The Not So Boring Bike Racks

Bike racks, as shown in this picture, are often trivialized and ignored by the typical person if they are even noticed at all.  However, contrary to what most people might think, bicycle racks are having a significant impact in protecting our environment, and their role continues to grow each and every day.  The Green RFP program at Virginia Tech was established a few years ago in order to give students an opportunity to develop sustainable ideas that could be immediately implemented on campus.  The cultivation of this program has resulted in an outpouring of creative, innovative solutions to environmental issues.  One of the most successful proposals of the Green RFP program involved the installation of covered bike racks at various locations across the Virginia Tech campus.  The purpose of this proposal was to promote an eco-friendly mode of transportation, and to reduce students’ dependence on automobiles.  Providing students with a safe, convenient place to park their bike during class or other events has significantly increased the incentive for them to avoid driving around the hectic campus roads every day.  These bike stations have become extremely popular, as evidenced by the cluttered racks in this picture.  Because of this, vehicle emissions containing greenhouse gases are being reduced, and the demand for sustainable transportation is growing.  Around the world, many countries are attempting to encourage their citizens to adopt “clean” transportation methods such as walking, biking, or using public transit in order to meet their needs.  While it may seem like an insignificant, pointless process to install bike racks around campus, there is no doubt that it can have a large impact on the environment.  In order to help preserve the environment, our society must continue to adopt simple, sustainable, and affordable policies.