Lee debuts new commuter and road cycling class
All photos by Sydney Pressley
Beginning next fall, students have the opportunity to take a Commuter and Road Cycling course. In this hands-on class, students will learn the principles of biking, the health benefits involved and what it looks like to be a safe and environmentally-friendly commuter.
Gina Simpson, who will instruct the course, started Cleveland’s chapter of Bike Walk Tennessee in 2017. After attending a community meeting to advocate for a crosswalk near her house, the city asked her to lead a broader local initiative. As a passionate citizen, Simpson rose to the challenge of promoting positive change in the city.
“I asked Dr. Estes, ‘What would it take for me to get a road cycling class at Lee?’” said Simpson. “I think it’s a great solution to many students’ problems. You don’t have to worry about parking or insurance … [It’s a chance to] save some money.”
After submitting a syllabus, selecting a textbook and developing a course schedule over the span of many meetings, Simpson was approved. Part of the process included planning out the technicalities of the hands-on experience.
“We will have an on-bike portion and an in-classroom portion of the class,” said Simpson. “We will ride around campus, through the historic district and the Greenway. One of my favorite things to do is a tour of Cleveland’s coffee shops.”
The class will also cover the environmental benefits of actively commuting, including the reduction of an individual’s carbon footprint.
“There are definitely a lot of negatives that cars bring to the environment,” said Creation Care Club President Savannah Brash. “It would be nice to see some positive change around campus like more bike racks … So maybe this class will shake things up.”
For some students, the advent of this course is indicative of a growing movement on campus.
“I look forward to my day because I get to bike to class, especially on nice days,” said sophomore international business major Andrew Hendry, an avid biker. “Biking is cool. Hop on the new trend by hopping on your bike.”
Commuter and Road Cycling will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays this fall as PHED-161-01. For more information about the course, contact gina.simpson@bikewalktn.org.
