By: Ellisyn Sanders

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – The University of Arkansas Office for Sustainability has been working to provide more bike parking spaces across campus.

New spots include areas near the Sam M. Walton College of Business, on the east side of Mullins Library and outside several residence halls. University officials say additional work is planned to continue adding and improving bike storage stations across campus. Students who know of a location that would benefit from additional bike parking are encouraged to contact the Office for Sustainability with suggestions.

Active transportation has been a major priority for the office. The university set a goal for 60 percent of campus commuters to use an option other than driving alone. A 2019 University of Arkansas commuter survey found that 35 percent of campus commuters drive alone as their primary mode of transportation. Alternative options include walking, biking, skateboarding, e-scooting, carpooling and using public transit. Expanding bike parking is one way the university is working to support that effort.

The Office for Sustainability also works toward broader environmental goals for the university. Those efforts include maintaining greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels as campus grows, increasing diversion from landfills as part of zero waste initiatives and working toward carbon neutrality by 2040.

In September, the university opened the UARK Bicycle Library through a partnership between University Recreation, the Office for Sustainability and UARK Libraries. The program allows students, faculty and staff to rent a bike for $25 per semester or $75 for the academic year. Rentals include free labor on repairs, a helmet, a U-lock and front and back lights. Bikes can be reserved through UREC Outdoors and picked up on weekdays at the Office for Sustainability.