Less Kegstands, More Bike Stands

College campuses are taking great strides to combat global warming - from the Ivy League to community colleges, in dorm rooms and lecture halls. Back in the spring we reported on how students are focused on reducing the campus's immediate carbon footprint in practical ways.

According to The New York Times, colleges are trying something different to challenge the predominant car culture - they're actually giving out free bikes to freshmen who promise to leave their cars at home. The University of New England handed out 105 bikes in the first week of school this year, and officials claim that because of the program, only 25 percent of freshmen brought cars with them, compared with 75 percent last year.

Other colleges are setting up free bike sharing or rental programs, and some are offering discounts on bike purchases. The goal is to free up parking, and restore the community atmosphere that comes with walking or biking around campus.

Not all efforts have been successful - some were shut down because of problems with theft and vandalism. Officials at St. Xavier University in Chicago implemented a computer-driven bike sharing system with a G.P.S.-like tracking device, to keep students from throwing the bikes into Lake Michigan - apparently a problem officials have struggled with.

(Photo by Barry Solow)