Faculty and students are encouraged to use alternative transportation this week as one student group offers free basic bike repair, massages and carpool passes in an attempt to take more cars off the roads in honor of Earth Week.
The Service Learning Program, part of the University’s Environmental Studies Program, has a booth set up at the corner of East 13th Avenue and University Street to give interested students and faculty a variety of options for getting to work or school. Visitors can ask questions about alternative transportation, sign up for a carpool and enter a raffle for prizes.
Graduate student Sarah Mazze, project coordinator for the Service Learning Program, said she wants to raise awareness among students and faculty about viable alternatives to driving to campus.
“We’re hoping to motivate people to try something new this week,” Mazze said.
Mazze said part of this week’s events include free bike repairs and lessons on how to fix bikes.
Senior Jody Trendler said bike technicians from several local bike shops will bring racks and tools today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to help students with minor issues.
“We aren’t going to have replacement parts or anything fancy,” Trendler said. “Basically just minor tune-ups and greasing chains.”
She said the group plans to have three racks to accommodate as many bikes as possible. It will offer additional lessons Thursday from noon to 1 p.m.
Senior Jessie Oettinger, a member of the Service Learning Program, said the Department of Public Safety has 32 registered carpools on campus representing only 90 carpoolers out of the 20,000 to 24,000 students and faculty who come to campus daily.
Rand Stamm, parking and transportation manager for DPS, said the department has offered students and faculty interested in carpooling a free carpool pass this week. The pass will last for the remainder of the term and will enables cars to park in designated spaces on East 13th Avenue between Agate and University streets.
Oettinger said the only criteria are that one person already has a parking pass, that three people are involved, and that at least two people are affiliated with the University.
Mazze said the University is lagging behind other schools in its efforts to create a carpooling program.
“Compared to other universities, we don’t have a well-established carpool program,” Mazze said. She said the relatively low cost of parking passes doesn’t discourage solo drivers and that her group is planning to present a possible course of action to DPS to encourage greater use of the carpool program.
People who stop by the
group’s booth can also be placed in a carpool registry sponsored by Lane Transit District. This database
will match potential carpoolers
with others interested in commuting together.
Additionally, the group is holding a contest among 17 University departments and centers. Each faculty member using alternative transportation to get to work can log the miles they travel.
“We’re giving away free chair massages to the greenest department,” Mazze said.
Mazze said her goal is to get more information out to University staff and students. She hopes to see more people using transportation alternatives.
She said her bike ride to school is more than just an eco-friendly lifestyle: “It’s a chance to be outside and get fresh air before I Iock myself in my office all day.”

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