Saint Xavier to be first American university to offer European bike share option

Students and employees to use cutting edge Veloway bikes to travel campus

Chicago (May 8, 2008) Saint Xavier University students, faculty and staff will have the option of a self-service bike sharing program beginning next semester.

Over the summer, the University will install the SXU Green Bike Program, providing 65 European pedal bikes that can be automatically checked out 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a Cougar card and returned to any of several computerized docking stations around campus. The first 15 minutes between docking stations will be free, and patrons can use cell phone technology to more easily arrange for a bike.

Many universities across the country offer some form of sharing program, but Saint Xavier will be the first to use the shaft-driven bikes from the French company Veloway, Europe’s premier bike share distributor. More information will follow this summer.

“The SXU Green Bike Program will be a remarkable addition to this campus,” said Assistant Vice President for Physical Facilities Paul Matthews. “This latest in a long line of green activities at Saint Xavier will allow students, faculty and staff to forego their fuel-burning vehicles and travel campus in a clean and sustainable way.”

For more information about SXU’s Green Bike program, please visit http://www.sxu.edu/SharedDocuments/CAM-Facilities_Mgmt/bike.pdf.

-SXU-

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Rick Ducat
773-298-3325 or ducat@sxu.edu