Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University is making it easier for students, faculty and staff to make a green choice for transportation—bicycling.
           
By August, there will be 160 new bike racks across campus to make it easier for cyclists to secure their bikes. These racks are being made by Neal Downing, an assistant professor of Architectural and Manufacturing Sciences, and his students.
           
In addition, WKU’s Parking and Transportation Services is working with the City-County Planning Commission to develop bike routes from the main campus to the South Campus, Intramural Complex and shopping areas. The Planning Commission awarded a contract on Aug. 5 and work will be completed within 120 days.
           
“Biking is a healthy alternative that is ecologically friendly,” Jennifer Tougas, Parking and Transportation Services director, said. “A large number of faculty, staff and students live within three miles of campus and for them, biking could be an excellent alternative.”
           
Additional benefits include ease of parking and saving on gasoline, she said. As more people bike, pressure on parking also eases.
           
Biking can be added to the WKU shuttle service and walking as alternatives to bringing a car to campus, Helen Siewers, landscape architect at WKU, said, adding the shuttle buses are equipped with bike racks. And for those who do not have a bike on campus, the Big Red Bikes program offers free loaner bikes to WKU students, faculty, staff and visitors, she said.
           
Tougas said WKU is working with the Bicycle Bowling Green to promote safe cycling and she is planning a bike festival on campus on Sept. 3.  A series of rides are planned for Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons for the month of September.  The evening rides will feature local shopping destinations and will begin Sept. 4 with a ride downtown with President Gary Ransdell. 
           
Saturday “Bike and Hike” rides will go to local parks.  The festival and series of rides are intended to help students learn their way around town on bicycle and introduce them to others in the community who enjoy biking.  Parking and Transportation has updated information, including links to bike maps, on its website at www.wku.edu/transportation/carfree/.
           
“We’ve got a lot more to do still,” Tougas said. “We’re finding there is a lot of interest.”