Photo Credit: City of Mt. Pleasant
Staff members of the Mt. Pleasant Parks Department in Michigan knew they needed a more efficient and earth-friendly way to complete daily park-maintenance tasks. After exploring several options, and noting at least one staff member who had a passion for bicycles, the department decided to incorporate this mode of transportation into its routine. This project—named the Green Maintenance Bike Initiative—provides new and recycled bikes for daily maintenance in the city’s parks. With connected access to five of the city’s most utilized parks through the Mt. Pleasant GKB Riverwalk Trail, bikes are a natural option for tackling daily maintenance tasks.
Starting Off On The Right Wheels
Prior to 2011, the department relied solely on gas-powered, motorized utility vehicles for moving material, equipment, and personnel. It was determined that nearly 10 gallons of gasoline were being used daily. This created pollution in the form of exhaust, as well as excess noise in otherwise peaceful park areas.
The decision was made to put one bike and trailer into service and encourage a staff member to try it out. Then the department invested in two new bicycles and two specialized trailers. Key staff members with an interest in cycling were challenged to see what tasks they could accomplish with the new additions. Just getting staff members to think about new approaches to maintenance put them in a different mindset. Also, having a couple of staff members excited about the program helped promote a new sense of creativity and a new way of performing the work.