Four bicycles can be used for free by faculty and staff at Livonia Central School District.
The Employee Bike Loan Program is the brainchild of Livonia Assistant Superintendent of Operations Robbin Carll, who is also the district’s wellness coordinator.
“I like to ride bikes,” Carll says. “I have a group of friends and we used to do bike nights, casual meetups. We have a bike course on our campus now, a small one for kids that was part of an Eagle Scout project.
“I was thinking this was something lacking in our wellness program. We do several fitness programs. We do yoga and strength training. We do run/walk groups. But I thought we were missing the wheels component.”
Wellness funds were used to purchase four $700 Trek hybrid bicycles from Bert’s Bikes in Henrietta. A manager there helped Carll select a variety of bikes, noting not everyone is the same size.
“He helped me consider things I hadn’t thought of,” Carll says. “They’re good bikes. They’ll last.”
She bought two crossbar bikes and two step-through bikes. The district also provides helmets, bells, air pumps, a tool kit and safety lights.
Carll says there is a proliferation of riding trails in the area, including trails in the Finger Lakes and near the Erie Canal.
“If you want to ride around Canadice Lake, it will tell you where to park, how far of a ride it is, some snack stops, and it will document the path. There’s a map, and books are available with your loan.”
The bikes are loaned for free to employees who fill out a Google form on the employee wellness website and sign an insurance waiver.
“I offered safety workshops,” Carll adds. “It was my rollout in the spring about how to properly fit your helmet and rules of the road. And I offered a basic bike maintenance class with a friend who works for the Trek company.
“One thing I did not do is buy a bike rack for a vehicle, so the person that is being loaned the bike has to have their own set-up.”
Amy Evans, who manages social media for Livonia, rode a loaner bike from home to work and back again during the summer.
“There’s not a huge demand yet,” Carll says. “People were a little confused that it is for free. We made QR codes, laminated them and strapped them to the handlebars of each bike, and we delivered them to the faculty room so when people came back from spring break there were these brand-new bikes. They can scan the QR code to make a reservation.”
She urged people to take test rides.
“People love the idea,” she adds. “I heard comments like ‘My kids have bikes and we don’t, so now maybe we can go with them.’ That was exactly my goal. Instead of watching your kids, you can ride with them.”
The bikes are perfect for people who want to be active but aren’t into high-impact exercises such as running.
Carll plans to promote the bike program more this autumn.
“Fall is a really beautiful time to ride around here,” she says.
