![\"rebelpedal?4color.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/ezing.me\/transfer\/wp-content\/uploads\/stories\/0709\/rebelpedal?4color.jpg\" "\\"rebelpedal?4color.jpg\\"")
OXFORD,\nMiss. – This fall, it will be easier for University of Mississippi
\nstudents to get to class quickly and exercise at the same time.<\/p>\n
OXFORD,
\nMiss. – This fall, it will be easier for University of Mississippi
\nstudents to get to class quickly and exercise at the same time.<\/p>\n
The
\nAssociated Student Body is planning a bike loan program known as Rebel
\nPedal, which was funded recently when the Wal-Mart Foundation and the
\nMississippi Advisory Council selected Ole Miss to receive a $25,000
\ngrant through the State Giving Program.<\/p>\n
A congratulatory letter
\nfrom the foundation referred to the university’s work as being
\nimportant within the community. “We are proud to be able to support you
\nin your efforts,” the letter stated.<\/p>\n
As a member of the ASB
\nstudent services committee last fall, senior Brent Caldwell of Ocean
\nSprings, discussed the idea of Rebel Pedal with the ASB.<\/p>\n
“We
\napproached the administration for funding and were pleased to discover
\nthat Chief Calvin Sellers of UPD and Michael Johansson in International
\nPrograms had been looking into bike loan programs as a potential part
\nof the Green Initiative,” Caldwell said, adding that the grant process
\ncame together very quickly.<\/p>\n
“We found out about the grant roughly two weeks before the application deadline so it was mostly a hectic 14-day dash for signatures, approvals and a 500-character summary of how we planned to fit well over a hundred bikes seamlessly into our campus,” he said.<\/p>\n
Jim Morrison, campus sustainability coordinator, said if the introductory phase of the pilot program proves successful, the university is also looking to partner with the city of Oxford and expand bike rental locations.<\/p>\n
“The Office of Sustainability is looking forward to working with the ASB as we move the program forward,” Morrison said. “We’re excited to provide a healthy alternative to driving a car.”<\/p>\n
Caldwell echoed those sentiments, saying he hopes students will be pleasantly surprised, since this is one of the more ambitious projects the ASB has undertaken.<\/p>\n
“The ASB is hoping the program will show students how ‘bikeable’ the town of Oxford is and inspire them to purchase their own bicycles, and thereby save gas, experience a greater enjoyment of the outdoors and the city, and, hopefully, reduce the number of cars on campus and help the parking situation,” Caldwell said. “Regardless, I’m sure they will be glad to have the new ability to quickly cross campus, run to the Square for lunch or just cruise around Oxford.”<\/p>\n
Johansson, director of International Programs, said he hopes Rebel Pedal causes a paradigm shift for Ole Miss to become a culture of bicyclists.<\/p>\n
“It’s cool to ride bikes, it’s great for the environment and it’s faster than driving on campus; there really is no downside,” Johansson said. “This is a worthy project that will have a great impact.”<\/p>\n
Rebel Pedal is sponsored by the UM Associated Student Body, Division of Student Affairs and Office of Campus Sustainability.<\/p>\n
For more information, go to http:\/\/www.olemiss.edu\/green<\/a> .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"