SLIPPERY ROCK — University students begging for added parking now have a greener alternative to getting around campus.

The Cycling Club recently launched the Green Bike Initiative, which makes loaner bikes available to whomever needs one.

The club has seven bikes, spray-painted bright green, scattered throughout the campus. Students are encouraged to ride them home, to the grocery store or to their next class.

"You have people (who live on) Kiester (Road) driving 100 feet to a parking lot," said Dan Wilson, a member of the club.

"So many people on campus complain about parking and want to increase parking when you really don't need to. This really promotes a healthy lifestyle because riding a bike is better for you than driving a car."

The idea for the Green Bike Initiative came earlier this year when the college administration discussed paving over the campground behind the Rock Apartments and turning it into a parking lot.

"It was an environmental movement," Wilson said. "It went along with 'Leave it Green,' which was a movement to save the campground."

School officials decided to keep the campground, and the group began studying various campuses across the country, finding many had adopted similar bike-friendly programs.

"There are all different systems," Wilson said. "Usually they use yellow bikes, but we decided to do green because of 'Leave it Green.'"

Equipped with $200 from the university's Student Government Association, the students spray-painted the bikes, adorning them with the words, "Ride at your Own Risk."

Since the student government money could only be used for the paint supplies, the Cycling Club rallied Rapp's Bicycle Center in Butler Township to donate the bikes. Volunteers from the group picked them up with a van and trailer, repaired and painted them, and dropped them off on campus.

So far, the initiative can be considered a success.

"They've been seen as far as up to Giant Eagle around Slippery Rock and the outskirts of campus," Wilson said. "They're at the Quad, the library, all the dorms and off campus housing. They're really everywhere."

There are few guidelines on bike use, since enforcing rules would be difficult, Wilson said.

"You can pretty much take them anywhere," Wilson said. "We can't control vandalism or theft. But the bikes are beater bikes, not really the type of bikes you would want to steal. It's just to get students to try using a more environmentally friendly way to get around campus."

The Cycling Club currently boasts about 50 members, according to its president, Dan Cannon. Its goal is to create a network of opportunities for people seeking to ride, race and learn about bikes.

The club was formed by two graduate students in the 1980s and participates in a variety of races each year, depending on member interests.

"Every fall we participate in the Month of Mud, a local race series," said Cannon, who has been a club member for two years. "There are about 10 to 15 kids who all do different races."

In its history, the club has participated in road biking, mountain biking and various races on and off campus.

Cannon is thrilled with the opportunity the Green Bike Initiative offers SRU students.

"The reason was really because of this whole debate of parking lot problems," he said.

"But there are people who drive less than a mile and park as commuters. The group thought that getting bikes would alleviate the parking problem while still allowing students to get to class a little faster and have a good time doing it."

He encouraged users to keep the bikes within town and leave them at locations where others might benefit.

The Green Bike Initiative brought a variety of campus groups together, including Outdoor Adventures, the Geography Club, the Environmental Geosciences Society and Leave it Green.

Julie Snow, associate professor of geography, geology and the environment, also provided assistance, as did SRU's Steve Roberts of Outdoor Adventures.

Cannon said the group hopes to have more bicycles soon. The Cycling Club, however, is looking for bike donations. Those interested in contributing can send an e-mail to the greenbikeinitiative@gmail.com or daw7777@sru.edu.