EXCHANGE student Caroline Stanley was quick to take up a free bicycle offer at Monash University's Clayton campus when she arrived from the United States recently.

Monash is the first university in Victoria to offer resident students free campus bicycles to traverse the sprawling campus and visit nearby shops.

Monash students make the most most of the university's free bicycle scheme. Credit:Wayne Taylor

Besides helping students get to classes on time - the main motivation behind the $40,000 scheme is to encourage all students at Monash to consider bicycles when travelling to university.

Students must wear helmets and pay a $500 refundable bond for a key that gives them access to 100 bicycles.