The environment has become a major concern in our society today that deserves attention as well as action. Celebrities, politicians, and normal everyday people have been doing all they can to “go green”. So the question remains, why shouldn’t our campus “go green” too? We need to stop the incessant use of gas guzzling SUVS, and focus on a more friendly mode of transportation. To implement a healthier state of being takes a lot of time and work, but it is possible and has worked in many other places. We live in the beautiful state of Colorado, and on a college campus there is no reason to take a car to class or to the store when you have the ability to rent out a bike. With the new bike-sharing program being implemented on campus, having a bike has never been easier or more efficient.
According to DU today, at the University of Denver we have been lucky enough to have the “Denver B-Cycle” project become a part of our campus; this project will make 500 bikes available across the city in over 40-50 locations. This idea was started at a Democratic convention where bike sharing was used as an easy alternative for getting around. In the words of Haley Winter a DU student, “It’s not only a way to help the environment, it also helps work against the freshman fifteen!” when asked about the new bike renting program. Let’s face it; we live in a town where although it is convenient to get in the car and drive it is just as easy to hop on a bike. With this new system there will be bikes available to rent until seven at night that also come with a lock and a helmet. When there are motion censored tail lights, adjustable seating, and a basket that can carry up to 25 pounds why wouldn’t a person go, fill out a card, and be able to rent these bikes for free? There is no maintenance involved, all a student has to do is swipe their card and then return it to any other kiosk around campus. According to DU Today, students have raised over 50,000 dollars to help offset costs, this shows that people on campus actually want to make this work. This is a way for students and faculty to be able to help make a difference without having to spend the big bucks on bikes.
Now I know that many of you may be thinking that this is dumb program that will never work, but it has actually been used in many different countries and across several different college campuses across the nation. The New York Times states that the University of California, Irvine, Berkely, and Davis have all started these bike sharing programs that are running smoothly within the community. Another city that uses a bike-sharing program is Paris. There are bike racks all over the city, they can be swiped with a credit card so that people are able to take bikes out and be held liable for anything that happens to them. If we can be role models for our peers, the traffic congestion and pollution will decrease dramatically. Colleen Feeney, a freshman who recently got her bike card, remarked that “seeing people riding on these bikes has sparked my interest in cutting down on car usage, and it helps create a community feeling within the campus!” Now I also know that money is a big concern that crosses every college students mind. Cars alone are very expensive, but when you factor in the money for a parking spot, gas, and any other minor bumps in the road, it adds up. The bike- sharing program is a way to get around the costs so that you have a little extra cash for the weekends.
There may be a select few out there who are still thinking, “I have a car, my parents pay for my parking spot, my gas, and on top of that I have insurance, so why shouldn’t I just drive everywhere?” Well for one thing, what one person does to the environment will affect our generation, as well as future generations to come. Cars are not terrible, but save the usage for a time when it is really needed. We are college students, everything is within walking distance and this is the perfect time to be getting in shape and exercising. Another reason why people in this situation should think about getting a bike card is because it is a great way to meet new people and get involved within the community. Get outside and save the money that would be spent for gas on something better! This program is something that we should take advantage of on our campus as well as in our city when it becomes part of Denver, so get up, go out, and get your bike card!
I agree, Elyse, that this program seems very promising, especially in the way that you describe it in this post. It seems like a very exciting program, and you've provided some compelling reasons (and student testimony) that reflect this excitement and help generate it within your reader.
ReplyDeleteTo be even more persusaive, here's what you might consider. In the section where you discuss the success that other cities have had, I'd be curious to read more about what accounts for these other cities' successes? Explaining this more fully might help persuade those students who are still skeptical.
Near the end of your post, too, you suggest that participating in this program could help students meet new people and help the community, which I agree could be compelling, but I wonder if you enhance your appeal to pathos here and paint a more vivid picture of how doing this would give students those kind of good feelings?
Last, I'd reconsder your hook. How could you more quickly address your student reader in a way that would acknowledge, validate, and connect with them in a specific way? I wonder if any of the other folks who comment here might be able to suggest some interesting ideas.
Good job! I understand the points you are trying to make and you can see that you used facts to support them. Also, I can see that you are trying to understand both points of views and recommending a different opinion. What I think will help your blog a little more is to example more on how it is useful for students. Be more persuasive to these readers that this is the best option for being student and how you relate to this change. It also might help to add a little more if you explain more on your last paragraph. How is it helping the community? How does it help meeting new people? And finally, it would also help to see how the other universities are doing and how it will make DU the same way.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this project because we were able to do something more than just writing on a piece of paper. It was exciting to make a blog, and be able to insert hyperlinks as well as design it. I thought that it was a nice change to write about something that effects me on campus, and have to talk to the people in the offices who work here. I used the rhetorical appeal of ethos as well as logos to enhance my article. I had links go to the article that I used to enhance my credibility, and provided logical explanations for why people should use this program. To enhance my blog I would change the beginning of my post. I would try to think of a more creative way to start off, that got the readers interested. I would also try to do more digging and see how this is working out at other campuses, although there is limited information on this issue.
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