WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., March 6, 2023 — Thanks to a $5,000 grant received from the Be Active West Virginia Grant Program, West Liberty University will add six bike racks to its campus this spring.

“We are so grateful to the Be Active program and the West Virginia Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease, for the assistance in adding this much needed feature to our rural campus,” said Kathleen Wack, associate professor of Health and Physical Education.

“This is just the first step in what we are calling ‘BikeWestLib.’ This continued initiative will grow to include mapping safe riding routes, designating bike lanes and adding signage,” added Lou Karas, the Director of WLU’s Center for Arts and Education.

Both Wack and Karas were joined by Director of Student Activities Kate Billings in writing the grant and are overseeing the project.

“We hope to cultivate a culture of cycling and add to the campus wellness and student intramural program in this manner,” Billings said. A bike-rental or lease program also is part of the long-term plan.

The addition of bike racks is a real plus to student life since currently, students who have bikes must keep them in their rooms, according to Billings.

The BikeWestLib initiative held its first general meeting in late February and is gathering interested employees, students and other stakeholders as they build interest in the program.

The Be Active WV Grant Program is a collaboration with the West Virginia Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease, to combat obesity and chronic disease in West Virginia. The initiative aims to improve the health of West Virginians by increasing opportunities for physical activity in communities throughout West Virginia.

The Center for Active West Virginia, housed at the West Virginia University College of Applied Human Sciences, provides assistance to partners that focus on improving the health of West Virginia by funding community partner projects that are increasing or improving pedestrian and bike infrastructure, increasing opportunities for physical activity for children throughout the school day and beyond, and creating opportunities for physical activity referrals in healthcare settings.

To learn more about the Center for ActiveWV initiative visit www.activewv.org. To reach Karas or learn more about the BikeWestLib initiative, please email her at l.karas@westliberty.edu or call her at 304.336.8162.