Green Gown Awards 2014 - Facilities and Services - University of Worcester - Winner

Bike Loan – mass bike hire on a shoestring

An affordable and easy to administer bicycle loan scheme which is designed to promote cycling through minimising the barriers to staff and students.

The project works together with a social enterprise where young people with learning disabilities can develop practical skills and increase their self-esteem by maintaining the loan bikes and managing the campus bike shop.

The scheme was launched in September 2013 to fill an identified gap in cycling provision. Staff and students pay an annual £20 membership fee and have the ability to hire bikes at any time from any 24/7 University reception.

The scheme aims to promote cycling and reduce car use; transport related carbon emissions account for 30% of the University’s footprint.

Top 3 learnings

1 Careful planning with buy-in from key stakeholders, especially those involved in booking the bikes and those who worry about reputational risk
2 Ensure the maintenance of bikes on a regular basis is built into the scheme at the start
3 Make the administration of the booking system simple. We are happy to share coding for the website.

What the judges say ...

Successful implementation in a difficult area. Judges appreciated detail on overcoming the many barriers in place, demonstrating perserverance. Great staff and student and social/community engagement and a replicable model.

What it means to win ...

“As an imaginative, community minded University, winning this Award provides valuable, independent recognition of our commitment to achieving sustainability through innovative, practical projects and solutions benefiting society as a whole as well as our students and staff.”

Professor David Green, Vice-Chancellor

Videos

• Bike Loan – mass bike hire on a shoestring (click to hide)