Exercise while charging your phone in Lockwood Cybrary

A graphic depicting a pile of money that, on closer inspection, has a scammer's face on it.

Published March 7, 2019 This content is archived.

By Joe Ferguson

Now you can charge your phone with minimal impact to the environment. Stop by the Lockwood Cybrary to try the new Pedal Power bike.

The bike comes from a company called “Rock the Bike,” whose mission is to promote green energy practices in a fun way.

Visit the UBIT website to find out when Lockwood Cybrary is open and the bike is available.

Print

UB's own pedal powered phone charging

Scott Harrigan, UBIT Customer Support Analyst, and his student team were in charge of the bike’s implementation in the Lockwood Cybrary over winter break 2019.

So far, according to Harrigan, the bike has been well received.

“People seem to like riding the bike,” Harrigan said. “One time I saw a student just ride the bike without charging a device.”

By pedaling on the bike, an individual generates power that is stored in a capacitor that then goes on to charge your phone or device. The more you pedal, the more power you generate.

While pedal power is a hit among students waiting to pick up their print jobs, it may also be making an appearance at upcoming campus events.

Awareness of power consumption

The Pedal Power bike helps bring the conversation of power consumption and green energy to the forefront.

”10 years ago, we did not need as much power as we do now,” Harrigan stated, “This bike actually helps bring about situational awareness about power and its consumption.”

The next time you’re in the cybrary, why not go for a ride and charge your phone at the same time? You’ll be helping the environment and getting in a little exercise too.