said of a fee.

One of the reasons for the program is to supplement bus service for students who will be attending class at the university's new downtown campus.

"There’s yet to be a full solution to the problem of students being able to get downtown," Demarse said. "Students need a system tailored to them."

A similar program started in 2007 at the University of Ottawa. Bikes are on loan between May and November.

Anyone who is a full-time or part-time student or employee there has access to this program. Users must have a valid student or employee ID card.

Members of the program pay a $10 cash deposit, refundable at the end of the program or upon cancellation of membership. Members can use the bike for the full day.

The program is funded through the parking and sustainable transportation program at the University of Ottawa. Revenue from parking pays for the program

The department's manager, Daniel Spence, said the program is popular among students who live in residence and international students who don't have cars.

The bikes are maintained on a regular basis. Spence said it's a "logistically challenging routine" to loan and maintain the bikes.

Demarse said she also looking into whether the Windsor program could be funded by the university or city.

"I think there’s enough people who excited as soon as they hear the idea," she said.