Editors' Blog: Comfest stays green with Pedal Instead
By Megan Krause, Campus Life writer
June 28, 2008 | 6 a.m.
It has been 36 years since political activists held the first Community Festival in a street near The Ohio State University. Comfest has grown considerably over the years but still sticks to its green roots by promoting programs like Pedal Instead.
In 1972 Comfest was started by citizens who wanted the government to act on environmental issues. Today, it still promotes the same ideals of community and the belief that if people cooperate they can achieve change.
One way the festival encourages this change is through Pedal Instead, a program which promotes riding bikes to improve health and to save the environment.
Traveling by bicycle is good for human and environmental health, said Catherine Girves, director of the University Area Enrichment Association (UAEA). When more people bike fewer people are driving, which decreases air pollution and traffic. Biking also encourages a healthy lifestyle.
Pedal Instead started in 2007 when John Gideon, president of the Central Ohio Bicycle Advocacy Coalition (COBAC), came up with the concept of bike corrals, a system to keep bicycles safe and to encourage people to utilize them. COBAC has since merged with the organization Consider Biking.
UAEA adopted Gideon's project and now coordinates corrals in the Columbus area. In its first year, Pedal Instead parked about 2,500 bikes, according to a UAEA document. In 2008, the program expanded to include 30 events.
Having safe, supervised areas designated for bike parking encourages people to choose biking over driving when traveling to big events. "It's easier to get to those events by bike than by car," Girves said. Instead of fighting the crowds, bikers can get closer to the venue with less hassle.
After ComFest, Ohio State football games are Pedal Instead's largest event. Volunteers had the corral ready at the spring game and had quite a turnout despite the rain.
The organization will take on Columbus' Fourth of July celebration, Red, White and Boom, this year. It is the first time Pedal Instead has offered the corral at this event.
Pedal Instead has been a success in Columbus, but with the right coordination and planning it could be successful in any city, Girves said.
Currently, the only thing stopping the organization from growing is a shortage of volunteers. More events want a Pedal Instead corral than they have enough volunteers to staff. Any potential volunteers may contact Girves at cgirves@uaea.org.
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