U North Texas Installs Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Six electric vehicle charging stations are being built on campus as a result of a student-proposed idea. The We Mean Green Fund committee purchased the stations for $65,737, while ECOtality provided the university with an additional $13,500.
Pittsburg State U Staff to Use Ride Share Program
(U.S.): To show support for the university’s sustainability efforts, the Unclassified Staff Senate has begun promoting ride sharing. Staff will be able to use a shared Zimbra to find others with corresponding campus commutes.
Queen’s U Introduces Car Sharing Program
(Canada): The university has partnered with VRTUCAR to offer a new car sharing program that will provide the campus community with an alternative transportation option and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This initiative will include one shared car and the car-sharing company will cover the cost of insurance, gas, maintenance and snow tires.
U California Berkeley Installs DIY Bike Repair Station
(U.S.): The do-it-yourself repair station is the first of three planned by the university’s Office of Parking and Transportation as part of a wider effort to accommodate increasing demand for bicycle services on campus. The station is equipped with screwdrivers, a tire pump and a reference code to access detailed repair instructions on Internet-enabled phones.
Virginia Tech Ambassadors Build Biking Community
(U.S.): The university’s Alternative Transportation Program has implemented the Bicycle Ambassador Program in an effort to encourage safe, responsible bicycle usage among students and faculty. Student ambassadors volunteer their time each week in order to teach cyclists of all skill levels about appropriate bicycling behavior. The ambassadors plan to hold bicycle repair workshops and registration drives, and gather feedback regarding what students want out of biking services on campus.
Montgomery County CC Launches Public Safety Segway Patrol
The college has introduced a Public Safety Segway Patrol Program as part of its sustainability initiative. When charging, the segway releases14 times less greenhouse gas emissions than driving the public safety vehicle and zero emissions when in use, saving an estimated ton of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere per year.
Texas A&M U to Launch Bike Share Program
Transportation Services has announced plans to launch Borrow-a-Bike, a short-term bike lease program. MaroonBike provided locally handmade bicycles for the project.
U California San Diego Installs Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Two electric vehicle charging stations are now open to the public, installed by local renewable energy company Sullivan Solar Power. The station infrastructure was fully paid for through the EV Project, a U.S. Department of Energy funded program administered by ECOtality.
U Michigan Acquires 3 New Hybrid Buses
(U.S.): The university has purchased three new hybrid buses to join its fleet, fulfilling a September 2011 commitment that the university would introduce seven hybrid buses in a year in an effort to be more sustainable. The buses use a roof-mounted battery system to supplement their diesel engines, allowing for reduced emissions.
U Michigan Launches Bike Rental Program
(U.S.): A fleet of 30 bicycles will be available to students, faculty and staff as part of a recently launched Blue Bikes checkout program. In addition to the rental program, several supporting bicycle amenities will be installed this fall including additional bike racks in high-demand areas, two public air pump stations, and a fix-it station where cyclists can access tools for quick fixes.
Wellesley College Introduces Bike Share Program
(U.S.): The college will provide 15 bikes for checkout over a 24-hour period to the campus community as part of a new bike share program. A grant from the Class of 1957 Green Fund kick-started the program and will also provide resources to students who already own bikes.
Lincoln Memorial U Introduces Bike Share Program
A fleet of 20 bicycles, 10 mountain bikes and 10 cruisers are available to the campus community as part of a recently launched bike checkout program. The university will also further its bicycle-friendly efforts by designating cycling-specific lanes on campus roadways, installing improved bicycle parking at all residence halls and posting bicycle safety signs.
Florida International U Opens Campus Bike Shop
The FIU Bike Shop, now open at the Modesto Maidique Campus, provides tune-ups, tire installations, safety checks, part replacements and other adjustments. The shop is open to both students and the public, with students receiving discounted prices for all services. In 2013, the Bike Shop plans to hold bike repair workshops for students.
Montgomery County CC Opens Parking Lot for Energy-Efficient Cars
The college has opened a new parking lot designated for students, faculty and staff who carpool or drive energy-efficient vehicles. The lot also includes charging stations for electric vehicles, LED lighting, subsurface infiltration system, rain gardens and vegetated swales with check dams to slow the rate of run-off conveyance.
SUNY New Paltz Reduces Campus Parking Spots
In an effort to encourage students, faculty and staff to walk more and use public transit, the university has announced plans to reduce the number of parking spaces on campus. As part of the effort, the university will add about a dozen additional bikes racks throughout campus this year.
U Oregon Installs Bike Repair Stations
The university’s Outdoor Program is installing bike "Fixit" stations across campus that include tools for performing basic bicycle maintenance and repair. Funded primarily through the Student Sustainability Fund, six stations will be completed by the end of fall term
Colorado State U Adds More Bike Fix Stands
Following the success of its first bike fix stand, installed at the beginning of the year, the university has announced plans to add six more across campus. The stand is free for all to use and includes tools for helping bicyclists repair flats and complete basic tune-ups.
Hawaii Pacific U Introduces Carpooling Website
The university has launched GreenRide, an online map-based carpool program that connects people who want to share rides. The free service will also let users see how much they save by sharing a ride to campus.
U Iowa Introduces Car Sharing Program
The university has partnered with Zipcar to launch a campus car sharing program for students, faculty, staff and members of the Iowa City community. The university and Iowa City have identified 10 designated parking places around campus and downtown where registered members can find vehicles to rent.
U North Carolina Chapel Hill Debuts Bike Sharing Program
Students living in three south campus residence halls will have access to 30 bicycles for one-day rentals as part of the recently launched Tar Heel Bikes. The two-year pilot program received $40,000 in grants and hopes to expand to include the entire campus.
Wake Technical CC Adds Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Two charging stations have been installed on the campus as part of a U.S. Department of Energy funded research project focused on the large-scale adoption of plug-in vehicles, led by Progress Energy Carolinas. Data collected from the public-access stations will inform charging needs outside the home as well as the impact on the grid and associated costs and issues. At the project's completion in April 2013, ownership and maintenance responsibilities for the stations will transfer to the college.
IIT Bangalore Launches Bicycle Sharing Initiative
(India): The institute has partnered with Ride A Cycle Foundation’s Namma Cycle to offer bicycles for rent to the campus community. Based on the success of the pilot, the project may be expanded to incorporate areas surrounding the campus.
Temple U Introduces Electric Car Charging Stations
(U.S.): Students danced the "Electric Slide" as two hybrid-electric cars were introduced to campus recently as part of the PhillyCarShare program. The university has also unveiled two new electric car charging stations for use by the campus community. The electric cars and stations are part of the university's goal of reducing energy consumption by 25 percent in two years.
Bellevue College Implements Ride Share Program
The college has received a grant of $21,000 from King County Metro and $26,500 from the Washington State Department of Transportation to offer rideshare incentives to students and employees, and provide fare subsidies for commuter vanpools. The grants will also fund the launch of BC RideMatch, a website that will allow students, faculty and staff to connect with carpoolers.
Berklee College of Music Creates Bike Pavilion
Features include parking for 75 bikes and charging stations for five electric scooters, as well as a repair station with an air pump and various tools. The facility is an attempt to protect the bikes from theft and to encourage alternative forms of transportation.
CSU East Bay to Offer Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Two new charging stations will be installed as part of California State University, East Bay’s master plan to transition to more sustainable technologies. The university will also replace outdated parking lot pole units with more energy-efficient plasma lighting systems. The projects will receive funding through renewable energy grants.
Florida Gulf Coast U Brings Car Sharing Program to Campus
The university has partnered with WeCar by Enterprise to offer an on-campus car sharing program for faculty, staff and students. The initiative will kick off with two vehicles and, if successful, the university plans to add additional cars to the program.
McMaster U Wins Clean Air Commute
The university avoided the emission of 6.89 tons of pollutants during the week-long Clean Air Commute, taking the top spot for its size category among 180 workplaces in the challenge. Taking place across Ontario, the challenge encouraged the use of sustainable modes of transportation to work or school.
Southwestern Illinois College Starts Green Transportation Program
In partnership with St. Clair County Transit District, the college will work to better incorporate the College MetroLink Station into the campus and surrounding community for improved alternative transportation options. A MetroBikeLink, a trail adjacent to the light rail tracks, will also be expanded and include a pedestrian bridge. The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2013.
U Louisville Launches Earn-A-Bike Program
Students, faculty and staff who agree to forfeit a parking pass as part of the university's new Earn-A-Bike program will receive a $400 voucher toward a new bike, helmet, U-lock or other bike-related products and services.
U Utah to Introduce Electric Transit Bus
The university has ordered an electric bus to transport students across campus. The bus will charge its batteries wirelessly through a pioneering recharge-station technology developed by Utah State University. Funding was provided by a federal grant.
U Louisville to Launch Car Sharing Program
The university has partnered with Enterprise Rent-A-Car to offer an on-campus car-sharing program for faculty, staff and students beginning this fall. Rental costs for the WeCar by Enterprise program range from $8 per hour to $56 per day including fuel, 200 free miles, insurance for basic physical damage to the vehicle, and state-required liability protection.
Arkansas State U Pilots Biodiesel Blend in Campus Trucks
The Renewable Energy Technology program has increased the production of biodiesel to compare its emissions levels with vehicles that run entirely on petroleum diesel. If the biodiesel proves more economically and environmentally friendly, students in the program will advocate for producing enough biodiesel for all campus trucks.
U Buffalo Introduces New Fleet of Eco-Friendly Buses
To meet the demand of increased ridership among the campus community, the university has purchased a new fleet of environmentally friendly buses that use cleaner fuel with a mixture of biodiesel. The buses are equipped with bike racks, and riders will be able to track the fleet using a mobile app and website.
U Arizona Launches Social Network for Ridesharing
The Zimride platform uses Facebook integration for the campus community to share commutes or one-time rides. The university aims to reduce campus traffic and parking difficulties, and provide a cost-saving transportation alternative.
NY Times Covers Rise of Hybrid Vehicle Curriculum Programs
"As automakers increase their efforts to design vehicles that are more fuel-efficient and friendlier to the environment, engineering programs are likewise adapting their curriculums, preparing students to build vehicles increasingly powered by batteries and managed by computers," reports a recent New York Times article. Because of the growing complexity of hybrid vehicles, automakers are "eager to work closely with universities" by expanding internships and other partnerships to find students capable of creating vehicles that use alternative powertrains. The article profiles curriculums at Ohio State University, Purdue University (Indiana) and the University of Michigan, which has added new courses on energy systems and modified automotive engineering courses to include the electrification of the vehicle.
Palo Alto College Starts Bike Sharing Program
Designed to boost athleticism and environmentally friendly travel by encouraging students to ditch their cars, the recently launched program includes 12 refurbished bikes stationed at green bike racks across campus. Additional bikes are currently being repaired for the program.
La Trobe U Introduces Online Carpool Match System
(Australia): The new initiative coordinates carpooling among staff, students and the wider La Trobe community. The online system allows users to register their travel details and organize carpooling options based on multiple matches along multiple routes.
Utah State U to Launch Idle-Free Initiative
The initiative is designed to encourage drivers to turn of their engines while not moving in an effort to cut down on carbon emissions. The university's Sustainability Council will train students, faculty and staff to inform drivers of the initiative and provide information on the benefits of having an idle-free campus.
