Michael Bane is making a difference
03 Jul 2014
I support more people to cycle to work
I work in IT Services helping researchers with their computational research. I have been concerned about humanity’s adverse effects on our planet for a couple of decades. When I was a PhD student at Manchester I helped set up paper recycling and when I returned to work at the University I got involved in setting up the University of Manchester Bicycle Users’ Group, UMBUG.
Over the last couple of years, we’ve got external funding and ran various publicity campaigns, given away lights and locks and set up monthly cycle events. I was also awarded the UK Universities’ “National Environmental Hero” Green Impact Award in 2009/10.
UMBUG promotes cycling to staff and students. Cycling not only helps the environment by reducing Carbon emissions, compared to driving to work, but also helps keep the body and mind healthy. We have obtained several grants from Manchester City Council that enabled us to promote cycling, and to give away lights and locks, to loan bikes to prospective cyclists (several of whom who went on to buy a bike) and to offer training to all. All UMBUG campaigns have been tied together with a distinctive logo that illustrates the many benefits of cycling.
Together with the University’s Environmental Sustainability team, UMBUG has supported increasingly popular monthly events for cyclists to share news over a free breakfast, and co-ordinates Bike Buddies helping showing safe routes in to the University. Membership has grown steadily and we have encouraged many car drivers to hop out of the driving seat and on to a saddle.
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