ASB gives students new choice in transportation

The University’s new program, Bike Give-Back, kicked off Friday in front of the Student Union with the distribution of its first 10 bikes.

This program, which began as a stem program from Rebel Pedals, aims to give refurbished bikes to Ole Miss students with no current means of transportation. 

While Rebel Pedals gives students increased access to affordable bikes, an inexpensive alternative to driving a car, Bike Give-Back recycles bikes and prepares them to be redistributed among worthy students. 

This year, some of the bikes from Rebel Pedals will be retired from the program and entered into Bike Give-Back.

As for the accumulation of the bicycles, the University collects abandoned bikes on campus at the end of every year.

Student volunteers trained in bike restoration will refurbish the bikes throughout the semester, readying them for distribution to qualified individuals who participate in the program. 

Along with the collection of bikes by the University, cyclists are now able to donate their old or unwanted bikes to Bike Give-Back.

Currently, 200 bikes have been collected and will be refurbished and distributed as part of the program.

With the program officially beginning on Friday, students are now able to submit an application to apply for a bike.

Applications will then be reviewed by the Associated Student Body throughout the semester, and the ASB will determine which students will receive bicycles.

“We take abandoned, old, and donated bikes, refurbish them as needed, and give them to persons in need,” Cory Washington, a member of the ASB staff and Green Student Intern Program, said.

“Although our main objective is to serve individuals who are in need of transportation. We will also hold silent auctions for those persons wanting to buy a bike for a fraction of the cost,” he said.

The program was created by a partnership between the Associated Student Body and the Office of Sustainability, and aims to make positive, earth-friendly changes to the campus here at Ole Miss.

“This program is important because it’s another mechanism that we are hoping will fulfill our end goal, which is to support and grow Oxford as a biking community,” said Anne McCauley, project coordinator for the Office of Sustainability. “It’s great for the students as well.”

“Our goal has been and will always be to change the culture of our campus from a driving campus to a bike-  and pedestrian-friendly campus,” Washington said. “So remember: let’s go green together!”