By Susan Seliger
College campuses are launching a variety of innovative programs to get students to kick the car habit and take up biking. Motivations for these greening efforts vary – some schools are running out of parking spaces. Others want to encourage healthy living to help students ward off that “Freshman 15” – a weight gain that, despite its name, can carry over into senior year. And still others say giving bikes the edge over cars is an easy way to lower the school’s carbon footprint and keep the campus green and beautiful.
1. Nothing beats free: The University of New England and Ripon College in Wisconsin are giving free bikes to every new student who agrees not to bring a car on campus. At Ripon, David Joyce, the president of the college, who is such a bike enthusiast that he builds bikes in his basement, has thrown in a free helmet, lights and a bike lock along with the Trek 820 mountain bike – which students get to keep.
2. Rent a bike: St. Xavier University in Chicago launched a bike-sharing system that allows students to unlock and pay for the bikes with a wave of their ID card (costs about $2.50 an hour).
3. Biking made easy and secure – valet parking?: Stanford University has set up bike racks with space for over 12,000 bikes all over campus – and they offer valet bike parking for special events such as the Cardinals home football games.
4. Free Bikes and more: The University of New England is giving not only free bikes to Freshman who promise not to bring cars on campus, but they also offer free Zipcars and free downtown shuttle service and discounted taxi or limo service.
5. Recycling bikes: Mercer University in Macon, Ga., is refurbishing old bikes for students – and painting them orange and black, the university colors.
6. Discounts and Free Rentals: Emory University in Atlanta launched Bike Emory, in August 2007, and works with local bike shops to provide bikes that students can rent and ride for free — or buy their own at discounts. Students also get a free helmet, lock and taillight. And if you don’t want to go to class all sweaty after the bike ride, no problem. Emory has installed showers in buildings and added bike racks to its free campus shuttle buses.
7. Bike-sharing– check out a book or a bike: Ohio State University lets students check out a Schwinn Heavy Duty Cruiser for 48 hours from the recreational center just as easily as they can walk into their library and check out a book.
8. Commuter Bikes for Free: Michael Zane, founder and former president of Kryptonite Locks, donated 96 commuter bicycles to his alma mater, Franklin & Marshall College, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
MORE, MORE, MORE…
To find out what you can do to keep your bike from getting stolen – or to recover it if it is, register your bike at the The National Bike Registry.
For more info on biking on college campuses, check out Bicycling Magazine’s article
and this New York Times round-up: With Free Bikes, Challenging Car Culture on Campus
Photo credit: www.washington.edu