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Tuesday, 10 April 2007 18:33 |
Every weekday morning, UNC Asheville Associate Professor Doug Miller boards an Asheville Transit System bus near his home in Arden. He shows the driver his university ID and enjoys a free commute to his office on campus.
Miller is just one of a number of UNCA faculty and staff members who are taking advantage of riding the bus, biking or carpooling to work each day.
The U.S. Evironmental Protection Agency recently took note of the universityís transportation efforts and named UNCA a ìBest Workplace for Commuters.î The school is just one of three universities in the state to earn the designation.
By taking the bus, Miller estimates that he saves more than $50 per
month on gasoline and countless dollars on wear-and-tear on his
vehicle. He says that he actually saves time, too.
ìIf I time it right, my commute on the bus takes about 30 minutes,
which is the same amount of time it takes to drive and park,î Miller
said. ìWhile Iím waiting on connections at the bus station, I work
grading papers. The bus station has become my mobile office.î
In January, UNCA became the first employer in Asheville to join the
Asheville Transit Systemís PassPort Program. The university underwrites
the fares at a reduced rate, which allows UNCA students, faculty and
staff to ride for free by showing their university ID. This partnership
was one of the primary reasons the university earned the ìBest
Workplace for Commutersî designation.
Other alternative transportation options available to the schoolís
faculty and staff include a Web site to organize carpools and preferred
parking for carpool vehicles; secure bicycle parking, lockers for bike
commuters and a bike repair shop on campus; and participation in the
City of Ashevilleís Emergency Ride Home Program, which provides a free
cab ride home in emergency situations to those who bike, carpool or
take the bus to work.
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