University on a roll with bike loan program

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NEWPORT—Nursing student Katie Faryniarz likes taking a break from the books and working with her hands.

The Salve Regina University sophomore from Harwinton, Conn., has volunteered with the school’s bike program, fixing breaks and broken chains, since the beginning of the year.

To view more photos, please click here, “It's really relaxing and it's a great mental release when I'm worried about exams or homework,” she said. “I'm developing skills that I can use for the rest of my life.”

For Faryniarz, the best part about biking is the minimal impact on the environment and the great health benefits.

“It slows us down in a fast-paced world,” she said. “Biking allows us to enjoy the scenery instead of speeding past it.”

The bike program at Salve University is aimed at increasing wellness on campus by providing students with bikes for free, said Faryniarz, who added that many are eager to utilize the popular program, especially off-campus students and freshman, who cannot bring cars their first year.

Sponsored in part by a NCAA Choices grant, an alcohol education grant designed to help create safe and healthy environments, the bicycle loan program began about four years ago with 18 bikes. Today, there are more than 100 bicycles available for Salve students to loan on a daily or semester basis, promoting healthy choices on campus.

Paul Cardoza, coordinator of student health education, runs the successful program. When he began his new position four years ago, it was brought to his attention that security was storing abandoned bicycles in the basement of the dorms.

“I said, let’s bring them up and get them in the hands of students,” he said. “Security stores them for a year and after that, security considers the bike for us. We have six more bikes coming in two weeks. There is a real partnership with Security and Safety.”

With all parts of campus and many local businesses within biking distance, Cardoza and his two volunteers make sure that the bikes are in working order so that the students can hit the road.

“Students will come in and want to go downtown, or go to the beach and they’ll sign a bike out,” he explained. “It’s a year round program and it’s a team and community effort.”

Living only a mile away from the university, the passionate cycling enthusiast said that his car has been in the driveway for two weeks straight. Whenever he can, he bikes.

“I’m fortunate, unless I go out of town or the weather is terrible, I’m biking,” he said. “We’re messaging to students that bicycling is a healthy choice. It’s really satisfying and rewarding.”

Student Mike Horn, studying administration of justice, also volunteers his bike repair skills to the program.

“I’ve had a bike since freshman year,” said the junior from Barnstable, Mass., “It [repairing bicycles] comes naturally to me. I’ve always had a bike, and I’ve always had a flat tire or crooked handlebars. I just figure it out and fix it myself.”

Horn shared that students without cars on campus love the availability of the bikes.

“If weren’t for the bikes I’d have to walk everyday,” he said. “It’s very nice to be able to rely on myself for transportation without a car.”

As much as the program encourages biking as a healthy choice, they also encourage students to be cautious on the open road.

“It’s a great program, but there’s always a risk,” said Cardoza. “We alert the students that cycling can be dangerous. We give them bike laws and encourage them to wear helmets.”

With its world-famous mansions and mostly flat terrain, Newport is a great biking town, said Cardoza.

“Everything is so close,” he said. “In the summer around here a bike is still better than a car. To be in the open fresh air is a great feeling. You can coast around and you see a lot of things you don’t see in a car-especially in Newport. Everyone gets the bike program. No pun intended, it just rolls.”

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