Centre Cycles program is rolling along

RELEASED: October 11, 2007

DANVILLE, KY—Riding bikes to class and across campus is common at Centre, but soon the practice may get a lot more popular. The Student Life Office, in conjunction with a special grant from the Student Government Association, has introduced Centre Cycles, a pilot program that provides communal bikes to students, faculty and staff. Individuals can ride a bike to a campus destination and leave it there, allowing someone else a chance to hop on and ride the bike elsewhere.

The environmentally friendly initiative is an adaptation of the Yellow Bike Project first introduced to the United States in Portland, Ore., and adopted by several other urban areas (including Lexington, Ky.) to reduce motor vehicle transportation over short distances. The initial project received its moniker due to the distinct color of the bikes. In the same vein, Centre Cycles utilizes Centre bumper stickers to cover every inch of a bike's frame. The stickers are expected to increase awareness of the program and deter theft.

The program, still in its introductory phase, will gauge campus responses to the bikes and will develop based on the community's demonstration of responsibility. As of now, seven bikes are floating from rider to rider on campus.

Jay Carnes '07, student life coordinator for Greek affairs and leadership development, says , "The success of a campus bike program is contingent on members of the campus community using the bikes and following the guidelines so that everyone may enjoy its benefits."

So far, the Centre community has taken to the bikes very quickly, even turning them in for basic maintenance issues.

"The response has been very positive, and continuation of this program depends on the bikes being used and seen around campus." Carnes says. As long as support for the program continues, it is expected that Centre Cycles will become a line-item in the SGA budget, allowing for more bikes to be placed on campus.

Following are the guidelines for the Centre Cycles program:

1. Centre Cycles are for anyone in the Centre community to ride.

2. User assumes inherent risk of riding a bicycle. Riders are encouraged to wear helmets and practice safe riding.

3. Use of Centre Cycles is limited to the Centre College campus.

4. Centre Cycles may not be locked up or taken into residences, as doing so defeats the purpose of the program.

5. User acknowledges that a Centre Cycle may not be available later after it is left at its original destination.

6. User will not leave a Centre Cycle in a parking lot or street where it can easily be damaged.

7. Members of the campus community may ride the bikes from one campus spot to another and leave them outside their destination unlocked, awaiting the next rider.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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