ELECTRIC BICYCLES ARE BRINGING A NEW SPIN TO THE TYPICAL MORNING RUSH AND ARE HAVING SOME POSITIVE IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
THE BIKES MADE THEIR WAY INTO MADISON EARLY THIS SUMMER AND HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY POPULAR AMOUG STUDENTS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS EVER SINCE. MADISON WAS THE FIRST IN THE NATION TO FULLY SWITCH ALL PUBLIC BIKE RACKS TO BEING E-BIKES.
MACHINERY BIKE ROW WAS ONE OF THE FIRST COMPANIES IN THE CITY TO MAKE THE SWITCH, AND OWNER RODGER CHARLY KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT A SWITCH LIKE THIS WAS FOR BIKERS.
I JUST FEEL LIKE, MORE PEOPLE WHO, ANYBODY WHO RIDES ONE REALIZES HOW BENEFICIAL THEY ARE, AND THEY ALWAYS COME BACK WITH A SMILE ON THEIR FACE.
UW-MADISON STUDENT ROBIN MWAI IS AMOUNG THOSE IN THE CITY WHO USE THE BIKES EVERYDAY, AND THEY SAY THE CONVENIENCE AND FUN THEY OFFER IS WHAT HAS THEM COMING BACK EVERY TIME.
“…YOU’RE NEVER TOO FAR AWAY FROM A B-CYCLE STATION. I THINK IT’S A GOOD WAY JUST TO LIKE IF YOU DON’T HAVE A BIKE, IT’S A REALLY FAST WAY TO GET BETWEEN PLACES.”
BEYOND CONVENIENCE, SHE SAYS THE BIKES ALLOW STUDENTS TO EXPLORE BEYOND THE UNIVERSITY.
“…YOU CAN JUST GET ON THE BIKE AND LIKE BIKE TO OFF-CAMPUS LIKE COFFEE OR THE MALL. IT’S A REALLY COOL WAY TO EXPLORE OUTSIDE OF UW MADISON.”
ON AVERAGE, THE USE OF AN E-BIKE OVER A CAR EVERYDAY WILL CUT DOWN SOMEONE’S EMISSIONS BY 0.21 METRIC TONS OF CO2 PER YEAR ACCORDING TO THE TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER.
WITH OVER 40 BCYCLE STATIONS, MADISON’S E-BIKES ARE ON TRACK TO BECOMING THE MOST USED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. STUDENTS AT UW-MADISON HAVE ACCESS TO A $30 A YEAR PLAN, GIVING THEM UNLIMITED 30-MINUTE RIDES.
FOR THE BADGER REPORT, I’M CAITLIN ROWE.