Sept. 9, 2013
Monika Reinholz
[email protected]
Nick Burns | The Scribe
Amid record enrollment and a battle for on-campus parking spaces, some may opt to lose a couple wheels and toss on some pedaling shoes.
The fifth annual Bike Jam, held Sept. 5, was an event aimed at persuading the UCCS community to use more sustainable transportation.
Organizations including the Office of Sustainability, Sustainable Transportation, Campus Recreation, UCCS Police, Kramer Library, Green Action Fund, Metro Rides, MyHandleBar and the Roll Bike Exhibit all had tables at the event.
Josh Hendrickson, supervisor and event coordinator for the Office of Sustainability, called the turnout “phenomenal.”
“It’s excellent,” he said. “One of the great things that I’ve seen so far is that we look at our bike racks that we set up and a couple of times they’ve been completely full.”
The Bike Rider’s Breakfast at 8 a.m. consisted of potato, egg and cheese burritos catered by Sodexo. Bike-powered smoothies and Top That! Pizza was available at 11:30 a.m. The Parade of Bikes, a guided tour of the UCCS bike paths, then followed at noon.
UCCS staff attended to promote a bike-friendly atmosphere. Andrea Hassler, the trails coordinator at the Rec Center, promoted the new administration-approved trails system program on campus.
The SOLE Center was also available to do minor bike repairs next to the Campus Rec table.
Kramer Library, promoting its new Borrow a Bike Lock program, held a drawing for a bike lock and bag combo as well as a book and bag combo.
To participate in the program, students must be registered patrons of the library, own a UCCS ID card and have a bike registered with the department of Public Safety.
Also present was Sergeant Grant Lockwood of the campus police. There are five bike police officers on campus, all of whom are required to take a five-day long International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPIMBA) training course.
“People don’t realize that a bike is actually considered a vehicle by state law. You need to abide by all the traffic rule just like a vehicle,” said Lockwood.
Bike Jam is the beginning of Bike Month, a series of bike-related challenges that will end Oct. 5. The department or office team with the most collective miles will win the yearly Traveling Trophy.
Additionally, the winners will receive free pints of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and a year’s supply of Green Mountain Organic Coffee.
Bike Month Challenge prizes will also be awarded to those who rode the most days and the most miles throughout the month.
Interested students can register at bikejournal.com to participate in the month-long challenges.