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August 27, 2007
Get ready to ride with Bike Emory

By david payne

As the new academic year begins, expect to see more four-wheel vehicles on the streets. But this year Emory is hoping more people will be traveling on two wheels, too.

In August, Bike Emory began an initiative to increase biking on and around Emory’s campus. The outreach, funded by the Clifton Community Partnership with support from Emory’s Sustainability Initiatives, focuses on faculty, staff and students who may not consider biking as a means to travel to work, meetings on campus and to class. Why not bike instead of driving?

“So often, people automatically get in their cars to make a trip that could easily be made on a bike,” said Ciannat Howett, director of Emory’s Sustainability Initiatives. “Biking is good for your health, better for the environment, and reduces traffic in our community. Next to walking, it’s one of the most sustainable means of getting around our campus.”

A new Bike Emory Web site launched this month, www.bike.emory.edu, that provides a calendar of events, a “cyclopedia” blog section, tips on bike maintenance and safety, and information about activities in Atlanta’s cycling community.

In conjunction with its partners in the campaign, international bike manufacturer Fuji Bikes and local retailer Bicycle South, the campaign is providing several on-campus services and programs to make cycling as safe, easy and fun as possible.

Bike discounts and raffles
The Bike Emory Web site also features select Fuji bikes offered at a special discount to Emory faculty, staff and students. The premium bikes are discounted up to $100 off the regular price, and when buying a bike through the Web site, Bike Emory will also include a free helmet, an anti-theft “u-lock” and a rear safety light — free bike accessories valued at over $100 while supplies last.

Bike Emory is also raffling several Fuji bikes to Emory faculty, staff and students who sign up for the Bike Emory e-mail list. Interested cyclists can sign up through bike.emory.edu, or at various staff and student events this year.

On-campus services
In order to make bike repairs as easy as possible, Bicycle South offers an on-campus Mobile Repair Center twice a week (Wednesdays and Fridays) at two locations: in front of the Dobbs Center and at the Student Activity & Academic Center on the Clairmont Campus. Minor repairs will be made on site, and for other repairs, cyclists can pick up their bikes when Bicycle South returns to campus.

For prospective bikers who want to cycle around campus, Bike Emory is providing “loaner” bikes. The loaner program will allow anyone with an Emory ID to check out a bike and helmet, and ride. Loaner bikes will be available on campus at the Peavine Parking Deck, and at Emory’s 1762 building on Clifton Road. Future locations are planned, including Emory’s new building at 1599 Clifton Rd. (the former American Cancer Society headquarters), and Emory’s Oxford campus.

Get in gear
• Bicycle South’s Mobile Repair Center visits campus twice weekly:

At the SAAC on the Clairmont Campus Wednesdays from
8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. and Fridays from 4 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.

In front of the Dobbs Center Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. and Fridays 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.

• Locations for the free bike “loaner” program: Peavine Parking Deck and the 1762 Building, Plaza 1000 on Clifton Road.

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