Thursday, August 18, 2011

The University of Iowa School of Urban and Regional Planning was recently featured in an American Planning Association publication, The New Planner. The article, by second-year student Robyn Fenning, follows.

On April 29, 2011, the University of Iowa School of Urban and Regional Planning Student Association teamed up with the university's Office of Sustainability to promote bicycle commuting in Iowa City, Iowa. With the School of Urban and Regional Planning's strong transportation planning program, this event was the perfect way to extend April's Earth Day celebrations into late in the month and show the links between bicycling and sustainability.

The event featured a morning commute station next to Kinnick Stadium, across the street from the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. Morning commuters were given free bagels, a coffee-mug refill, bananas, and granola bars, thanks to donations from Panera, the University of Iowa Office of Sustainability, Hy-Vee, and New Pioneer Food Co-op.

Participants at the morning commute station pause for a photo in front of Kinnick Stadium. Photo courtesy Robyn Fennig.

The main event was held next to the Old Capitol building on the T. Anne Cleary Parkway from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 200 participants got free refreshments and the chance to win one of the many give-away prizes. Several community organizations, campus organizations, academic department clubs, and charity bike events had tables at the event to spread awareness about sustainability and events related to biking.

Urban planning student Caroline Brigham (right) educates participants about bicycle hand signals and safety tips during the main event. Photo courtesy Robyn Fennig.

World of Bikes, a local bicycle shop, performed free maintenance check-ups for participants who stopped by. Coca-Cola Campus co-sponsored the event, donating a Dahon collapsible bicycle as the grand prize give-away.

Philosophy and religious studies graduate student David Greder with his grand prize: a Dahon collapsible bicycle. Photo courtesy Robyn Fennig.

The event displayed the School of Urban and Regional Planning's student commitment to partnering with community organizations and empowering citizens to use different forms of transportation. "Once again, our energetic and committed students have demonstrated their willingness to act on their beliefs about the environment and the world they live in," said Charles Connerly, the school's director. "They make us all proud!"

The school is planning to sponsor the event again in 2012.

Robyn Fennig is a master's degree candidate in the University of Iowa School of Urban and Regional Planning (URP), president of the URP student association, and the Region IV representative on the APA Student Representatives Council (SRC).

On April 29, 2011, the University of Iowa School of Urban and Regional Planning Student Association teamed up with the university's Office of Sustainability to promote bicycle commuting in Iowa City, Iowa. With the School of Urban and Regional Planning's strong transportation planning program, this event was the perfect way to extend April's Earth Day celebrations into late in the month and show the links between bicycling and sustainability.

The event featured a morning commute station next to Kinnick Stadium, across the street from the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. Morning commuters were given free bagels, a coffee-mug refill, bananas, and granola bars, thanks to donations from Panera, the University of Iowa Office of Sustainability, Hy-Vee, and New Pioneer Food Co-op.

Participants at the morning commute station pause for a photo in front of Kinnick Stadium. Photo courtesy Robyn Fennig.

The main event was held next to the Old Capitol building on the T. Anne Cleary Parkway from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 200 participants got free refreshments and the chance to win one of the many give-away prizes. Several community organizations, campus organizations, academic department clubs, and charity bike events had tables at the event to spread awareness about sustainability and events related to biking.

Urban planning student Caroline Brigham (right) educates participants about bicycle hand signals and safety tips during the main event. Photo courtesy Robyn Fennig.

World of Bikes, a local bicycle shop, performed free maintenance check-ups for participants who stopped by. Coca-Cola Campus co-sponsored the event, donating a Dahon collapsible bicycle as the grand prize give-away.

Philosophy and religious studies graduate student David Greder with his grand prize: a Dahon collapsible bicycle. Photo courtesy Robyn Fennig.

The event displayed the School of Urban and Regional Planning's student commitment to partnering with community organizations and empowering citizens to use different forms of transportation. "Once again, our energetic and committed students have demonstrated their willingness to act on their beliefs about the environment and the world they live in," said Charles Connerly, the school's director. "They make us all proud!"

The school is planning to sponsor the event again in 2012.

Robyn Fennig is a master's degree candidate in the University of Iowa School of Urban and Regional Planning (URP), president of the URP student association, and the Region IV representative on the APA Student Representatives Council (SRC).