As part of National Campus Safety Awareness Month, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center Campus Police have partnered with the Memphis Medical District Collaborative to host Pedal Pushing, a 13-mile bike ride through the medical district.
“With the UTHSC campus community actively participating as pedestrians and cyclists on a daily basis, it was important for Campus Police to provide a safe avenue to promote this activity within our campus community,” said Anthony Berryhill, Chief of Campus Police. “This is a great platform for us to give back to the community, while forming relationships with UTHSC faculty, staff and students, as well as those in the Medical District area.”
The event will take place rain or shine on Saturday, September 30, and is open to all UTHSC faculty, students, and staff. Participants are asked to bring at least two canned goods or other non-perishable items to donate to the Mid-South Food Bank, a local charity that supplies food and meals to the people of west Tennessee, east Arkansas and north Mississippi.
“Partnering with the Mid-South Food Bank was a natural relationship that’s been built with the UTHSC community, and this year marks the 10th anniversary of the annual UTHSC Campus Food Drive,” said Chief Berryhill.
Participants are asked to bring their own bikes, however Campus Police has also partnered with the Memphis Medical District Collaborative’s FreeWheel so that 20 free bikes will be available for rental on the day of the ride for those who don’t own a bike. The FreeWheel bikes will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Free T-shirts will also be given to the first 50 participants.
Registration will be from 6 to 6:30 a.m. and the ride will begin at 7 a.m. from Health Sciences Park. Leading the ride will be Chief Berryhill and UTHSC bike certified officers Sergeant Joanne Morrow and Officer James Hamer, who can often be seen riding their police approved mountain bikes throughout campus.
“Campus Police and Campus Safety are here daily to make certain that all students, faculty, and staff members actually feel safe when they are on campus,” said Chief Berryhill. “We want to build a trust among the campus and within the Medical District area and show that Campus Police cares.”
To register for Pedal Pushing please visit https://www.uthsc.edu/campus-police/pedal-pushing.php