Greens offer bikes as free alternative transportation

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The “Green Bikes” program is providing Central’s campus with randomly
placed bicycles for students to use as alternative forms of motor transportation.

The Mount Pleasant Student Greens, a registered student organization, is affiliated
with Campus Greens and the Green Party of Michigan, which is itself affiliated
with the Association of State Green Parties, said Clare senior, Louis Blouin, Student Greens president and Green Bikes founder.

The group will be placing 30 to 40 neon green bikes in strategic locations around
campus for anyone to use.

“We fix them up, make them single gear, paint them green and place them around
campus to be used by anyone,” said Anne Spain, Dearborn senior. “If
people want to go somewhere, they can grab one and use it, then leave it there
for someone else.

“We’re making them ugly with the bright green color and adding the Green
Bikes logo so people won’t want to steal them. Besides, how do you steal
something that’s already yours? These belong to everyone,” she said.

The green color is to remind people Green Bikes is an environmental protection
project, Blouin said.

“We’re focusing on reducing car traffic on campus. I don’t think
that we can afford to think the environment is not important. It is time to make
our peace with the earth and our environment. The goal of our group is to bring
the focus of students, faculty and administration to the environment and to enhance
campus awareness of environmental issues,” he said.

The group is raising money for the project, and Blouin said the group has already
received $1,200 from the Dean of Student’s Office.

“We are also asking the community for donations of bikes, money for purchasing
and we are planning to sell some t-shirts with our logo for a fund raiser,”
Blouin said.

CMU Police Lt. Ronald Griffiths, combined services building assistant director,
has been extremely supportive and helpful, Blouin said.

“The police department will be donating 10 bicycles from their impound,”
he said.

Blouin said Dean of Student’s Bruce Roscoe has been helpful in putting the
group in touch with a variety of offices to help coordinate efforts. University
President Michael Rao has spoken publicly in support of the project, he said.

The Green Bikes program is gearing up to start by August-November.

“The idea is to have the project launched by the second week of spring semester.
We’re also planning to be at the (registered student organization) fair in
the fall where we’ll have information,” Blouin said.

Further information can also be obtained by visiting their Web site at www.studentgreens.net,
or by contacting Spain at 773-9039 and Blouin at 775-7280.