Beyond the gates...

Cindy Stone Coordinator of Traning and Comunications, IUB Physical Plant

Parking a problem? Here's a bike for you.

During the winter months, the Physical Plant Wellness Council has been busy building bicycles for some employees to ride during work hours. Whether workers need to go to another campus building for a meeting or just want exercise at lunch on a nice spring day, four bikes are ready to take out for a spin.

Last fall, the council conducted a survey, asking if employees would ride a bike for a short trip and exercise at the same time. More than 80 percent of those who responded said they would. Now, with the 10th Street and Fee Lane parking garage coming down, maybe even the undecided folks will consider riding a bike to avoid losing precious parking places.

The Wellness Council had a small budget and decided to start the program modestly. The council purchased four mountain bikes from IU Parking Operations, which holds an annual bike auction of unclaimed bikes. During the winter months, the bikes were rebuilt by a local "bike doctor" for safety and then Physical Plant staffers donated personal time to finish them out with cables, locks, bungees etc. The bikes can "fit" almost everyone; the seats have flip levers to easily adjust, and bikes are labeled for both taller or shorter people. (Streamers and horns are all that are missing and donations are still being accepted.)

The Physical Plant's Penny Burris prepares for a test drive.

If the pilot program is successful and there is additional interest, the council will obtain additional bikes for Physical Plant staff working in other areas. Starting this week, any Physical Plant, Architects Office or facilities staff member working for the Vice President for Administration (full- or part-time) can sign out a key 24 hours a day, seven days per week from the Service Building's Control Center. Employees can ride the bikes to meetings, job sites or just for fun and then bring it back to the Service Building.

If you are an eligible employee and would like a Physical Plant bike stationed in your zone, shop or office, contact a Wellness Council representative and the council will work on getting additional bikes to those areas.

Support for this program was funded by the Physical Plant, its employees and was organized by the Wellness Council, chaired by heating mechanic Jim Davis and electrician Steve LeBeau.

(Editor's note: If you or your department are interested in launching a similar initiative, contact Stone at 812-855-6296 for details.)

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