Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: The Boone Bicycle Initiative: A Community Based Project to Promote Bicycles as an Alternative Mode of Transportation
EPA Grant Number: SU833560Title: The Boone Bicycle Initiative: A Community Based Project to Promote Bicycles as an Alternative Mode of Transportation
Investigators: Raichle, Brian W. , Watts, Alan Charles , Nelson, J. Grey , Krieg, Gabriel Solomon , Moody, Alex , Hertz, Dan , Winston, Susan
Institution: Appalachian State University
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 2007 through August 31, 2008
Project Amount: $10,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2007) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Challenge Area - Sustainable and Healthy Communities , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
An increasing student population and continuous growth in and around the Town of Boone is contributing to significant increases in local traffic density. High emissions, decreased automobile efficiency due to idling, reduction in air quality, and curbed economic growth all accompany this pressing issue. Our project is centered on a research-based community bicycle loan program aimed at reducing the environmental impact of heavy traffic by encouraging bicycling as a realistic alternative to the automobile. Our system is designed to be a scaleable model that is replicable in other communities.
The Boone Bicycle Initiative (BBI) has established a loan program, lending bicycles (along with a helmet and a lock) on one of two refundable deposit systems. These include both refurbished bikes donated from members of the community, as well as a fleet of new bicycles purchased for the program. Potential clients apply for a bicycle, allowing us to determine their motivation for joining the program, as well as their potential contribution to its overall success. In this process we can target our resources to first accommodate those who will most benefit the town and BBI.
All bicycles loaned out by the Boone bicycle Initiative are fit with odometers, allowing BBI to monitor bicycle usage as well as provide point-of-use feedback for riders. Mileages can then be interpreted in a number of ways:
- Emissions offsets from cycling rather than driving.
- Potential savings from avoided fossil fuel consumption.
- In the long term, how to focus the program in terms of loan systems
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
The following data is based on our first three riders, and represents three main demographics of the town of Boone and Appalachian State University: students, faculty members, and local residents.
Carbon Offset1 |
|||||
|
Loan Date |
Miles Logged |
CO2 offset (lbs) |
Avg. Weekly |
Projected Annual |
Bicycle 1 |
2/18/2008 |
170 |
138.00 |
23.00 |
1150.03 |
Bicycle 2 |
2/25/2008 |
52 |
42.21 |
8.44 |
422.13 |
Bicycle 3 |
3/5/2008 |
15.89 |
12.90 |
4.30 |
214.99 |
|
Total Carbon Offset |
193.12 |
35.74 |
1787.14 |
|
|
Average Individual Offset |
|
11.91 |
595.71 |
The above data groups allow us to make calculations based on recorded mileage in the following ways:
- Quantify the benefits of bicycle commuting, and provide riders with projections of overall savings and environmental benefits.
- Provide commuters with personalized information regarding not only the number of miles they have ridden, but an estimate of the reduction in their carbon footprint offset by not driving a car. We can also put a dollar value on the amount of fuel saved by cycling.
- Incentivize other communities to adopt a similar program by presenting measurable results.
Approximate Savings2 |
|||
|
Gallons of Fuel |
$ to date |
Projected Annual $ |
Bicycle 1 |
7.053942 |
$ 22.94 |
$191.16 |
Bicycle 2 |
2.157676 |
$ 7.02 |
$70.17 |
Bicycle 3 |
1.078838 |
$3.51 |
$58.47 |
TOTAL |
$ 33.46 |
$ 319.80 |
|
Average Individual |
$ 11.15 |
$ 106.60 |
Just as we are continuing to distribute bikes, we are also distributing odometers to other bicycle commuters in the area in order to increase the data pool. Partnerships have been formed to publish this data in two public venues. A local newspaper is donating a monthly section to recognize commuters, and the mayor’s office will post monthly data on the main street downtown. This publicity will:
- Help to create a sense of community between cyclists, as well as raise awareness for an increased number of bikers on the road.
- Allow us to experiment with various incentives.
- Reiterate the importance and impact of cyclists to voters and policy makers.
Qualitative research involves feedback from program participants. We have collect data on attitudes about rider safety, rider’s health, as well as feedback on the program’s ease of use and infrastructure. To study these, we are looking at the effects of workshops, distribution of literature, and future public discussion forums.
Education is a fundamental aspect of our program. We have worked closely with local government officials including Mayor Loretta Clawson, The Boone Town Council, and the Department of Public Works. Through these partnerships, the program has helped to establish an official “Town of Boone Bicycle Appreciation Day” and worked closely with town officials to identify major bike routes and place signage promoting bicycle awareness on these roads.
We have also worked closely with a number of local educational institutions including Appalachian State University, Green Valley Middle School, and Watauga High School to promote bicycling as a safe and viable form of transport through curriculum integration.
Conclusions:
A successful community bicycle program is a valuable asset to the Town of Boone. A functional program not only promotes a sustainable method for alleviating pressing environmental problems related to automobile traffic; it must serve as an educational organization that is capable of creating a viable community of cyclists, politicians and community member.
Although our distributions rates are lower than expected, the program has exceeded expectations in other areas and is on its way to meeting distribution goals by the summer. Based on current data, our program will have a measurable effect on the town of Boone. Our data so far allows us to predict future results. A goal of 30 bicycles is easily obtainable in the next three months according to our calculations. By this time next year, 30 bicycles can offset 17,900 lbs of CO2, and can save $3,200 dollars worth of gasoline costs.
Rising distribution rates combined with our focus on education have wide reaching potential to create lasting change that will help the region prosper.
Project Period for Phase II: 9/1/2008 – 8/31/2010
Proposed Phase II Objectives and Strategies:
In Phase II we will continue to work with our established partners and are addressing important issues concerning infrastructure. Once Phase II is complete, the infrastructure will remain in place to support safe and accessible commuting for future generations. We are working to address additional needs of commuters in the Boone area, partner with bicycle advocacy groups in other communities, disseminate lessons learned, and continue to research the best practices for establishing, promoting, and administering community bicycle programs. Our objective is to use our measurable results from this program as a resource to aid in the expansion and development of future and current bike loan programs. To aid us in this process we have identified five areas for project development:
- Strengthen and expand existing program. The Boone Bicycle Initiative will continue to serve the region through an expanded bike loan program, workshop series, and bicycle promotion efforts. In providing these services, the BBI will be actively researching ways to best facilitate commuting on bike. We plan to put additional bikes on the road, secure a permanent workshop space, develop and strengthen partnerships, and host more workshops and other community events. We also plan to continue research to determine best practices for a community bike loan program, for example, on distribution methods, data collection methods, and incentive programs to encourage participation. Also, we will be offering an odometer loan to anyone with his or her own bike to participate in the data collection as a separate category.
- Additional policy initiatives. Through Phase I initiatives, the BBI has partnered with key players in the region, including the Mayor of Boone, Town Council, Town of Boone Dept. of Public Works, Town of Boone Traffic Committee, Alternative Transportation Subcommittee, and the Downtown Boone Development. We are positioned to effectively advocate bike-friendly policies by educating community leaders on the benefits and needs of the biking community and to advocate on behalf of bicyclists. We are positioned to participate and influence the Town of Boone’s Land Use Strategic Plan to include infrastructure initiatives such as bike lanes and bike parking facilities.
- Expand to serve residents living outside of town. The geography of our mountain community does not lend itself to bike commuting for out of town residents. This is due to narrow, hilly roads that sprawl away from a geographically constrained downtown. These facts represent a deterrent to bicycle commuting; however we have identified an interest in biking among these residents. One potentially attractive solution is to encourage “car/bike hybrid” commuting. We intend to partner with the Boone Mall, the Town of Boone, and other local businesses to create and promote satellite parking and bike storage facilities. We will also be working to create bike friendly pubic transportation.
- Broaden outreach and education efforts. Education, both technical and social, is a significant component of the Boone Bike Initiative and through Phase I we have established various means of raising awareness about cycling. We intend to continue our educational efforts for non-bicycle riders, including media outreach, sponsoring community events, and installing signage. We are in the beginning stages of publishing ridership data with the local newspaper. We intend to expand and disseminate the educational materials started during Phase I, which include materials suitable for middle school through university curricula. This material will be developed in partnership with teachers and will teach sustainability as well as bicycle maintenance. Also, we will disseminate lessons learned through building a functional website with a community bike loan program forum.
- Expand to include other municipalities. The last nine months have taught us a great deal about developing a community-based program. As BBI expands its program and capabilities in Phase II, we will further grow our knowledge base and share lessons learned with other communities. We have made a special effort to create a replicable model, keeping in mind that every community is unique. We will publish an educational packet to document our experiences to aid in the development and strengthening of other community bike programs. Another component is to travel to and present at regional and national sustainability and biking conferences, such as Bike!Bike! and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s annual conference.
Through promoting safety and infrastructure development we encourage more people in the future to ride bikes. The BBI is a voice for our present and future bicycle commuters as well as a resource for development of similar bike programs. The BBI’s concept is inherently tied to people, prosperity, and the planet: We will ensure a long-term social impact through our education outreach campaigns. The entire town can benefit by reduced congestion in town, which will also create positive environmental benefits. Bicycling is healthy; not only do all people benefit by reducing auto emissions but those that personally participate also improve their cardiovascular health by cycling. Riding a bicycle is a way an individual can reduce personal resource consumption and directly benefit the environment. Biking is also economically appealing for individuals who choose to commute with our bikes; they pay nothing for transportation and parking which can total as much as $1,800 savings over the course of a year.
References:
1 Miles per gallon uses a figure of 24.1 MPG, an average of CAFÉ standards for passenger cars and light trucks. CO2 figures are based on emissions of 19.564 lbs. CO2 per gallon as reported by the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
2 Fuel cost based on $3.252 per gallon, Lower Atlantic Average from the EIA.
Supplemental Keywords:
bicycles, sustainable transportation, emissions reduction, refurbished bikes, recycle, congestion, bicycle awareness, bicycle advocacy, road safety, global environment,Relevant Websites:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.