If you don’t know Tom Page ’71, ’76 and his generous gifts to the University, take a minute to read about him here.
The Detroit Mercy bikes his most recent donation purchased, had their inaugural ride Saturday as part of the Homecoming bike tour of the neighborhoods around the McNichols Campus. They made quite a stir on campus Saturday, people commenting on how bright the bikes painted in Detroit Mercy’s red and blue are. They are now available for students to borrow. It’s all part of Page’s dedication to promoting bicycling in Detroit.
Page was recently honored for that commitment as the Sierra Club’s Green Cruiser of the Year for 2017. According to the Sierra Club, Page was honored because he “develops and leads rides for the Detroit Institute of Arts, Neighborhood Service Organization, Michigan Science Center, Preservation Detroit, Wayne State University, Loyola High School, University of Detroit Mercy, University of Detroit Jesuit High School, the Detroit Art Deco Society, and supports and assists the Detroit Greenways Coalition. Along with his primary Facebook group, DetroitBikes, Mr. Page creates and manages social networking forums that share information on bicycling events, relevant law, advocacy, safe riding, alternative transportation, and volunteer opportunities.”
Page said he appreciated the honor.
“The Sierra Club cited my efforts in promoting bicycling within the City of Detroit,” he said. “As part of my efforts, I encourage people to be mindful when making transportation decisions. The car certainly has its purpose, but it need not be the automatic choice for getting around the city. Bicycling has so many advantages — it’s inexpensive, non-polluting, relieves congestion, promotes individual health and community well-being — that bicycles can be a primary form of urban mobility. I am also very proud that my efforts to promote bicycling at my alma mater, University of Detroit Mercy, were cited by the Sierra Club.”
Those efforts include the new bicycles on campus for loaning and the bike repair stations installed last year.
Joe Gifford