Gamecocks use alternative transportation
USC President Harris Pastides said he looks for any excuse to ride a bike.
He found one Tuesday while participating in Travel Lightly Day.
The event was organized by the newly formed Bike Advisory Committee, which is sponsored by Outdoor Recreation and is part of Sustainable Carolina.
Katie Coley, the director of Outdoor Recreation, said the idea came from national Bike to Work Day, which is in May. Coley said since most students will not be on campus in May, Travel Lightly Day was organized during the semester as way to get students involved in the initiative to use alternate transportation.
The day is not only meant to show that USC and the city of Columbia are taking steps toward becoming more suited for bikers, but also to promote sustainability and healthy living.
“It’s a big day of bike-friendly culture, sustainability and health initiatives,” Coley said.
The Bike Advisory Committee promoted the use of bikes, skateboards, walking, carpooling and public transportation as sustainable alternative modes of transportation through the event.
The day featured tables set up throughout campus with information about biking and sustainability, special reserved spaces for carpoolers, a group bike ride and a raffle drawing.
The group bike ride began at Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center and ended on Greene Street in front of the Russell House. Participants wore Travel Lightly Day shirts, and most rode bikes, though some traveled via skateboards.
Along the way, Pastides and first lady Patricia Moore-Pastides joined the group on their bikes.
“I’m an avid biker,” Pastides said. “I find it’s a great way to get exercise and to free myself from the cares of the day.”
Pastides said the event was “phenomenal” and very important to both the university and the community.
Pastides also said he is working with Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, along with the city and county council, in order to make Columbia a better environment for bikers.
“You can’t have a bike-friendly campus and a bike-unfriendly city,” Pastides said. “That doesn’t work.”
Following the group bike ride was a raffle drawing. Participants in the parade were eligible to enter the drawing.
Prizes were provided through donations from local businesses Outspokin’ Bicycles, Cycle Center and Salty’s Surf Shop. These included hats, skateboard wheels, bike locks, a skateboard and a new bike, among others.
Carter Cox, program coordinator for the Bike Advisory Committee, said the event is one of many events and initiatives hoping to push a culture shift within the community toward being more sustainable and health conscious.
“We are really working to create a culture shift at the university,” Cox said. “Having all of these different options for transportation is one way we can be healthy and we can be more sustainable.”
Though only in its first year, Coley said the event had an impact and will “definitely” become an annual occurrence.
Pastides said the university is pushing to become more bike-friendly with the addition of bike paths and an extension of the gates on Greene Street, among other initiatives. Events like Travel Lightly Day, Pastides said, are very important to promote these initiatives and make them a reality.
In addition to relying more on bikes as a form of transportation, Pastides said he encourages students to practice safety, such as wearing a helmet.
Ultimately, Pastides hopes bikes will be used more as a mode of transportation.
“Get a good bike, use your bike, bring it to campus and leave your car at home,” Pastides said.
Coley said events and initiatives like Travel Lightly Day will continue and hopefully gain more support from students and the university community.
“Everyone’s excited about biking on campus,” Coley said. “We want to keep that rolling.”