Brain and Body

Library Installs Exercise Bikes to Help Keep Students Fit While Studying

March 11, 2016 | Johannes Van Zijl

Students read while pedalling exercise bikes
Photo credit: Screen capture from video by BouncyBands

“Humans were not meant to sit still all day.” 

Mixing cramming with cardio became a whole lot easier at a university in Alabama  where the library has installed special exercise bikes, allowing students to study and cycle at the same time.

Troy University in Alabama  recently introduces FitDesk, a type of exercise bike that has been designed to include a tray that can support a laptop or books.

The Dean of the Library services at Troy University, Christopher Shaffer, recently told the Huffington Post,“Humans were not meant to sit still all day”

SEE ALSO: Is Too Much Sitting & Sleeping Just as Bad as Smoking and Drinking?

Shaffer discovered FitDesks a couple of months ago, and immediately became excited about the idea.

“The idea fit nicely into Troy University’s motto ‘Educate the mind to think, the heart to feel and the body to act,’” Shaffer told the Huffington Post. “It is important to study, but while you are developing your mind, you also have to keep your body in shape.”

Troy University Libraries recently posted a photo on their Facebook account showing the three newly installed exercise bikes:

 

Troy Campus: Our exercise/study area is now open. More equipment is on order, but you are welcome to start using the three bikes that are in there.

Posted by Troy University Libraries on Wednesday, March 2, 2016

 

While the bikes were only installed a few days ago, they have already earned positive responses from students. The library has three more bikes on order, and they hope to eventually install a dozen Fitdesk bikes for students to use over the next couple of months.

The video below discusses how a similar concept, the read and ride program, has successfully been implemented in some schools, with positive results:

 

Hot Topics

Facebook comments