2008 Woodie Awards
'Green Bike' hits speed bump
Program could bring better transportation while on campus
By: Alex Teska
Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: Video
- Page 1 of 1
Project Green Bike started out as a class project with a lot of momentum.
But it recently put on the brakes.
Project Green Bike is a registered student organization working to have community-owned bikes for campus-wide use by anyone needing transportation.
"We keep having to push back the launch of our program because of insurance and liability issues," said Charlotte senior Matt Hewitt, a founder of the project.
Hewitt said the group is left with two options.
"We can either become independent from the university, forgoing the insurance and liability issues," Hewitt said. "Or we fundraise enough money and find an insurance company who is willing to work with us, which will lead to university support."
Ideally, he said, the group would like to collaborate with Central Michigan University.
"If we were able to work with CMU, then a check-out system with the bikes could be used," said Hewitt.
He said a check-out system would consist of bikes being locked up at strategic locations around campus, such as at the Towers. When students want to check out a bike, they would go to the front desk, ask for a key to unlock one of the bikes, and then return it by the end of the day, said Hewitt.
"I think it would be really helpful to have a program like this in effect," said Cassopolis sophomore Sara Moroz. "Not only would it benefit the environment, it would also provide students with a more efficient way of getting around campus."
Whether or not the group will receive support from the university is still unknown.
Paw Paw sophomore R. Graham Beyer said Program Green Bike may have to rethink the project if insurance problems continue.
"If insurance is not going to happen, we will start to think of the project on a smaller scale," he said.
Hewitt said their goal is to get the bikes on campus.
"Whether it is with the help of the university or not, I would like to see the bikes out by next semester," he said.
For more information on the program visit their Facebook group, "Project Green Bike."
news@cm-life.com
But it recently put on the brakes.
Project Green Bike is a registered student organization working to have community-owned bikes for campus-wide use by anyone needing transportation.
"We keep having to push back the launch of our program because of insurance and liability issues," said Charlotte senior Matt Hewitt, a founder of the project.
Hewitt said the group is left with two options.
"We can either become independent from the university, forgoing the insurance and liability issues," Hewitt said. "Or we fundraise enough money and find an insurance company who is willing to work with us, which will lead to university support."
Ideally, he said, the group would like to collaborate with Central Michigan University.
"If we were able to work with CMU, then a check-out system with the bikes could be used," said Hewitt.
He said a check-out system would consist of bikes being locked up at strategic locations around campus, such as at the Towers. When students want to check out a bike, they would go to the front desk, ask for a key to unlock one of the bikes, and then return it by the end of the day, said Hewitt.
"I think it would be really helpful to have a program like this in effect," said Cassopolis sophomore Sara Moroz. "Not only would it benefit the environment, it would also provide students with a more efficient way of getting around campus."
Whether or not the group will receive support from the university is still unknown.
Paw Paw sophomore R. Graham Beyer said Program Green Bike may have to rethink the project if insurance problems continue.
"If insurance is not going to happen, we will start to think of the project on a smaller scale," he said.
Hewitt said their goal is to get the bikes on campus.
"Whether it is with the help of the university or not, I would like to see the bikes out by next semester," he said.
For more information on the program visit their Facebook group, "Project Green Bike."
news@cm-life.com
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