The University of Southern Mississippi will begin an initiative this fall to encourage bike riding on campus.

The bicycle loan program’s aim is offer a more eco-friendly mode of transporation and encourage exercise. Under the program, bicycles are provided for faculty, staff and students to use, then they leave the bikes behind for the next rider.

The bicycles will be painted the same, bright color for easy identification.

USM President Martha Saunders said a similiar program was implemented at her previous institution, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.