The Ashland Community Bike Program applies an ancient principle to the future of alternative transportation. Johnathon Allen Take a walk through downtown Ashland soon, and you'll probably wonder what's going on with all of the unlocked green bikes. In modern consumer society usufruct can be a dangerous term.
Private ownership is the creed and law of the land.
The idea first rolled into the minds of a few high school students gathered together in Jim Hartman's Ecology class last fall at Ashland Senior High. It started when Jim Hartman asked his students to find a meaningful way to improve their local ecological environment. He asked them what could be done to increase the use of alternative transportation and reduce air pollution in the local environment. Programs like this one helped Portland earn its rating as best city in the U.S. for cycling last year, and Ashland seemed like the perfect place to try it out next. Good ideas show possibility and stand up to strong criticism.