This alumna is building a bike-friendly campus

For Lucy Klug, riding a bicycle was her first taste of freedom. Her early years exploring beyond her neighborhood, at her own pace, either alone or with friends, laid a foundation for her car-free lifestyle today

"Biking has provided me with joy, mobility independence and a connection to the natural and built environments around me for as long as I can remember. I feel the most myself when I'm riding a bike," Pitt's mobility specialist said.

The role - where she works on a broad range of mobility initiatives, highlighting sustainable transportation options like walking, biking, carpooling and public transportation - is a full-circle moment for Klug (A&S '22).

[DYK? You can ride for free with your Pitt ID.]

Her interest in equitable mobility and passion for sustainability began as an undergraduate majoring in environmental studies at Pitt. In 2022, Klug was recognized as a Pitt Sustainability Student Champion for her work with the environmental honors fraternity Epsilon Eta and completed an internship with the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation.

Klug has seen firsthand the shift in biking culture around campus since she was a first-year student. One of the biggest changes is the POGOH bike-share program, which offers unlimited, free 30-minute rides to the Pitt community. Klug used the program with her friends during its pilot in 2019.

"When I was a first-year student, POGOH wasn't well known, but now it's become an integral part of campus life," she said. Pitt's POGOH ridership has grown exponentially - from 1,146 rides in its first year to 215,000 rides this past academic year, showing the growing popularity of biking on campus.

Klug collaborates with campus and community organizations like the Pitt Bike Cave, Campus Recreation and BikePGH to make biking on campus accessible and welcoming. Through educational programs, resources and safe spaces, she helps people develop the skills to commute by bike in an urban setting.

Looking ahead, Klug envisions a future where biking, walking and transit are just as common as driving. "In my wildest dreams, Pittsburgh would be full of complete streets designed for people of all ages and abilities. I want to see biking embraced as an everyday mode of transportation."

Photography by Aimee Obidzinski