Resolution 13-11: BIKE OUR WAY TO HEALTH
| Number | 13-11 |
| Description | Implement a bike sharing program for UTA |
| Authored by |
William Addington |
| Sponsored by |
Sarpreet Singh |
| Date Submitted | Wednesday, April 17, 2013 |
| Date Considered | Tuesday, October 15, 2013 |
| Committee | Student Affairs |
| Result | n/a |
| Remarks | IMPLEMENTED - Tentative program to be initiated in 2015. |
| Whereas | The city of Arlington in 2011 adopted a $55.3 million plan to add on-street bike lanes, sidewalks, and other hiking and biking amenities throughout the city and around the University campus. |
| Whereas | The benefits of biking include overall body fitness, improvement to Arlington's air quality, provides students and visitors with an alternate way to get around town and and/or campus, and attracts new businesses and students. |
| Whereas | The previous UT Arlington bike rental program, now closed, suffered from limited visibility due to its disconnected location and was hampered by only offering long term rental rates. |
| Whereas | A curbside bike sharing program similar to one in nearby Fort Worth, opening to the public in June 2013, would allow students to temporarily rent bikes for smaller amounts of time, and for smaller amounts of money, could potentially increase the number of students biking around campus and to nearby Arlington businesses. |
| Whereas | A curbside bike sharing program would not only increase the availability of bikes to not only students but also Arlington residents who would also be permitted to bike share for a fee to bridge the gap between the UT Arlington and the city of Arlington residents. |
| Whereas | The UT Arlington Campus Master-plan of 2005-2020 recommends that we 'encourage walking, biking, and the use of transit throughout the university and downtown' and focus on 'future development of bikeways on the UT Arlington campus [to] complement the enhancement of pedestrian facilities and amenities.' as well as 'campus streets should be improved and reconfigured to incorporate designated bike lanes and bikeways serving all areas of the campus' |
| Be It Further Resolved That | The University of Texas at Arlington should pursue a more visible curbside bike sharing program to continue the universities commitment to sustainability and a healthy student body as well as contribute to the continuing goodwill between the city of Arlington residents and UT Arlington community. |