Wheels for a better world
Club of the Week: GreenWheels
Elizabeth Hilbig
Issue date: 9/5/07 Section: Culture
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This is just one activity that Dykman and other students organized as members of GreenWheels of Humboldt State, a club dedicated to educating the community about transportation options.
From carpooling to walking to biking, they hope to encourage transportation choices that limit pollution and environmental impact. They work to reduce the number of cars on the road and improve the infrastructure serving other methods of travel.
"Car culture has made it acceptable to pave over our green spaces, pollute our air, isolate ourselves from our neighbors, and create unhealthy citizens," Dykman said.
She joined the club to work with other motivated people fighting for a healthier world, people who also love a good bike ride. She said some of the best memories from GreenWheels are the weekend or holiday bike tours. [see sidebar](MAKE SURE TO DO)
Dykman, now a wildlife biology senior and the club president, joined as a freshman when the club title was the Alternative Transportation Club.
"That's morphed into the bigger and better GreenWheels [of Humboldt State]," she said.
The name is not all that's changed. This is the first semester GreenWheels ran as two branches: one at the university and one in the community as part of the Northcoast Environmental Center.
Aaron Atrium, a 2006 English graduate, is now a member in the community branch. He said the new branch of GreenWheels proves that opportunities to make a difference continue after graduation.
Chris Rawl, the executive director of the community branch and a Humboldt State graduate, along with other members have been speaking at local government meetings to address their concerns about the 101 Eureka-Arcata corridor project.
Reorganization underway, GreenWheels is already planning for the 5th Annual Car-Free Day, coming up on September 20.
The Tour D'Arcata, a morning trip through town, will kick off the day honoring sustainable transportation. {NEED TO TEASE:Watch for an upcoming article on the Event}
About a dozen students attend meetings and activities on a regular basis, while a core group of about 50 students keep involved via email and the quarterly Community Wheel newsletter edited by Atrium reaches over 7,000 people.
Getting the JackPass approved for bus riders was a big achievement for the club, a process Dykman said taught her that persistence is essential when trying get others to listen to your ideas.
Greaseman Parking Lot Demonstrations are a favorite activity of many club members.
They pay for a one-day parking permit and fill the space with bikes, lounge chairs and houseplants. Then, bikers lucky enough to walk by are encouraged to stop and grease up their chains - important bike maintenance living in Humboldt County.
She added that the demonstrations also inspire others to see parking spots as open space.
New student club member Tommy Viducich said using alternative transportation means not having to worry about parking a car.
Dykman said the club has been working to close down B Street on campus, which only provides 40 parking spots.
Viducich said, "Curing the crowded sidewalks by closing the road to cars on B Street would make the campus better."
"We definitely will not run out of things to do at Humboldt State," she said. The club wants to pursue hosting bike-in movies, better campus infrastructure such as bike lockers and campus signage for bikers, among many project ideas.
The club members encourage inexperienced bikers or car-free travelers to ask for lessons in local traveling or a partner to help show new residents the safest routes around town.
Victor Shen, a forestry senior and member of GreenWheels, said campus clubs are learning experiences. "It's about meeting people, and learning the lay of the land," he said.
To get involved, give input or just find out more, check out www.green-wheels.org for upcoming activities. Attend the weekly meetings, currently held 6 p.m. Mondays at the Northcoast Environmental Center.
"If someone is interested in working towards, say, more infrastructure for rollerbladers, all they have to do is come to a meeting with an idea," Dykman said. "We will all listen, give support, and work together to make it happen."
Elizabeth Hilbig can be reached at eah32@humboldt.edu
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