Monday, May 27, 2019

Campus transportation comes with a twist of Lime

A recent e-scooter pilot project in Waterloo has been expanded to the University of Waterloo's main campus.

In fall 2018, The City of Waterloo and the David Johnston Research + Technology Park partnered with Lime for a first-in-Canada pilot program with 100 e-scooters deployed around R+T Park and down the Laurel Trail. The first phase of the pilot saw 6,200 unique users take over 18,000 trips in just 46 days, with the scooters marking 19,000 km of mileage. According to information provided by Lime, these trips saved more than 4,980 kg of carbon dioxide from being added to the atmosphere.

Phase Two of the pilot began April 1, and the pilot has been formally expanded to the University’s south campus, making Waterloo the first institution in Canada to adopt this program.

“While Waterloo was eager to pilot the project, there was also careful consideration about its impact on campus and in particular students’ safety,” says Mike Pereira, manager of business development at the Research + Technology Park. Pereira who helped shepherd the first phase of the pilot with the city of Waterloo is now helping facilitate its expansion to campus. “Lime could have chosen any campus in Canada to try this, but they chose Waterloo because of our history of technological experimentation and our reputation for being open-minded to adopting and studying the latest mobility technology.” 

The expanded pilot will see an additional 50 e-scooters deployed in the pilot area, with “havens” for scooter parking set up in several locations around campus. The e-scooters are dockless, and users can download an app to activate the scooters, which costs an initial $1 fee with an additional ¢.30 per minute of travel. Users must be 18 years of age and possess a driver's licence. The e-scooters are available for use between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. daily.

The e-scooters can travel up to 24km/h on the Laurel Trail and in the R+T Park but will be limited to a top speed of 15 km/h within the boundaries of the campus pilot area. 

Details about the expanded pilot can be found on the City of Waterloo’s website. The Waterloo campus pilot ends on August 16.

Some safety and usage tips:

• Wear a helmet before hopping on one of the e-scooters;
• Walk the e-scooter across any road crossing;
• When your trip is finished, park the e-scooter away from building doors and don’t leave them on sidewalks;
• Ride safely and be aware of pedestrians and vehicles on the Ring Road; and
• Do not take the e-scooters inside campus buildings and residences.

Lime e-scooters will be available to use on campus until November 2019, when the second phase of the pilot concludes.

The Lime e-scooter pilot is one of two "last mile" mobility initiatives currently on campus - a bicycle pilot program called DropBike also recently rolled out.

A call for submissions for new art in the Library

The Library invites the University of Waterloo community to submit works for the next Art in the Library exhibit, Begin*.

Born from a desire to celebrate the revitalization of Dana Porter and Davis Centre libraries, completed in 2019, Art in the Library aims to open up library spaces to showcase the creativity of our community and create welcoming and engaging spaces for library users. All members of the University of Waterloo community are welcome to submit works of art for this rotating, juried exhibit. Submissions must be received by Sunday June 30, 2019.

Begin* will be on display from September 2019 to April 2020. 

Visit the current exhibit, Transforming spaces, on display in the Davis Centre Library silent study room until August.

Saying thanks to Mario Coniglio; other notes

The Office of the Provost would like to invite members of the University community to join in thanking Mario Coniglio for his service as Associate Vice-President, Academic.

A professor in the Faculty of Science's Earth and Environmental Sciences department, Coniglio has served in the role of Associate Vice-President, Academic since 2013.

The celebration event takes place on Wednesday, June 19 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the University Club. There will be hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. R.S.V.P. by June 10.

The University's Sustainability advisory committee is seeking new members. 

As part of its regular renewal, the President’s Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability (PACES) is seeking representation from the University community for a two-year term, from Spring 2019-Winter 2021.

Formed in 2015, PACES provides direction and support for the implementation of Waterloo’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy, reviews and selects projects through the Sustainability Action Fund, and issues the annual sustainability report to track progress against campus objectives.

If you have an interest in campus sustainability and would like to contribute to Waterloo’s efforts, please consider completing a brief application by June 5 for one of the current vacancies:

• Undergraduate student representative
• Staff representative
• Faculty representative

To view the full committee terms of reference and apply, please visit the Sustainability website.