That’s what a recent campus survey found, according to Justin Mog, assistant to the provost for sustainability initiatives.
Mog and others are planning a Transportation Alternatives Fair on May 10 ? the first day of summer session? to give people the information they need.
Driving to campus accounts for nearly 10 percent of the university’s greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to health problems, Mog said. The abundance of traffic also makes campus less safe and puts tremendous pressure on our resources to provide parking.
As someone who has lived my entire life without a driver’s license, I want to help others think outside the car, he said. Whether you live in Old Louisville or Oldham County, we want to help you overcome the barriers that keep you from considering ways to drive less and live more.
The fair will be outside next to the Rauch Planetarium from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. It will move to an area near Gottschalk Hall and the Quad from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Rain date is May 11 at the same times and locations.
UofL faculty, staff and students who use alternative transportation will be on hand to provide firsthand tips and information.
Representatives from TARC, Ticket to Ride, Bicycling for Louisville, the Coalition for the Advancement of Regional Transportation and Bike Louisville also will provide information and resources.
The idea is to have the resources necessary for people to learn about carpooling, biking, walking or taking the bus to campus, Mog said. Free bus maps and schedules will be available. Bicycle mechanics will be on hand to give bicycle tune-ups, and there will be information about how to manage such daily challenges as bad weather, changed plans, carrying stuff and how to dress.
The Transportation Alternatives Fair is part of UofL’s broader participation in the citywide Bike to Work Month – May 2010.
UofL faculty, staff and students can begin registering teams now for Louisville’s Bike to Work Commuter Challenge (May 1-20) online. Everyone is invited to a final Bike to Work Day Celebration with the presentation of team awards and the coveted golden handlebars at 4th Street Live at noon, Friday, May 21, Mog said.
UofL is taking steps to make car-free alternatives even more attractive but when it comes down to it, this is really an issue of personal choice, he said.
Transportation Alternatives Fair organizers hope that by providing information and resources to faculty, staff and students, they can help people make the right choice and have more fun getting to campus than they would have driving alone, he said.
