This semester, the Department of Intramurals has two achievements to smile about with the addition of a new diving board and the completion of a second year for its “Take-a-Bike, Leave-a-Bike” program.
The bike program gives students the chance to take a break from walking across the campus and borrow a bike to ride to their destination.
The bikes are then dropped off at a bike rack on campus in order to be picked up again from a different student.
Since last year, the department has upgraded its bikes with cruiser bikes, which Wal-Mart gave a generous discount to purchase. The bikes were also tricked out with baskets and Fort Hays State University branding to make them more identifiable. Last year’s bikes were used and donated that were then salvaged and repaired by a student.
The program has also been developed with help from the Health and Human Performance department, the Dean’s and Provost’s office as well as the Tiger Wellness Center.
Ronald Haag, director of the intramurals department on campus, said the program has been a success over the years and hopes that it can develop into a larger program.
“As long as everyone takes care of the program and has integrity and doesn’t try to tear them up, it’s a great program, and it works very, very well,” Haag said. “Who knows how far it can go? … There are some other programs like it. I know a lot of bigger cities have programs that are a little more elaborate. … It’s really based on the students. As long as they take advantage of the program in a positive manner, who knows how many bikes we’ll have? I think it’s a program that will grow, and I might grow into different parts of the town.”
The department keeps nearly 15 bikes on campus at one time, and out of all the bikes, only one has been vandalized. The bikes are meant to be kept on campus only.
“I think we have a better community and a better student population than that, so I don’t understand why that happened,” Haag said.
The program will be continuing, and Haag said he hopes that students can take advantage of the program in a respectable way to keep the bikes in good working condition.
“It’s one of 250 activities we’ve got; it’s just another style of intramurals. We want them to participate. It’s a great way to stay healthy, and it’s a great way to get to class,” Haag said. “All the bikes have baskets, so you can throw your stuff in there. They are all cruisers with one speed. As long as everyone respects the program, it will be fun.”
The department also has a new addition to its pool: a state-of-the-art diving board, donated by a local doctor who is a diving and swimming enthusiast.
“He’s a great guy. … He cares about the sport and cares about the kids and is giving back to the community,” Haag said.
The diving board is already attached to the pool and ready to use for students and the community, but has not yet been tested by the doctor himself.
For pool hours, contact the intramurals department at 785-628-4373.
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