Tag: Bike Share

Eager Environmentalism in a Concrete Jungle: An EcoRep Reflection on NYUnplugged

by Natasha Rubright

The New Jersey Pinelands was the country’s first National Reserve, and my hometown is right on the edge of it. The difference between a National Park and a National Reserve is not necessarily in value, but in use; a Reserve can be used for commercial purposes as long as those purposes are responsible and do not harm the biosphere. This difference is clear to the people in my town. Our elementary schools take trips down roads covered in packed sand to cranberry bogs run by Ocean Spray, not 27 miles from the Jersey Shore. There my classmates and I picked our own cranberries and learned about the pockets of fresh water called aquifers that fill up the bogs. Talk to any third grader at Milton H Allen Elementary School and they’ll be able to tell you about how the ocean used to cover our town and left it covered in sand and blueberry bushes. People call us Pinies; these woods are part of who we are. Read more

NYU Sustainability 2016 #YearinReview

Here are some of NYU Sustainability’s major accomplishments in 2016!

unplugged2016Residence Halls Conserve Energy for NYUnplugged
In February, 17 Residence Halls competed in the NYUnplugged energy reduction challenge. Lipton Hall not only saved the most energy but also brought the most awareness to energy conservation through events and social media, securing their spot in first place!

Student, Faculty & Staff Collaborate
In March members of the Sustainability Task Force (STF) submitted a proposal to Governor Cuomo’s REV Campus Challenge, which called for New York State colleges and universities to develop clean energy plans for a chance to win $1 million for support in implementation. NYU was nationally recognized as a competition “Leader” and a “First Mover” for joining the competition in its first 6 months. The effort brought together a diverse group of individuals, who developed a proposal for an anaerobic digester at NYU. Additionally, throughout the Fall, an STF working group collaborated on a Sustainability Indicator Survey to question the NYU community on their attitudes towards sustainability. The survey is in queue for release.   Read more

Guide to Cycling in the Winter

Don’t let the cold slow you down! Just because it is starting to get a little chilly out there, does not mean you need to store your bike away and let it hibernate for the winter. With the proper gear and some safety tips, you can become a fearless winter warrior and bike your way into the springtime.

Gearing Up

Let’s not fool ourselves: wind chill is real and it’s just about the worst part of biking in the winter. But if you layer up properly, you’ll be juuuuust fine. Here’s what Pio Tsai, Bike Share extraordinaire, suggests: Read more

Carbon Offsetting my Winter Break

by Solange Fortenbach

carbon footprintOur carbon footprint is a measurement of the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere from the activities we perform in our day-to-day lives, such as driving, turning on the lights, or flying in a plane. Our carbon footprints can be offset through activities that minimize or divert carbon dioxide.

During winter break, between flying back to my home state of California, purchasing gifts and decorations for the holiday, and cooking elaborate meals with my family, I know my carbon footprint with likely increase significantly. To offset these carbon emissions, I’m going to change my routine a bit. This is the list I’ve come up with to offset my carbon this break: Read more

Abandoned Bikes Project

by Pio Tsai 
3a72b889-10bc-47fb-9354-c8a8e85a6a57I’ve been the head mechanic of NYU Bike Share for the past two years and in that time, I have worked with Recycle-A-Bicycle. They are an awesome nonprofit bike shop and youth empowerment program. Recently, we’ve partnered to conduct a research project on abandoned bikes in New York City. There is so much potential for an abandoned bike to be repurposed and put to good use. This project is significant in ensuring that abandoned bikes are given new life.

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