West Virginia University’s annual Transportation Week runs from Sept. 26 to Oct. 1.

Hosted by the WVU Department of Transportation and Parking, the week’s events are all about giving students, faculty and staff the opportunity to try out different modes of transportation besides a car throughout the congested Morgantown area. This year, WVU is also celebrating its recent recognition as a “Best Workplace for Commuters” by the National Center for Transit Research.

For the 2011-12 school year, many more transportation options were made available to the WVU community as part of the WE GO Campaign for Alternative Transportation that strives to reduce congestion and pollution in and around Morgantown.

The many modes of transportation encouraged include the PRT, a carpool program for commuters called Zimride, a short-term car-sharing program called Zipcar, the Mountain Line Bus Service and walking or biking.

“These modes are essential to the overall reduction of single occupancy cars that could congest our streets and promote healthy lifestyles”, said Hugh E. Kierig, director of Transportation and Parking at WVU. “They provide ways for getting around town without a car.”

Transportation Week Event Schedule:

Monday, Sept. 26
Walking/Biking Day:
Walk or ride your bike to campus because they are the cheapest and healthiest ways to get around. There will be a booth set up in the Mountainlair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. with free giveaways for anyone who walks or bikes to campus and for those wanting to sign up for the Confident City Cycling program. This bicycling program trains cyclists to ride a bike safely in traffic and is free to WVU students, faculty, and staff. Additional information will be given out about the benefits of walking and biking.

Tuesday, Sept. 27
Vanpool Day:
Forming a vanpool to get to work at WVU has just gotten easier. WVU has partnered with Greater Morgantown Metropolitan Planning Organization and other local employers to offer vanpool services through VPSI. Employees are invited to join us at the Mountainlair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for more information. A vanpool formation meeting will be held from 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. in the Laurel Room at the Mountainlair for interested WVU employees.

Wednesday, Sept. 28
Zimride/ Zipcar Day:
This day will promote the use of carpooling and ride sharing. WVU offers Zimride as its private, online ride-share network. WVU also offers Zipcar, which provides students, faculty and staff with short-term car rental at an affordable price. Zipcar is offering a special discount on its registration fee to support Transportation Week. Together, these services provide students with a great opportunity to get around campus without the need of their own vehicle. There will be a booth set up in the Mountain Lair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for any students or employees that want to sign up for Zimride and Zipcar. A few gifts will be given out to those who sign up on this day including $35 worth of free driving for new registrants to the Zipcar program. More information can be found at http://zimride.wvu.edu and http://www.zipcar.com/wvu.

Thursday, Sept. 29
Mountain Line Day:
Mountain Line will be holding contests throughout the day via Twitter and Facebook. Join us to test your knowledge of your local public transportation. If you post the correct answer to a question you could win an iTunes card, Mountie Bounty or Grey Line tickets for Thanksgiving Break. Join us on Facebook or on Twitter by texting “follow MountainLine” to phone number 40404. Mountain Line will also be introducing our latest bus tracker technology available right to your phone.

Friday, Sept. 30
PRT Day:
Ride the PRT on Friday to receive free giveaways at the Towers and Engineering stations.

Saturday, Oct. 1 *
Transportation Week wraps up at the Morgantown Farmers Market located on Spruce Street at Fayette Avenue. There will be a booth set up for anyone who would like information on what WVU Transportation has to offer. Gifts will be given out at the booth for people who walk, bike or take the PRT or Mountain Line to the Farmers Market on Saturday.

For additional information on the Transportation Week events and alternative modes of transportation we offer at WVU, please contact Nick Halfhill at (304) 293-8883, visit our website at http://transportation.wvu.edu or follow us on Twitter @WVUDOT.

-WVU-*

CONTACT: Nick Halfhill, Marketing Coordinator, Department of Transportation and Parking
(304) 293-8883, Nicholas.Halfhill@mail.wvu.edu

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.