This program focuses on several areas for the group: increasing bike usage on campus, promoting public transportation, promoting intelligent transportation, and alternate vehicles.
4.1. Green Bike Program
Studies have shown that in the USA 40% of all trips are under 2 miles in distance. More importantly, the average distance a student commutes to and from campus each day is no more than 2 miles round trip. The main goal of the green bike program is to develop and maintain a working inventory of bikes to be used by students. By providing this service, the club hopes to reduce the amount of unnecessary vehicle use in our community.
4.1.1. Beginning Inventory
As a starting point the club has begun a partnership with the campus Security officials. Any abandoned bikes on campus left unclaimed for over a year will be repaired and converted for general student use. As demand and interest in the program grows, donations will be sought elsewhere. Sources may include graduating students, local bike shops and even local non-profits such as Pedals-2-People (a Spokane based program with a similar goal to our Green Bike program).
4.1.2. Bike Repair Shop and Storage
In order for the program to operate and grow efficiently we will require a working shop with sufficient tools and spare parts (i.e. tubes, patch kits, cables, etc.) to repair and maintain our bicycles. As part of the repair process, all club frames will be painted one color marked with a unique logo to identify them as “green bikes”. Additionally, as the program grows, we expect to expand our collection of bikes. In light of this, adequate storage will be required to house our entire inventory, as most bikes will likely not be in use during off seasons such as winter and summer breaks.
4.1.3. Program Operation
The bikes will be free to use by students. A deposit of $50 will be required in case of theft or excessive damage to the bike during use. Liability waivers will be required to ensure that students are held solely responsible for the safe operation of bikes (and we also suggest that helmets are worn). The length of bike rentals can be up to a year, with at least one required regular maintenance check during that period. Upon return of the bike, the deposit will be refunded.
4.1.4. Additional Bike Racks On Campus
Currently there are not enough bike racks on campus for everyone to use. Certain high traffic locations such as Crosby and Jepson are so overcrowded that students are forced to lock bikes to trees and light posts. By analyzing which areas have the highest demand, we can strategically place extra bike racks to alleviate the current over congestion problem. As an added aesthetic bonus, novel and artistic bike rack designs will be sought out.
The engineering students in AASHE have already worked on this project. Over the summer, several students have worked on architectural drawings of a potential bike rack in the Keck Courtyard of the Herak Building. These drawings and a cost proposal will be sent to the engineering administration for review, and potential submission to the upper administration. This project would add up to 40 bike storage locations in the semi-secure courtyard of the building, without detracting from the lunch tables or aesthetics of the structure.
4.2. Electric Vehicle on Campus Charging Program
With the concern of reducing our green house gas emissions and our use of non-renewable oil, we would like Gonzaga to be a leader in electric vehicle use. Electric vehicles (EV’s) are more efficient and cheaper to refuel then internal combustion engines. Listed below is how Gonzaga can start to become a leader in efficient transportation.
4.2.1. Administration to Encourage Students and Faculty to Buy EV’s
One of the first things that can do is to educate the Gonzaga community about the benefits of electric vehicles and range extended electric vehicles. EV technology is here and ready to start increasing the efficiency of our vehicles now. We would like to see Gonzaga do all it can to encourage students and faculty to by EV’s. This can be done by promotions, awards, prizes and many other incentives for the ones in its community that purchase and use electric vehicles.
4.2.2. Free On Campus Charging for Electric Cars, Bikes and Scooters
One incentive that Gonzaga can offer is to provide charging for electric vehicles. These charging stations can be in desirable parking spaces. This way the users of EV’s are rewarded with the comfort of a nice parking space and free charging. This will entice people purchase EV’s because they know that their risk of entering this now small market will be rewarded. By giving this reward, Gonzaga will become one of the few elite institutions that provide this generous service in the United States.
4.3. Public Transportation Education Program
This project aims to assist students in utilizing the public transportation options available in Spokane. Public transportation is a more efficient way of traveling and is very important in the goal of reducing oil consumption.
To promote the use of public transportation we will work closely with transportation organizations such as Spokane Transit Authority for city bus options. To promote longer distance train and bus usage we will work with Greyhound and Amtrak, and we will also work with airlines such as Horizon. With the travel companies we will devise ways to advertise these options. We will also aim to develop student discounts to make travel more affordable for students while also drawing business to these companies.
The most important part of this project, however, is student education. Much of the reason students don’t use options such as the bus or train is a lack of knowledge of how and when to access these methods of travel. Classes for students and a central informational website for public transportation designed specifically for Gonzaga students will provide them with the necessary knowledge and accessibility to make public transportation a desirable and conceivable way to travel.
One of the ways that the AASHE students can help is by assisting the programs already on campus that are promoting a reduction in commuting by both faculty, staff and students. The success of these programs can be increased if the students can help in promotion and education. This can be done through trip boards for holidays, producing educational packets and giving seminars.
4.4. Intelligent Transportation Education
Along with the ride share education program that aids students and faculty in finding rides, we hope to educate people about the daily trips they take. The following ideas will not only allow students to get around easier, it will also save them significant amount money on gas.
4.4.1. Educate About Combining Trips
For most people, convenience is the main goal when doing errands. With this project, we want to demonstrate to the public that when driving around town or going on trips, it is best to stay as close to home as possible and combine errands that are all in the same neighborhood. The purpose of this program is to educate the faculty, staff and students about how much energy they can save by saving up their shopping and entertainment trips and combining them together.
4.4.2. Vacation Near Home
People tend to choose vacations that are hundreds or thousands of miles away from their home, when they may live just 20 miles from camp grounds or a vacation destination. Vacationing close to home eliminates much of the hassle involved with long distance trips and saves money. We feel that college students will be inclined to take public transportation vacations with friends if they knew they could get off campus for a long weekend and save money while bonding with friends.
