University of Richmond to kick off Green Bike program Sept. 3; bikes available for students to share, ride throughout campus
September 1, 2009
University of Richmond students will soon have an alternative to walking or driving across the university’s 350-acre campus. And, they will be helping the environment.
Thirty-five bikes will be placed around campus for students to ride to class, the library, residence halls, athletic facilities and other destinations. Riding is free, and students can pick up and leave the bikes at racks placed throughout the campus.
The Green Bike Program will kick off at University Forum Sept. 3 at 5 p.m. Speakers, including University President Edward L. Ayers, will discuss campus sustainability efforts, and students will participate in a “green” scavenger hunt, using the bikes and following clues to find “green Spiders” hidden around campus.
The bike program was the idea of students in the campus Sierra Club and RENEW (Richmond Environmental Network for Economic Willpower), which have merged to form Green UR. The group has been working with campus Recreation and Wellness to implement the bike program.
Karen DeBonis, a senior and member of Green UR, said “The Richmond campus is very bikeable, and we just wanted to see more students out there on bikes, both for exercise and for the environment.”
Tom Roberts, director of recreation and wellness, said “The green bike program provides an alternative, green form of transportation to lessen on-campus traffic and minimize our carbon footprint. It also supports the goals of the nationwide Presidents’ Climate Commitment and encourages everyone in our campus community to live healthy, balanced lives.”
The bikes will be maintained by the university’s facilities department, which will inspect them daily and work with Green UR to clean them monthly.