Promoting Bicycle Promoting Bicycle Commuting on CampusCommuting on Campus  

Joe SladeGeorgia Institute of Technology

LCI #2088

• Why ride a bicycle to work?

• Challenges and misconceptions about bicycle commuting

• Advantages of bicycle commuting on a college campus.

• Promoting bicycle commuting on campus: Practical suggestions

OverviewOverview

Environment: • Reduce pollutants• Reduce sprawl• Encourages awareness of bicycling as a means of transportation

Economic Benefits:

• Lower health care costs• Reduces need for automobile ownership / maintenance & fuel costs

Quality of Life: • Physical Fitness • Mental health • Increased productivity • Livable communities• Save time over commuting

and exercising separately• IT'S FUN!

Benefits of Bicycle CommutingBenefits of Bicycle Commuting

Inverse association between physical inactivity and mental health, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 38(1).

Misconceptions: Fitness / DifficultyMisconceptions: Fitness / Difficulty

Photos courtesy of Rivendell Bicycle Works, Copenhagen Cycle Chic

Carrying Things to WorkCarrying Things to Work

Queen Bee PanniersR.E. Load Messenger bag

L.L. Bean Backpack

Burley Bicycle Trailer

Be PresentableBe PresentableSmelling Nice•Shower before you leave home

•Allow time to cool down, potentially change

•Leave clean clothes & toiletries at the office

•Shower after you get to work

•This is one major benefit of working in higher ed—many of us have access to a gym/shower.

Looking Good•If your commute is short & weather nice, just wear work clothes on the bike.

•Otherwise, consider leaving a week’s worth of clothes at the office.

•Perhaps drive in on the weekends or M/F to drop off & pick up.

•Some health clubs offer shower & locker only monthly fees (cheap).

Common Crash CausesCommon Crash Causes

Advantages to bicycle commuting Advantages to bicycle commuting on a college campuson a college campus

•Community of people who are potentially interested in sustainability

•We tend to have access to secure bike parking on campus

•Generally easy access to a gym with showers

•Easy form of affordable, sustainable transportation for students

•A captive, idealistic population!

•We can serve as role models and influence

a generation of students!

Promoting bicycle commutingPromoting bicycle commutingon a college campuson a college campus

1. Remove potential barriers

2. Outreach

3. Education

Removing Institutional Barriers to Removing Institutional Barriers to BicyclingBicycling

•Campus Master Plan

•Traffic flow & patterns

•Language—is it a roadway “improvement” for all types of users, or only motor vehicle operators?

•Are bicycle lanes or sharrows and footpaths included?

•Is there a campus / community Bicycle Master Plan?

•What is the availability of bicycle racks and lockers?

•Are the racks in good condition and easy to use?

•Are the campus safety officers familiar with

local bicycle codes?

•Do officers on bicycles follow laws?

OutreachOutreach•Students

•Student groups focused on sustainability

•Administration

•Human Resources (Bicycle Commuter Benefit)

•Parking & Transportation (Alternative Transportation)

•Facilities—Racks

•Campus Sustainability Officers (Bicycle Friendly University)

•Faculty / Staff

•Current Bicycle Commuters

•Potential Bicycle Commuters

•Spin classes, people who live nearby, gym members

More OutreachMore Outreach•Current Bicycle Commuters

•Focus Groups

•How can we improve campus facilities / climate for bicycle commuting?How can we otherwise promote bicycle commuting as a viable option to potential commuters?

•Weekly / Monthly Sponsored Breakfasts

•Community Organizations

•Bicycling Organizations

•Sustainability Organizations

EducationEducation•League of American Bicyclists Classes

•Participants are 5 times less likely to be involved in a crash

•Lunch & Learns

•Many of our campuses already sponsor various brown-bags

•Reach out to departments on campus and offer free presentations

•Consider passive marketing campaigns

•Many people are taught to ride on the sidewalk or against traffic

•These are two leading causes of bicycle collisions

•Place flyers with state / local laws near bicycle racks

•Educate not only people who want to ride, but people who drive, especially as part of their work on campus

Additional Resources• The League of American Bicyclists – www.bikeleague.org

• To learn more about bike commuting: – www.commutebybike.com– www.ecovelo.info

Evaluations & Questions

– joseph.slade@housing.gatech.edu– 404-385-6587