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St. Xavier University campus goes green with Green Bike Share Program
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Veloway Bike --image courtesy of the St. Xavier University website Chicago’s St. Xavier University (SXU) begins its Green Bike Program this fall semester. The Green Bike Program, which was modeled off of similar programs in Europe, allows SXU students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to rent bikes from computerized docking stations around campus by using their ID cards or gaining a code via text message. The bike share program makes it easy to leave your car at home—you avoid the stresses of traffic, contribute to a green commute, and save money on gas as this program is practically free. Renting bikes is free for the first 15 minutes and costs $0.60 for every 15 minutes after. Paul Matthews, VP of facilities management, rides his bike around campus and maintains that you can bike across campus in eight minutes—guaranteeing a free ride.
The Green Bike Program, which employs a fleet of 65 bicycles, is the first in the U.S. to use shaft-driven bikes from Veloway, a French company famous for its bike shares around Europe. SXU’s interest in the bike program is part of a larger commitment to a carbon-neutral campus environment, called the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. Campuses address global warming by integrating sustainability into their curriculum.
With the initial costs totaling $250,000 and $3,000 for monthly costs, the price tag is not cheap. Matthews asserts that the program is in part an environmental motive as well as an economic drive to draw new students to campus. They hope to raise the number of students living on campus from 925 to 1,375 by drawing interest to the sustainability.
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