On-campus bike use proves helpful for environment

In response to overwhelming student support for a bike network on campus, a number of groups are currently working to make that goal a reality.

About two years ago, the Institute for Transportation Engineers (ITE) student chapter on campus surveyed students' feelings towards bicycling on campus and found that a large majority of people supported building a bike network. As a result of the research that the ITE group completed, the UConn Climate Action Force Transportation Workgroup (CATF) began working to promote alternative transportation initiatives on campus, according to Meghan Ruta, the Climate Action Plan (CAP) Project Coordinator.

The Climate Action Task Force consists of eight members who work to manage the Climate Action Plan, in agreement with the President's Climatewith the President's Climate Commitment (PCC). The group is appointed by the university president and vice provost, Ruta said. When President Hogan signed the PCC last spring, he started the process of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. One of the major focus areas has been on reducing vehicle traffic on campus through the use of bicycles, she said.

A large majority of survey participants had supported building a bike network (73 percent,) adding bike racks closer to buildings (68 percent,) adding overnight commuter lot storage (64 percent) and developing a bike loan program (62 percent.) As a result of the survey, the ITE students began working to develop a bicycling network on campus. ITE and EcoHusky also organized a support ride in the spring of 2005 to raise awareness, according to their Web site.

The current effort to develop a loaner program like the one the ITE students envisioned is being coordinated by the UConn Cycles student group. The goal of the program is to reduce the environmental impact of traditional transportation by providing alternatives, according to their memorandum. UConn Cycles, led by Jessica Mortell, aims to educate and promote alternative, sustainable transportation and to provide and maintain reliable, safe, and distinguished bicycles for members of the program to use. It promotes the overall benefits for sustainable transportation among the university community, according to their constitution and Ruta.

"I support the program UConn Cycles is working to bring on campus," said Will Johnson, a 7th-semester psychology major. "I bike on campus because there is a lack of parking. When I drive, I have to leave about a half-hour before class to make sure I get a spot. With my bike, I leave 15 minutes later. Also, I can bike right to my class with no traffic or jockeying for a spot."

Some of the goals that UConn Cycles is looking to accomplish during the 2008-2009 year are to officially establish a student organization, send out letters requesting donations for bikes, equipment and funds, plan a budget and launch their pilot program, according to the memorandum.

"I think what UConn Cycles brings to the table that is unique from previous years is an emphasis on developing a bike loaner program," Ruta said. "My goal is to support those leading the initiative however I can during my efforts to develop the Climate Action Plan."

There are five Climate Action Task Force workgroups who are working to develop the Climate Action Plan. They include transportation, energy, sustainable development, environmental literacy and recycling. The transportation workgroup will be focused primarily on alternative modes of transportation this year. Working with existing groups or projects that have been started in addition to their own ideas, they will be supporting methods that bring the university closer toward its goal of carbon reduction, Ruta said.

"From a personal standpoint, I think that any initiatives that promote bicycling as an alternative to motor vehicles on campus are great for a variety of reasons - they promote vehicle traffic reduction, which in turn results in a decrease in tailpipe emissions and therefore cleaner air," Ruta said. "It's also a way to increase your daily exercise and therefore a component of a healthy lifestyle."