Wisconsin College Giving Freshmen Free Bikes

We’ve been bike crazy all week and this post from Outdoorzy fits right in.

A small liberal arts college in Wisconsin has found a way to relieve parking lot congestion and reduce CO2 emissions on campus — they’re giving a free bike to every freshman who promises not to bring a car to school.

The Ripon Velorution Project is in response to the growing number of automobiles in and around campus. President of Ripon College, David Joyce, is an avid cyclist who refuses to cover his beautiful green campus with pavement for more parking. The school’s website notes a statistic that says over 50% of American car trips are less than two miles. Joyce aims to reduce that — at least on one small college campus.

“We obviously live in a car culture. That’s not about to change,” Joyce said. “But if a significant number of students learn that a car isn’t a necessity at this stage of their lives, that’s good enough for me.”

Alumni, friend and trustee donations totaling $60,000 will provide Trek 820 bikes, bike locks and helmets to all incoming freshman who agree to go car-free for the 2008-2009 school year.

What a great way to foster change.