With the weather warming up, many people will start biking around campus. May is National Bike to Work Month, and the Office for Sustainability encourages community members to try biking to work by participating in various programs this month.
Biking events
Bike to Work Day
National Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 18. Bike Cleveland and many neighborhood groups have organized break stations throughout Cleveland and nearby suburbs. The CWRU Office for Sustainability and University Circle Inc. will host a station in front of Severance Hall on the corner of Euclid Avenue and East Boulevard, passing out coffee, food and more.
In case of bad weather or too long of a route, cyclists can ride the RTA for free on Bike To Work Day.
May Bike Challenge
Those who enjoy competition can log the number of miles they bike during May (up to two trips per day) on the Gohio page. There will be weekly raffle prizes and an overall winner.
Additionally, people participating in National Bike to Work Day can help Case Western Reserve University compete in the UGO one-day competition by logging their miles online.
Campus bike information
Safety reminders and tips
While on campus, make sure to lock bikes by their frame to racks as tires can be removed. Only lock bikes to racks, not trees, streetlights, benches or anything else. If a certain area needs a bike rack, contact the Office for Sustainability, and the grounds department will try to prioritize the suggested location.
It is also recommended that cyclists map a route well in advance. There are several available tools to do so:
- Bike There by Google Maps shows bike paths between two locations
- NOACA Bike Maps finds the best route to bike based on skill level
- Map My Ride shares user submitted bike routes in any area
- University Circle Bike Parking Map has places to lock a bike near and on campus
- Gohio Commute weighs the costs and benefits of different commuting methods
Other important information:
- Always wear a helmet
- Use hands as turn signals
- Ride on the same side of the road as cars; they are legally obligated to give bikes three feet of space when passing
Find more tips, maps and resources (like how use racks on RTA buses) in the Biking in Cleveland Guide.
Fixit stations
There are five Fixit stations around campus with tools to help tune up bikes. Their locations are:
- Between Sherman House and Wade Commons
- Between the Robbins Building, Wood Building and Biomedical Research Building
- Beside the Kelvin Smith Library (near the bike racks)
- In front of Larry and Sally Zlotick Sears think[box]
- Outside of Fribley Commons
The stations include a universal sized air pump to inflate tires, a rack on which to hang a bike and tools to fix some common ailments. There is also a QR code on the rack to scan for directions on how to use the tools.