This fall semester, the Office of International Student and Scholar Services in UT’s Center for International Studies and Programs is piloting a new bicycle loan program called Rocket ReCycle.
“The Office of International Student and Scholar Services recognizes the needs of its international students, who are here for a limited period time, to have basic transportation,” said Peter Thomas, director of the office. “Transportation is a real concern, and we hope the bicycle loan program will give the students more mobility and a sense of freedom to buy groceries, run errands, go to restaurants, and travel around town.”
The UT Police Department has kicked off the loan program by donating six bicycles that were left unclaimed at the end of the last academic year.
The need for bicycles may be greater, so the Office of International Student and Scholar Services is looking for donations of used bikes in good working condition. Interested donors should contact Thomas at 419.530.4229 or peter.thomas@utoledo.edu.
International students will be able to register for the bicycle loan program by completing a registration form an leaving a $25 deposit. The deposit will be fully refunded upon the return of the bike. Students also must have a bicycle helmet and lock to participate in the loan program.
“We are interested in promoting bicycle safety, particularly for international students who are not accustomed to bicycling in the United States,” Thomas added. “With this in mind, we will require international students who would like to participate in the bicycle loan program to take a bike safety course.”
International students will be able to register for a Rocket ReCycle bike loan by stopping in the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, located in Snyder Memorial Building Room 1020. Bikes will be loaned on a first-come, first-served basis. Students will be responsible for bike upkeep and maintenance.
The Office of International Student and Scholar Services provides assistance and services to international students and scholars at the University, helping them transition to life at UT and in the United States. The office serves as a resource regarding orientation, visa requirements, on-campus and off-campus housing, banking, and health insurance.
The Center for International Studies and Programs supports internationalization efforts at the University by creating links among students, faculty and staff, visiting scholars, and the community that foster cross-cultural understanding and appreciation. The center encourages global citizenship through innovative educational, cultural and service learning programming, and through student and scholar exchanges.
