George Mason University’s cycling club is gearing up for another exciting semester on campus.
“This is the club’s second semester in existence,” said student liaison officer Patrick Harvey, a senior psychology major.
The cycling club has two primary goals: building a cycling community on campus and promoting cycling as a form of sustainable transportation in Northern Virginia.
“Now we’re just really trying to get people who enjoy cycling to ride together,” Harvey said.
Although the cycling club has no official partnerships, it collaborates with the Mason Transportation Department and the Office of Sustainability.
Together, the cycling club and Transportation Department are offering free u-locks this semester, as part of an on-campus bike registration program.
“U-locks are a much more secure way of locking up bikes than a cable lock,” Harvey said.
Through the registration program, students would provide their serial bike number to the cycling club and Transportation Department.
“In the unfortunate event that the bike is stolen, we would use the bike registration to help get the bike back,” Harvey said. “When students register bikes with Mason, they will receive a free u-lock to use on campus.”
Harvey also explains that the bike registration program will provide statistical insight on the extent of Mason’s on-campus cycling community.
“This is vital information for the cycling club and Transportation Department,” Harvey said.
Currently, the cycling club comprises a core group of about 10 students, with members ranging from freshmen to seniors.
“More students tend to come in and out, though,” Harvey said.
The group’s greatest challenge stems from increasing its membership. Harvey attributes the cycling club’s relatively low membership to seasonal factors.
“Not many people ride bikes on campus due to the winter weather, and the club started in the off-season of late fall,” Harvey said. “But we want to broaden our background and recruit lots of students who enjoy cycling like we do.”
As of now, the cycling club is also in the process of developing partnerships with local bike shops.
Harvey acknowledges cycling’s physical and environmental benefits.
“I see cycling as a fun way to get good exercise, recreate and get around for trips that aren’t over 10 miles,” he said. “I also like that riding my bike means there is one less car on the road. I am helping myself and the environment.”
Harvey emphasizes that club members are united by this mentality.
The cycling club organizes weekly mountain bike rides on Fridays at 4 p.m.
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