Cycling Activities: A Catalyst for Maintaining Campus Sustainability

• Main Authors: Harifah Mohd Noor, Marja Azlima, Rosmiza M.Z
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: GV Recreation Leisure; LG Individual institutions - Asia, Africa, Indian Ocean islands, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific islands
• Online Access: https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/23621/1/Cycling%20Activities.pdf; https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/23621/; https://doi.org/10.17576/geo-2018-1403-07

Maintaining a sustainable campus is one of the many challenges in the life of those who live on campus. Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has paved the way to practice the concept of Ecocampus living since the year 2013. The use of bicycles is introduced as the catalyst to promote ‘greening UMS campus’. Based on stratified random sampling, a total of 300 questionnaires were distributed to students from various residential colleges, faculties in different stages/year of their study. The collected data was analysed using descriptive methodology and inferences through frequency and average mean score and Chi-Square. The objective of this study is to identify the various factors that affect the use of an alternative mode of transportation amongst UMS students. The finding shows that most of the female students that lived on campus and in their final year (undergraduate) dominated the use of bicycles on campus. And, the most frequent use of bicycle is for leisure cycling. Health awareness is the primary factor that encourages the use of bicycles on campus, followed by environmental awareness and accessibility. On the other hand, weather conditions, security issues and lack of facilities are identified as the main hindrances. This study suggests that an increased effort to improve infrastructure and the initiatives to intensify campaigns promoting the use of bicycles on campus should be carried out as such measures would ultimately contribute to maintaining a sustainable campus.