People might not ride a bike for their own health, but if it’s for a cause, they are more motivated to pedal, says a Colorado State University professor.
The departments of health and exercise science and human dimensions of natural resources placed energy-generating bicycles on CSU’s Lory Student Center Plaza in an Earth Day event designed to promote health, increase energy awareness and get the students, faculty and staff involved.
“We are borrowing the idea that cycling is good for you, that it can contribute power — it’s a form of green energy — and the notion that people will engage in physical activity for a cause,” says Ray Browning, assistant professor in health and exercise science, who oversaw the event.
More than 500 students, faculty, staff and others, ages 3 to 80, pedaled the bikes over six hours on April 22, generating nearly 2 kilowatt hours of electrical energy.
Two kilowatt hours will power three televisions for about four hours each, or run a computer for 20 hours, says Browning. His team will donate a credit for that amount to the Fort Collins Bike Co-op and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Education Coalition.
“People were intrigued by the idea of giving back,” says Browning, whose students plan to take the bikes into schools and make appearances at other community events. “The question is: Can we use human-powered energy as a currency? I can envision the bike being in a gym or an airport, and the energy could go to a humane society or women’s shelter. The rider would be powering a cause.”
