Sometimes finding parking in Morgantown and on WVU’s campus can seem like a delicate endeavor, requiring perfect timing. Arrive a few minutes too early or too late at peak demand times and spots can disappear. But on National Bike to Work Day, West Virginia University’s sustainability, transportation and wellness programs are teaming up to offer prime spots for employees and students who ride their bikes.
WVU will set up temporary bike parking across the street from the Mountainlair and at Mountaineer Station on Friday, May 18. The parking is being offered as part of a larger celebration hosted by the Morgantown Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Morgantown Bike Board.
Those groups are offering guided rides to work from the Sabraton, Woodburn, First Ward, and South Park neighborhoods. Rides will leave neighborhoods around 7 a.m., stop at Hazel Ruby McQuain Amphitheater at 7:30 a.m. and continue on to Evansdale. All rides will end up at Mountaineer Station where riders can pick up some freebies and grab a snack while learning about the station’s bike-friendly accommodations, which include commuter showers and storage lockers.
“Bicycles are an integral part of the transportation picture at WVU,” said Hugh E. Kierig, director of Transportation and Parking. “We encourage University students and employees to take advantage of bicycles as a way to get to and from campus and around town and hope that our student and employee bicyclists will use this opportunity to show the impact of bicycles on getting to and from campus.”
In association with the Morgantown Bicycle Board, the University’s “We GO!” program for alternative transportation offers classes on bike riding to the University community, he added.
Bike to Work Day is a national event organized to demonstrate the benefits of cycling as practical transportation. Biking to work can save money on gas and vehicle maintenance, provides health benefits, and reduces pollution and congestion. WVU encourages anyone wishing to give bicycle commuting a try to register for a guided ride at http://www.plantogether.org/commuterchoices.html.
WVU has also created a team for the National Bike Challenge, an online self-reporting tool that encourages cycling of all types. Riders can sign up and then search for WVU to become part of the team. The challenge runs through August 31 and can be found at http://www.endomondo.com/campaign/national/.
Riders can also find more information about biking on campus on the Biking @ WVU website. http://wecan.wvu.edu/sustainability/transportation/bikingwvu
-WVU-
tgl/5/14/12
CONTACT: Hugh Kierig, director, Transportation and Parking
304.293.5502 Hugh.Kierig@mail.wvu.edu
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