Located at the corner of 35th and Western (about a mile from the Memorial Union), the OSU Foundation office is a bit too far for a convenient walk to campus meetings. Yet finding a parking spot on campus can be challenging, aside from the environmental impacts of driving such a short distance.
Now Foundation staff can hop on a black and orange company bicycle and ride to campus in minutes, getting a little exercise and enjoying some fresh air while reducing their carbon footprint.
Last fall the Foundation’s Safety and Sustainability Committee coordinated the purchase of two new bicycles at cost from 4 Seasons Recreational Outfitters in Sunriver. Locks, helmets, and baskets are provided to make rides comfortable, safe, and convenient. Staff reserve the bikes through the Foundation’s Outlook calendar, just like a company car or meeting room. Users are required to sign a Bike Use Policy.
Julia Kleven, the Foundation’s Sustainability chair, discusses this investment by a group used to managing different kinds of assets:
We bought the bikes just before the rainy season set in, so we’re expecting usage to pick up with the drier weather. So far, people mostly have used them to go over to Dixon Recreation Center so they can work out over their lunch hour. It’s especially hard to find parking there at noon, so this is a great option. We’ve also had people who haven’t been on a bike for years come by just to try one out.
Kudos to the Foundation for supporting alternative transportation!
Story information and photos provided by Cathleen Hockman-Wert.
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