TCU Purple Bike Program kicks off with a "Tour de Frogs" and includes a presentation by renowned environmental speaker Dr. Debra Rowe

Fort Worth, TX

3/20/2007

TCU students will have the opportunity to participate in the “Tour de Frogs,” attend an environmental pep rally, and hear Dr. Debra Rowe speak about sustainability and environmental issues during the Purple Bike Kickoff on March 29.

The event will officially introduce TCU’s Purple Bike program. The goal of the program is to help the university become more environmentally friendly by reducing the number of vehicles on campus and encouraging students to ride bicycles free of charge.

“I want people to begin thinking about our environmental footprint and its impact upon the campus, community and our planet,” says Dr. Keith Whitworth, TCU sociology professor and founder of the program, “It’s a mindset of thinking green.”

The kickoff will begin with the “Tour de Frogs” event from 4 – 6 p.m. Students will be able to test the bikes on campus, stopping at four stations along the way to answer environmental questions on topics like recycling or pollution. The results will be tallied to decide the winners, which will be announced at the rally. At 6 p.m., student groups will encourage the crowd to “Think Green, Ride Purple.” Snacks and a live band will top off the event.

Following the rally, students are encouraged to attend Dr. Debra Rowe’s lecture: “Creating the Triple Bottom Line: Healthier Planet, People, Economics” in Sid Richardson Lecture Hall 1on TCU’s campus from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Dr. Rowe is currently the co-chair and president of the U.S. Partnership for the Sustainable Development, Senior Fellow at the Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future, National co-coordinator of the Higher Education Association’s Sustainability Consortium and Senior Advisory Counselor for the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. 

For more information, visit www.envirofootprint.org or call 817-257-5941.