By Derek Doss, Jr., Intramural Sports Graduate Assistant, University of South Florida
The field of collegiate recreation is always working to grow and adapt as the needs and interests of our campuses continually expand and diversify.
One idea that has grown across all professional fields is the idea of “Going Green,” or working to make your program more environmentally friendly.
This innovative idea has displayed itself in multiple facets of collegiate recreation’s diverse program areas.
The Outdoor Recreation program at the University of South Florida is a prime example of this trend; the program is working to help advance the field and environmentally-friendly practices with its “Borrow Our Bikes” initiative.
Through the “Borrow Our Bikes” program, students are able to check out bikes for the day from the Outdoor Recreation Center. The rental is free of charge, so long as the bike is returned in appropriate condition. This program has also increased the bike repair services that Outdoor Recreation offers, making students’ personal bike use more affordable, feasible, and sustainable.
The University of South Florida’s “Borrow Our Bikes” program is promoting healthy lifestyles and sustainability.One reason “Borrow Our Bikes” is seeing such success at the University of South Florida is that the goals of the program—including promotion of healthy lifestyles and creation of more sustainable community environments—align with and mirror some of the core goals of the campus recreation department and the university as a whole. The three entities are able to support one another while in pursuit of the same mission.
The goal of promoting a healthy lifestyle is exemplified through the action of bicycling. This program makes bicycles more accessible and ready to use through both renting them out and repairing them. Students are then able to use bicycles to travel during the day rather than vehicles that require minimal physical activity.
Likewise, the program is increasing sustainability in the community by encouraging students to use their personal energy, which is renewable, instead of utilizing non-renewable fossil fuels.
The University of South Florida has recognized this strong, growing program and expressed its support and appreciation. The university has considered expanding the program to a new, even more readily accessible site with increased employee-funding. Attaching traceable, GPS technology to the bicycles to ensure safety of the equipment, as well as increase customer service and accessibility, is the newest idea that is being reviewed at the institution.
Outdoor Recreation is proud to see the “Borrow Our Bikes” program continue to grow and, in the process, set and increase the national standard for sustainability in the field of campus recreation.
