Published: January 09, 2008 12:29 pm      

UCO to celebrate ‘Bum-A-Bike’ program

EDMOND — Administrative officials from the University of Central Oklahoma and the Edmond community will launch the university’s newly established “Bum-A-Bike” program by riding 15 donated bikes to the university, today.

At 10:30 a.m., UCO President W. Roger Webb, Executive Vice President Steve Kreidler, Edmond Mayor Dan O’Neil and others are scheduled to meet at Flatire Burgers, and will then ride the bikes to UCO’s Department of Public Safety to kick off the “Bum-A-Bike” program for the spring semester.

UCO recently teamed up with Flatire Burgers and Al’s Bicycles in Edmond in an effort to encourage alternative transportation and healthy activity for the university community, as well as to help with the rising cost of gasoline.

Jacob Kavanaugh, general manager of Flatire Burgers, initiated the “Bum-A-Bike” program when he purchased 10 one-speed beach cruiser bicycles from Al’s Bicycles and donated them to UCO for campus use.

UCO then purchased five additional bikes in hopes the program would encourage more students, faculty and staff to utilize the environmentally friendly alternative to driving.

The UCO community will have the opportunity to check out bikes free of charge from the UCO Department of Public Safety by showing a valid UCO ID and signing a waiver.

Bikes are available to use for up to two weeks at a time and can be checked out again after inspection.

Al’s Bicycles will provide free maintenance.

For more information on the “Bum-A-Bike” program, visit www.ucok.edu/wellnesscenter/f_Bike.htm or call Mike Sokoff at 974-2780.