University Business - May 2010 - (Page 54)

Go with the Flow: Campus Traffic and Parking Solutions for anyone’s use, freshmen at the University of New England who promise not to bring a car to campus can choose between either a free bike or 35 free Zipcar hours. Sophomores who received a bike the previous year can opt for the free Zipcar hours if they renew their no-car pledge. “We have actually closed a parking lot and hope to convert it back to a green space,” says Kathleen Taggersell, director of marketing and communication, about UNE’s efforts to reduce traffic on campus. UCSD waives the annual membership fee and provides rental credits for Pedal Club members. Potential problems include financing the project at larger universities and providing alternatives such as a campus shuttle during colder months. Ripon’s program costs $50,000 and is paid for through donations. Lend them out. The University of California, San Diego has a free bike rental program available to students, faculty, and staff. Each bike is painted bright yellow with the school logo, has a basket for books or personal items, and comes with a lock. At several locations throughout campus, users can show their campus IDs and proof of age, fill out a liability release form, and borrow a bike for up to 48 hours. Late fees are incurred for each day after 48 hours. Departments and organizations can request dedicated bikes for their members. There are 100 bikes in the program with plans to expand. The program recycles abandoned bicycles, reduces demand for on-campus driving, and promotes sustainable transportation and bicycling, says Curt Lutz, commute solutions and marketing manager for Transportation Services. Rent them out. The University of Buffalo (N.Y.) allows students to borrow bikes for $25 per academic year, or for free after doing six hours of community service. Michigan State University offers rentals ranging from hourly to yearly, with hourly rental popular in the summer when visitors are on campus. After a deposit of either $40 for a green or $75 for a deluxe bike was implemented, returns jumped from one third to 50 percent of rental, says Tim Potter, MSU Bikes coordinator, who has performed 900 rentals since the program began in 2005. Some people prefer the less expensive, refurbished “green bikes” because they are less likely to get stolen, while others prefer the “deluxe bikes” which are unpainted. Rental bikes were either abandoned or donated to the program. “Every time a road is repaved,” Potter reports, “we widen it to add a bike lane.” 19. 20. Biker’s Haven 16. Clean up their act. Dartmouth College, which requires faculty and staff to purchase a gym membership in order to use the facility, is offering free use of the showers to those who agree to bike or walk instead of driving. The program’s aim is to encourage faculty and staff to leave their cars at home, thus decreasing the demand for parking passes and cars on campus. UCSD provides a sticker for free access to the main gym shower to students, faculty, and staff who pledge to cycle for most of their commutes. Resources Best Workplaces for Commuters, www.bestworkplaces.org Binghamton University’s In-Car Meter Parking, http://parking.binghamton.edu/in-car-meters.htm Boise State’s Guaranteed Ride home, www.boisestate.edu/parking/parkalt.shtml Carelton College’s Carpool/Rideboard, http://apps.carleton.edu/campus/rideshare Connect by Hertz, www.connectbyhertz.com Dartmouth College’s Shower Pass, www.dartmouth.edu/~fom/services/parking/incentives/showerpass.html GreenRide, www.greenride.com Michigan State University’s Bike Rental www.bikes.msu.edu/content/request.html#rentals National TDM and Telework Clearinghouse, www.nctr.usf.edu/clearinghouse U Car Share, www.ucarshare.com University of Buffalo’s Bike Rental website,www.buffalobluebicycle.org University Bike Programs, www.universitybikeprograms.org University of California, San Diego’s Commute Solutions, http://blink.ucsd.edu/facilities/transportation/commuting/solutions University of Georgia’s Priority Parking, www.parking.uga.edu/PrioritySystem.aspx UNC’s Commuter Alternative Program, www.dps.unc.edu/Transit/gettingtowork /CAP/cap.cfm WeCar, www.wecar.com Zimride, www.zimride.com Zipcar, www.zipcar.com universitybusiness.com Keep them safe. In addition to having bike racks all around campus, Cal Poly installed over 150 bike lockers near residence halls and in the campus core to encourage people with expensive bicycles to ride to campus. The units cost $40 for the academic year, after which users renew or return their key. The lockers are so popular there is a waiting list. Give them away. Ripon College (Wis.) and the University of New England both provide free bikes to freshmen who promise not to bring cars to campus. Though there are immediate costs (e.g., bikes, helmets, and locks, bike racks, and safe paths), officials felt the long-term advantages of cutting down on cars on campus, less parking spaces required, and a more physically active student body outweighed those costs. 54 | May 2010 17. 18. http://www.bestworkplaces.org http://parking.binghamton.edu/in-car-meters.htm http://www.boisestate.edu/parking/parkalt.shtml http://apps.carleton.edu/campus/rideshare http://www.connectbyhertz.com http://www.dartmouth.edu/~fom/services/parking/incentives/showerpass.html http://www.greenride.com http://www.bikes.msu.edu/content/request.html#rentals http://www.nctr.usf.edu/clearinghouse http://www.ucarshare.com http://www.buffalobluebicycle.org http://www.universitybikeprograms.org http://blink.ucsd.edu/facilities/transportation/commuting/solutions http://www.parking.uga.edu/PrioritySystem.aspx http://www.dps.unc.edu/Transit/gettingtowork/CAP/cap.cfm http://www.dps.unc.edu/Transit/gettingtowork/CAP/cap.cfm http://www.wecar.com http://www.zimride.com http://www.zipcar.com http://www.universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - May 2010

University Business - May 2010
Contents
Editor’s Note
College Index
Company Index
Advisory Board
Behind the News
Viewpoint
Human Resources
Money Matters
Models of Efficiency
Fast, Friendly Fix-its
Go With the Flow: Campus Traffic and Parking Solutions
What’s New
Community Colleges
End Note

University Business - May 2010