The City of Boulder and the University of Colorado are famous for their bicycle accommodations. I am blessed to have access to the trails, paved paths, and city infrastructure that supports a car-less (even driver’s license-less) lifestyle. While some are likely to convert to biking as a principle mode of transportation for health, financial, or environmental reasons, the potential extent of bicycle riding is is probably not being realized. 

Thankfully, from Florida to Great Britain, we are seeing more and more incentive programs to get students and citizens out of their cars and onto their wide-gel bike seats. 

INCENTIVE SCHEMES

Ripon College in Wisconsin offers freshmen a brand-new Trek 820 mountain bike plus accessories (including a hyper expensive lock) for free if they won’t bring their car to college. Students who signed up for the deal, a phenomenal 60% of all freshmen this year, did so because they saved on petrol and they help save the environment. That’s besides getting the free wheels of course. Read more. 

CYCLE-FRIENDLY EMPLOYERS

A cycle-friendly employer is an organisation that does more than simply tolerate cycling. It understands and values the benefits of cycling. It provides good facilities, offers support and encouragement, and actively promotes cycling amongst the workforce.

No organisation is perfect. Every organisation could do a little bit more to encourage cycling. Cycle-friendliness should be regarded as a journey, rather than a destination. And even the longest journey (as the saying goes) begins with a single step. Read more. 

FREE BIKES AT UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND

The University of New England is offering free bicycles to resident freshmen who agree not to bring cars to campus this fall.

The giveaway — one of the first like it in the country — is part of an effort to ease the competition for parking spots, especially on the main campus in Biddeford, and encourage more sustainable transportation, said Barbara Hazard, vice president for student affairs and dean of students.

“We just have far too many cars on campus and we were going to have to look at putting in another parking lot,” Hazard said. “Our goal here really is to shift a culture.” Read More