Sustainability@P&T

Bike to Work Week 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:21:00 +0000

May is National Bike Month and U.Va is partnering with Bike Charlottesville and other community organizations to celebrate Bike to Work Week from May 13 - 17.

Join Bike Charlottesville outside the Student Activities Building (SAB) near Scott Stadium to kick-off the week with a "Bike Across Charlottesville" to a press conference on the Downtown Mall. Please plan to be outside the SAB at 11:45am so we can leave right at noon to get to the press conference by 12:30pm.

On Tuesday Charlottesville Community Bikes will host a "Better On A Bike Open House" from 5:00pm-7:00pm at their location on Avon Street (405 Avon Street near Garrett Street).

Cyclists are invited to join the Charlottesville Ride of Silence on Wednesday at 7pm. The ride, part of the National Ride of Silence, is a group ride in memory of cyclists who have been injured or killed while riding a bike. Advanced online registration is available at https://www.bikereg.com/Net/19452.

Bike to Work Day is May 18. To help encourage new commuters, and keep them hydrated and refreshed, Blue Wheel Bicycles and U.Va Parking and Transportation will be setting up "Energizer Stations" from 7am-9am and 4pm-6pm. Blue Wheel Bicycles will be at the Main Street Market on West Main Street with fresh cookies from Albemarle Baking Company. U.Va Parking and Transportation will be outside the Student Activities Buildling (SAB) off of Alderman Road near Scott Stadium.

Bike Maintenance Clinic on Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 23:46:00 +0000

Photo by Dan Addison

Have you seen the Bike Fix-It Stations on Grounds? Ever wondered how to use them?

Stop by the Bike Fix-It Station at O-Hill on Thursday between 4pm-6pm to learn how to use the stations to perform basic maintenance on your bike. Jake Fox and David Tucker of Velotelier will be at the station giving maintenance tips to students, faculty/staff, and community members.

Thanks to partnerships with U.Va Dining and the School of Architecture, there are now four stations on Grounds to help cyclists stay on the move. A fifth station will be installed outside the Elson Student Health Center in the next week thanks to a GIFT grant secured by the Green Grounds Group. Stations are currently available near Clark Hall, Campbell Hall, O-Hill Dining Hall, and Runk Dining Hall.

NBC29 WVIR Charlottesville, VA News, Sports and Weather

Rivanna Trail Work Party
Parking & Transportation is also partnering with the Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club (CAMBC) and the Rivanna Trails Foundation (RTF) to clean up part of the Rivanna Trail in North Grounds. The Trail Work Party will run from 9am-12pm on Thursday, with free refreshments provided by U.Va Dining. Volunteers do not have to have prior experience and tools will be provided. Volunteers should plan to bring comfortable clothes and gloves. More information is available at www.virginia.edu/parking/TDM/class.html.

Earth Week Continues
There's still time to check out more Earth Week activities at U.Va throughout the week. Visit http://earthweekuva.me/ to see a complete list of events.

On Wednesday, U.Va will host the Earth Week Expo on Wednesday in Newcomb Hall. The Expo will feature representatives from various departments involved in sustainability efforts beginning at 11:30am. A locally sourced lunch will be provided by U.Va Dining for attendees of the event. A presentation regarding how U.Va. nitrogen research is cultivating new understanding of the environment and prompting institutional and individual changes will begin at noon. The presentation will be opened by U.Va's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Office Pat Hogan and will feature speakers David Neuman (University Architect), Alley Leach (Graduate Student), and Ariel Majidi (Undergraduate Student).

Exhibits will reopen at 1:00pm, along with the Fifth Annual Student Sustainability Project Poster Competition.

Below are some shots of events held on Monday including the U.Va Triathlon Club's Bike the Lawn event, U.Va Dining's Zero Waste Earth Week EMPSU Picnic at Runk, and Student Council's Student Garden Planting Party.

Earth Week is Here!

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:49:00 +0000

It's Earth Day and U.Va is celebrating all week long! Students, faculty, staff, and community members are all coming together to host a variety of events to celebrate our Earth.

Monday, April 22

3:30-5:30 PM – Bike the Lawn: UVA’s Triathlon Team will host a trainer ride session on the Upper Lawn, along with Blue Ridge Cyclery and other community biking groups.

5:00-8:00 PM – Earth Week Picnic: Join UVA Dining for a zero-waste picnic outside of Runk Dining Hall.

6:00 PM-Sunset – The Big Spring Thing : Ever grown your own food before? Join Student Council, Fourth Year Trustees, and other gardeners in the Community Garden (across from O Hill) and plant some mint, parsley, or basil that you can take home in a small pot and use for your own cooking! Just bring your own recycled container and we’ll have seeds and snacks for free.

Tuesday, April 23

11:00 AM-2:00 PM – A Fair Exchange: Come out to Fresh Food Company (in Newcomb Dining Hall) to sample fair trade Starbucks coffee and chocolates given away in a reusable mug!

12:00-1:00 PM – UVA Earth Walk: Hoos Well and UVA Sustainability will celebrate sustainability and wellness with a walk around UVA, starting at the Rotunda. Reusable water bottles and other healthy goodies will be given away! Register at http://www.hr.virginia.edu/other-hr-services/hooswell/.

2:00-3:00 PM – Leave No Trace: Learn from our Boy Scouts about responsibly enjoying the outdoors. Leave No Trace is a program that teaches people of all ages how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly, and is the most widely accepted outdoor ethics program on public land. Meet us there in Newcomb Ballroom!

5:00-6:30 PM – Tapped: The Movie: Join the UVa Green Challenge team in Clemons 321 to watch this documentary which trails the path of the bottled water industry and the communities which were the unwitting chips on the table, and gain insight into the intersection of big business and public’s right to water. You can watch the trailer here.

6:00-8:30 PM – SustainaFroyo: Green Grounds is hosting a discussion among UVA’s Sustainafolk, to celebrate the progress university and community groups have made throughout the semester at Darden Court in the Engineering School. Look out for signup information.

6:00 PM – GMO Panel: Join experts grounded in science who will address what genetically modified foods are, the science behind them, their safety or lack thereof, benefits and risks, and current research. Since some stores, including Whole Foods, have publicly committed to label all GMO products within the next five years, this issue may soon be a decision for all who eat. Hopefully this forum gives you the tools to make the decision! Come out to Nau 101 for stimulating discussion and snacks provided by Whole Foods!

Wednesday, April 24

11:00 AM-2:00 PM – Earth Week Expo: UVA’s Earth Week in the Newcomb Ballroom will feature presentations on UVA’s Nitrogen Footprint research and application both at an institutional and personal level. There will be exhibits of community, student, and employee sustainability groups as well as a presentation on UVA’s sustainability initiatives by Architect of the University David Neuman. UVA Dining will provide a local, sustainable lunch for this zero-waste event. Look for more info at http://www.virginia.edu/sustainability/earth-week-expo/.

4:00-6:00 PM – Local Food Fair: Sample local food offerings at the Fine Arts Cafe!

5:00-6:30 PM – Slow Food Cooking Lesson: Join Slow Food in the Lorna Sundberg International Center for a cooking lesson utilizing your local food options. Space is limited to 15 people, first come first serve! Sign up here.

6:00-7:30 PM – Work Day at the Community Garden: Join us in the Community Garden (across from O Hill) for planting, water, weeding, and whatever else needs to be done in the garden. It’s the perfect time of year to come check out what’s sprouting and blooming in the garden, and workers are welcome to take home whatever is harvested.

Thursday, April 25

9:00 AM-12:00 PM – CAMBC Trail Work Day: UVA is partnering with the Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club to clean up the Rivanna Trail by O Hill, a local hiking and biking trail. UVA Dining will provide complementary refreshments. No experience necessary! www.virginia.edu/parking/TDM/class.html

9:00-10:00 AM – Living Machine Talk: The Water Working Group of the UVA Environmental Impact Subcommittee has organized a talk in Newcomb 481 from representatives from the Living Machine. Their system treats raw sewage so that it can be used for industrial, agricultural, and other uses around Charlottesville, and is most visible in the Dell. Come find out more about this system, and it’s future with UVA.

11:00 AM-2:00 PM – Green Career Fair: Come to the Clark Hall Mural room to meet representatives from companies in sustainability-related fields. Look out for a list of employers!

12:30-2:30 PM – Ice Cream HOOS Scream: Meet UVA Dining in O Hill to sample some of Ben and Jerry’s fair-trade flavors!

3:00-4:30 PM – Food Photography 101: Join Slow Food at UVA with the renowned photographers behind Beyond the Flavor for a lesson in photographing food. Sarah Cramer and Andrea Hubbell will discuss their latest project and give some tricks of the trade in a food photography workshop. Be sure to sign up as soon as possible!

4:00-6:00 PM – Bike Maintenance Workshop: Learn from the experts at the O Hill bike fix-it station for a workshop on bike maintenance. It’s a chance to learn the basics or brush up on your skills!

6:30-7:30 PM – Renewable Energy Dialogue: Join this dialogue between speakers, students, and community-members on renewable energy and Charlottesville’s energy future, held in Clark 108.

7:30-9:30 PM – Blackout Thursday Movie in the Field: Enjoy a movie and a cookout on Lambeth Field, hosted by Lambeth Res Life.

10:00 PM-2:00 AM – Earth Week Bar Night: Grab a UVA Sustainability sticker or pin from any Earth Week event, and enjoy deals on drinks at Boylan!

Friday, April 26

8:30-9:30 AM – Duplex Derby Champions Breakfast: UVA Sustainability will host a free breakfast for the winning department of the Duplex Derby double-sided printing competition.

2:00 PM – UVA Living eARTh: Come out to Nameless Field to help create an aerial image out of people, captured by the GIS balloon. Lookout for signup information! Click here to sign-up and help us get a head count.

Saturday, April 27

12:00 PM-1:30 PM – Work Day at the Community Garden: Join us in the Community Garden (across from O Hill) for planting, water, weeding, and whatever else needs to be done in the garden. It’s the perfect time of year to come check out what’s sprouting and blooming in the garden, and workers are welcome to take home whatever is harvested.

Sunday, April 28

4:00-6:00 PM – TJ’s Work with the Earth: Enjoy an informative tour about the history and uses of plants, brought to life by current interns in the Thomas Jefferson Demo Garden in Hereford College. End your Earth Week working in the garden to enjoy nature in its purest form!

Rivanna Trail Work Party

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:28:00 +0000

Earth Week is coming! Student organizations, community groups, and U.Va departments are all coming together to host a variety of events all week long. Visit the Earth Week 2013 website for a complete listing of events.

Parking and Transportation will be participating in some of the festivities next week including a bike maintenance clinic, the Rivanna Trail Work Party, the Green Career Fair, and the Earth Week Expo.

CAMBC is providing guidance in clearing a historic section on the RTF as part of U.Va.'s Earth Week. We need volunteers to help clear out fallen trees and overgrowth on a historic site "The Poor House."

No experience is necessary! Tools will be available, but please bring shears or clippers if you have them. Please plan to wear comfortable clothing and gloves. U.Va Dining will be providing refreshments for volunteers.

U.Va. full time employees may use their volunteer/service leave (with supervisor's approval) to help with this service project.

More Information & Registration for the Event: http://www.virginia.edu/parking/TDM/class.html.

Get to the Market!

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:35:00 +0000

Spring is finally here and the weather is perfect for a visit to the Charlottesville City Market.

On Saturday, April 13, Velotelier is hosting a group ride from U.Va to the City Market. The group will depart from Campbell Hall at 10:00am and take a scenic route through Grounds, the Fry's Springs neighborhood, and Azalea Park before arriving Downtown for the City Market. Participants are encouraged to bring a helmet, water, and extra tubes.

The City Market runs from 7:00am-12:00pm from April to December and features a variety of vendors selling fruits, veggies, baked goods, crafts, unique gifts, and much more. This is a great way for students to learn how to get to the market by bike.

If you can't make it to the ride tomorrow, U.Va Sustainability will be hosting the "Progressive Farmer's Market" outreach event on Saturday, April 20. Student representatives will be at the Thornton Hall bus stop and the bus stop on Alderman Road across from Gooch/Dillard to help students learn how to get to the City Market by taking the FREE Trolley. Learn more about this Earth Week activity at www.virginia.edu/sustainability/earth-week/.

General Assembly Passes Transportation Legislation

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 18:31:00 +0000

Major changes to how Virginia funds transportation projects passed during the General Assembly's last day of the 2013 regular session. The bill passed with a 25-15 vote in the Senate and a 60-40 vote in the House.

The new transportation plan is expected to provide $880 million in additional funds into transportation each year by 2018. The bill also replaces the 17.5 cent-per-gallon gas tax with a 3.5% wholesale tax on gas and 6% wholesale tax on diesel. Registration fees for electric and alternative fuel vehicles will increase from $50 to $100.

The legislation also raises the state sales tax on nonfood purchases from 5% to 5.3%, with the three-tenths of a percentage point dedicated to transportation funding. Additionally, $200 million from the general fund revenue would be dedicated to transportation each year.

Passenger rail, like Amtrak's Northeast Regional, also benefits from the plan as it creates a dedicated funding source.

Click here to read Governor Bob McDonnell's statement regarding the passage of this legislation: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/news/viewRelease.cfm?id=1693

U.Va Dining Bike Fix-It Stations Installed

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 14:24:00 +0000

On February 6, Parking and Transportation installed two more Bike Fix-It Stations on U.Va Grounds. The stations, sponsored by U.Va Dining Services, were installed outside of O-Hill and Runk. Read more about the program in U.Va Today's Article: Three More DIY Bicycle Repair Stations Installed on U.Va. Grounds

Runk Dining Hall Bike Fix-It Station

Photo by Dan Addison (U.Va Today Article, 2/11/2013)

On Board Recycling

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:07:00 +0000

Just in time for Recyclemania, University Transit Service (UTS) passengers may now recycle plastics, metal, paper and glass used while riding the bus. Each bus has a blue "recyclables only" bag that passengers may place these items in.

Remember to help U.Va win Recyclemania in 2013! Recyclemania is an annual nationwide competition that runs through March 31. Follow U.Va Sustainability on Facebook and Twitter for ranking updates.

Bike Maintenance Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:53:00 +0000

The School of Architecture will be hosting a bike maintenance workshop at the newly installed Bike Fix-It Station outside of Campbell Hall on Thursday, January 31, from 4pm-6pm. This is a great opportunity to receive some pointers on keeping your bike in tip-top shape.

Avis Budget Group to Acquire Zipcar

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 15:32:00 +0000

Avis Budget Group, a leading global provider of vehicle rental services through its Avis and Budget brands, will acquire Zipcar for $12.25 per share, totaling approximately $500 million. The acquisition is expected to be completed in the spring of 2013.

Zipcar, the world's leading car sharing network, has over 760,000 members. Zipcar has been active on the Grounds of the University of Virginia since November 2009. U.Va Zipsters have access to 7 Zipcars located around Grounds. U.Va Zipsters over 21 years-of-age also have access to Zipcars at over 300 other colleges and Universities, as well as various metropolitan areas including the Washington DC metro area, Boston, New York City, and Baltimore.

For more information, please read the full press release available on Zipcar's website: http://zipcar.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=294

Second Bike Fix-It Station Installed

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 21:03:00 +0000

Thanks to a partnership between Parking & Transportation and the School of Architecture, a second Bike Fix-It Station has been installed on Grounds. The newly redesigned station is available 24/7 outside of Campbell Hall at the School of Architecture.

The School of Architecture Bike Fix-It Station follows the successful pilot installation of a station outside of Clark Hall in April of 2011. These Bike Fix-It Stations, manufactured by Dero, provide cyclists with tools and an air pump to perform basic maintenance on their bikes.

Election Day Transportation

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:38:00 +0000

On Election Day, Tuesday, November 6, 2012, Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) will offer free service on all CAT buses. The Fare-FREE Day is designed to provide reliable transportation to the polls for all residents.

As a higher than expected voter turnout is expected this Election Day, parking challenges may develop. Residents are encouraged to take free public transportation.

Daytime routes operate Monday through Saturday from 6:15 AM until 6:45 PM, with night service until 11:45 PM on selected routes.

Visit www.catchthecat.org to find a table showing routes closest to your polling location.

"Zip to the polls" this election day with half-price Zipcar rates between 5:00am and 9:00pm. Visit www.zipcar.com/zip-to-the-polls for details about the program.

VDOT Updates State Biking Map

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:31:00 +0000

The Virginia Department of Transportation recently updated it's "Bicycling in Virginia" guide and map. The new map features safety tips and bicycle trails. The map is available in all Virginia Welcome Centers and can be ordered at http://www.virginiadot.org/bikemap/.

Vanpooling 101 Information Session

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:37:00 +0000

Check out P&T's next Lunch & Learn session, "Vanpooling 101: Everything you need to know about vanpooling", for U.Va faculty and staff on April 16 - the first day of Earth Week 2012.

The workshop will bring together employees looking to reduce their commuting costs by sharing the ride. VPSI, Inc. experts Damian Gray and Chris Fenderson while discuss the benefits of vanpooling while guests are treated to a delicious U.Va Dining catered lunch. A question and answer session will follow allowing attendees to get more acquainted with idea of vanpooling to U.Va.

Sign up at http://www.virginia.edu/parking/TDM/class.html

CAMBC Spring Mountain Bike Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:21:00 +0000

The Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club (CAMBC) is hosting the second Mountain Bike Festival in McIntire Park this Sunday, April 1, at Shelter #1. It's free, it's fun, and it's in your local park!

The event will feature trail work (no experience necessary) and clinics/rides for kids, beginner adults and intermediates. Participants in the clinics/rides are required to have a helmet and a bike suitable for off-road conditions.

Several area bike shops will be on hand to help you get outfitted for your style of riding. Blue Ridge Cyclery will be offering free bike safety checks and tune-ups.

To learn more about this event, please visit http://www.cambc.org/.

New Zipcars!

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:47:00 +0000

Two new Zipcars have joined the U.Va fleet. Meet Futuristic and Flurry, both fuel efficient Ford Focus cars. These Zipcars are located on Jefferson Park Avenue at the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library near the JPA/Hospital bus shelter served by the Inner U-Loop, Green Route, Stadium/Hospital Shuttle and the CAT Free Trolley.

Visit www.zipcar.com/uva to sign up and get moving!

America Recycles Day

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:42:00 +0000

America Recycles Day is November 15, 2011. Communities across the country have been hosting America Recycles Day events since 1997 to raise awareness of the importance of recycling.

U.Va Sustainability is hosting a Green Resource Fair on the South end of the Lawn from 10am-3pm. The Fair will feature a recycled art contest, the Cabell Campaign, giveaways and raffles for t-shirts, a "CAN" you guess contest and dumpster dive.

You can also sign the America Recycles Day pledge online: http://americarecyclesday.org/pledge/

Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator Job Opening

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:31:00 +0000

The City of Charlottesville's Neighborhood Development Services is hiring a Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator. This is a long-term temporary position that will work to improve bicycle and pedestrian access, facilities and awareness throughout the City of Charlottesville.

Learn more about this opportunity on the City of Charlottesville Job Board: http://bit.ly/v9ImmZ

Upcoming Bike Clinics

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:45:00 +0000

Blue Ridge Cyclery, located at 1043 Millmont Street near the Barracks Road Shopping Center, will be hosting two clinics this week:

Wednesday at 5:30pm: Chain Care and Flat Repairs
Aimed at beginning riders or anyone that wants a refresher, practice, and quicker flat changes in races. This will involve hands on practice, so come prepared to crawl on the floor and get a bit greasy.

Thursday at 5:30pm: Winter Apparel Discussion
Come by for a small presentation and discussion on base layering, over protection, thermal wear properties, and how to keep water bottles, feet, and hands from freezing in the winter months. Hear some tips on mistakes made in the past by us on rides, and tricks that we have found to work well.

Wi-Fi Now Available on Northeast Regional Amtrak Trains

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:33:00 +0000

Traveling along the east coast with Amtrak just got even more convenient with free access to basic Wi-Fi service. Students and staff traveling on the daily Northeast Regional line from Charlottesville to destinations in Northern VA, Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York and beyond can now stay connected while on the go.

Check out Amtrak's Journey with Wi-Fi page for more information. For more information about the Northeast Regional service please visit http://www.virginia.edu/parking/TDM/driven/rail.html.

Green Initiatives for Tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:21:00 +0000

Green Initiatives for Tomorrow (GIFT) is a brand new student-created program that will award $20,000 for sustainable initiatives around Grounds. Have an idea to make the University more sustainable? Any student, student organization, faculty or staff member can apply. Funds need to be dispersed this year so grants will be awarded to multiple projects.

An information session about the GIFT program will be held on Tuesday, November 8 at 6:00pm in Room 107 of Clark Hall. Come on out to learn about how the program works, exchange ideas, and enjoy free pizza!

Mia Birk at Lane Auditorium Tonight!

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Today the NLI Alumni Alumni are bringing Mia Birk to the Lane Auditorium (401 McIntire Road, Albemarle County Office Building).

Mia Birk is an internationally renowned speaker and author of Joyride: Pedaling Toward a Healthier Planet - The Keys to Transforming Communities and Empowering People, One Pedal Stroke at a Time. She will be sharing her experiences in Portland, OR and its transformation into a cycling mecca.

The event will take place this evening from 7pm-9pm followed by a book signing session. The presentation is free and open to the public.

NLI Alumni Event Featuring Mia BirkThursday, October 27th from 7-9pm

Free & Open to the Public

Book signing to follow

Albemarle County Office Building, Lane Auditorium

401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville

The public is also invited to One Community's "Land Use and Transportation Workshop" that will feature representatives from the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC). This is an opportunity to learn about existing land use and transportation goals and offer suggestions for how these goals can more effectively serve the community's interests. YOU can help shape the development of our community. This event is free and open to the public, and will be held from 4pm-7pm in the Albemarle County Office Building.

Land Use and Transportation Workshop

Thursday, October 27th from 4-7pm

Overview presentation: 4:30, 5:30, 6:30pm

Free & Open to the Public

Albemarle County Office Building, 2nd Floor

401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville

Introducing ZIMRIDE!

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:41:00 +0000

Need a ride? Try Zimride, U.Va's new private ridesharing network that allows students and staff to post and find rides out-of-town or for regular commutes.

Zimride is free, fun and easy to use. Zimride also integrates with Facebook allowing users to import parts of their profile into the system. Users can either post a desired trip that will be compared to all existing trips in the system, or they can search based on origin, destination, or date. Once you find someone to ride with, use Zimride's messaging system to ask if you can join the ride.

Don't worry if you don't find a ride match right away. Zimride will notify you via e-mail if someone posts a ride that matches yours. You can also allow students from VCU, JMU, GMU, and the University of Richmond see your ride post to find a match.

After only being live for a couple of weeks, Zimride at U.Va already has 843 members. Visit http://zimride.virginia.edu and log in using your Netbadge ID to give it a try.

U.Va Bike Share Program is in the Works

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:48:00 +0000

NBC29 recently aired a story about U.Va developing the UBikes bike sharing program, which if implemented will be the largest University bike share program in the country.

Several cities have already implemented "third generation" bike sharing programs that allow members to reserve bikes by the half-hour or by the day. In these systems users are typically required to join as a member by paying an annual fee. Members are issued an access card or key fob that they use to check out bikes at strategically located stations. In most systems the first half-hour of use is free. Rates tend to increase the longer a user has a bike as these programs are meant to get users from point A to point B quickly so that the bike is then available for other members. Many of these programs also feature a visitor option, so that tourists or other visitors to the area can access the system. In this scenario a credit card is usually required to reserve the bike.

Some installations include Chicago, the Washington DC Metro Area and Montreal. The largest existing program, Vélib’ in Paris, features over 20,000 bikes and 1,200 stations. There are also University bike share programs, including those at UC Irvine and Washington State University.

U.Va is currently conducting a feasbility study to determine the appropriate size and placement of a bike share system. We are currently projecting a fleet of 100 bikes distributed across 13 stations, primarily centered around the McCormick Road corridor.

Bike Sale!

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Monceaux) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:17:00 +0000

Welcome back students! Hope you all got moved in and are having a great start to the Fall 2011 semester. On Monday Parking and Transportation hosted the first annual On Grounds Bike Sale outside the Student Activities Building. The sale featured three of Charlottesville's local bike shops: Blue Ridge Cyclery, Blue Wheel Bicycles and C'ville Bike & Tri. Students were also able to register their new or current bikes with the University Police Department (UPD). This program helps Officers return bikes to their owners if the bike is every lost or stolen. Community Bikes, the Boys and Girls Cycling Challenge, and the University Bookstore were also at the event with freebies, delicious smoothies, and great info for cyclists.

C'ville Bike and Tri's John Lawler helping a student try out a bike

Some RAs making Bike Blender Smoothies with Charlottesville Community Bikes

The Boys and Girls Club Cycling Challenge was on-site promoting their upcoming ride

The best locks were available at great prices

So many bikes!

Helmets - essential for all riders

Blue Ridge Cyclery's set-up

C'ville Bike and Tri's set-up

Blue Wheel Bicycle's Scott Paisley helping students at the Blue Wheel Bicycles set-up

Officer Angela Tabler registering a student's bike (online registration is also available at www.virginia.edu/uvapolice)

In addition the Bike Sale, a series of education classes were offered to help students learn the skills they need to properly maintain their bikes and ride safely. On Monday, during the Bike Sale, Mary and Rob Cook led "Bike Commuting 101" that prepares students and staff to commute to U.Va by bike. Scott Paisley of Blue Wheel Bicycles showed attendees "The Basics of Bike Maintenance" on Tuesday evening in Newcomb Hall. On Wednesday John Lawler of C'ville Bike and Tri hosted a presentation on "Safe Cycling" in Room 104 of the Kellogg Residence Hall. Charlottesville Community Bikes, a volunteer run bike shop, hosted an Open House at their shop on Preston Avenue Friday evening.