“Bike to the Polls” event promotes sustainability practices and civic engagement beyond campus – The Bowdoin Orient

Initiative Report: “Bike to the Polls” Event

Event Overview and Objectives

On election day, a collaborative initiative was launched by Sustainable Bowdoin and Bowdoin Votes to facilitate student participation in the democratic process while promoting sustainable practices. The “Bike to the Polls” event involved a three-mile group bicycle ride from the Bowdoin College campus to a local polling station. The primary objectives were to remove transportation barriers to voting, encourage civic engagement, and advocate for sustainable transportation methods, directly aligning with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The initiative made significant contributions to the following SDGs:

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: By promoting cycling as a viable alternative to fossil-fuel-powered vehicles, the event directly supports Target 11.2, which aims to provide access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all. The group ride also fostered community cohesion and engagement with the local Brunswick area.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The event served as a practical application of climate action by encouraging a shift to non-carbon transportation. This aligns with institutional sustainability goals and contributes to Target 13.3, which seeks to improve education and awareness-raising on climate change mitigation.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: By using the Bowdoin Bike Share Program to offer free transportation, the initiative worked to ensure responsive, inclusive, and participatory decision-making (Target 16.7). Removing a potential barrier to voting strengthens the institutions that underpin a just and peaceful society.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The collaboration between Sustainable Bowdoin and Bowdoin Votes exemplifies Target 17.17, which encourages effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships to achieve sustainable development goals.

Key Program Components and Outcomes

1. Utilization of Shared Resources: The event successfully leveraged the new Bowdoin Bike Share Program. This provided equitable access to transportation, ensuring that students without personal bicycles could participate in both the event and the election.
2. Promotion of Sustainable Lifestyles: The initiative demonstrated that sustainable transportation can be seamlessly integrated into daily activities. Participant feedback indicated a strong understanding of the need to incorporate sustainable practices into all aspects of life to build a more climate-aware world.
3. Enhancement of Community Engagement: The group ride format fostered social connections among participants and provided an opportunity for students to explore their local community from a new perspective, strengthening their sense of place and civic connection.

Future Directives and Scalability

The success of the “Bike to the Polls” event has established a model for future initiatives. Organizers have expressed a commitment to expanding upon this framework. Future plans include:

• Organizing additional group rides to promote community exploration and sustainable transport.
• Developing orientation events to introduce new students to local bike paths and cycling infrastructure.
• Continuing to utilize the bike-share program as a tool for promoting accessibility and equity in future community and sustainability events.

This model is scalable and can be adapted for various campus activities, consistently reinforcing the institution’s commitment to civic responsibility and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article discusses the promotion of sustainable transportation through the “Bike to the Polls” event and the Bowdoin Bike Share Program. This initiative encourages students to use bicycles, a sustainable mode of transport, to navigate their community (Brunswick), fostering a more connected and sustainable urban environment.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The event’s explicit goal, as stated in the article, is “encouraging people to replace cars or fossil fuel transportation with bicycles, walking or other non-carbon transportation.” This directly addresses climate action by promoting behaviors that reduce carbon emissions. One student’s comment about pushing for a “more climate-aware world” reinforces this connection.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The central theme of the event is civic engagement. By organizing a ride to help students “exercise their right to vote,” the initiative supports participatory processes and strengthens democratic institutions. The effort to “remove any potential barriers to voting” directly contributes to making decision-making more inclusive and representative.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 11.2 (under SDG 11)
   • This target aims to “provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all.” The article highlights the Bowdoin Bike Share Program, which was utilized for the event, as a means to provide students with an accessible and sustainable transportation option. The event itself is a practical application of this target, making it easier for students to travel within their community.
2. Target 13.2 (under SDG 13)
   • This target calls to “integrate climate change measures into… strategies and planning.” While the article describes a local, campus-level action, the “Bike to the Polls” event represents the integration of climate-conscious measures into community planning. Sustainable Bowdoin’s goal to replace fossil fuel transportation is a clear strategy to combat climate change at a local level.
3. Target 16.7 (under SDG 16)
   • This target is to “ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.” The event directly facilitates this by helping students overcome a logistical hurdle (transportation) to participate in elections. By enabling more students to vote, the initiative promotes a more inclusive and participatory democratic process.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for Target 11.2
   • Establishment and utilization of a bike-sharing program: The article explicitly mentions the new “Bowdoin Bike Share Program” and its use for the event, which serves as a concrete indicator of providing sustainable transport options.
   • Number of community events promoting sustainable transport: The “Bike to the Polls” event is one such initiative, and the article mentions plans for “more events that involve group rides,” indicating a measurable effort to promote biking.
2. Indicators for Target 13.2
   • Implementation of initiatives to encourage non-carbon transportation: The article describes the event as part of Sustainable Bowdoin’s goals to “replace cars or fossil fuel transportation with bicycles,” which is a direct indicator of a climate action strategy.
3. Indicators for Target 16.7
   • Number of initiatives organized to reduce barriers to civic participation: The “Bike to the Polls” event is a specific, measurable initiative designed to remove a transportation barrier to voting.
   • Number of participants in voter-enablement events: The article refers to a “group of Bowdoin students” who rode together, implying that the number of participants is a key metric for the event’s success in fostering civic engagement.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bowdoinorient.com