U of M cycling club offers activities for faculty, staff and students: Join today

By Staci Thomasson

Spring is finally here. That means blue skies, blooming flowers and a great opportunity to join the University of Memphis cycling club. The club is open to students and faculty/staff members and includes regular rides.

Douglas Campbell, faculty adviser for the group and a U of M instructor of economics, wants students and members of the community to know more about cycling and its benefits.

“The basic idea is to encourage people to bike more, be it on-road, off-road, commuter or casual,” he said.

The group was started in 2009 by club president and U of M senior Carter Chappell, and they hope to increase awareness of their regular group rides. The club rides with a group from the Peddler Bike Shop on Highland at 6:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month. They frequently travel the Shelby Farms Greenline, and have special rides on occasions such as St. Patrick’s Day and Earth Day (Look for “Memphis Cycling on Facebook for ride dates and times.)

Coinciding with the addition of bicycle lanes on Southern Avenue, the U of M has installed numerous bike racks across campus, making it easier to peddle to campus and park a bicycle.

Campbell says the bike lanes have dramatically improved his daily commute from the Cooper-Young area. “I feel so much safer riding in a bike lane, and my ride to campus is five to 10 minutes shorter than before,” he said.

Not only is biking a good form of exercise, said Campbell, it is “better for the environment, including reducing fossil fuel consumption, and helps build strong communities.

“Our hope is that more members of the University of Memphis community will start cycling.

For more information on the bike club, email Campbell at dacampbe@memphis.edu, or look up “Memphis Cycling” on Facebook.