Beginning next Tuesday, commuters who bike and walk to George Washington will be able to shower and prepare for their day at Lerner Health and Wellness Center through a special shower-pass membership.
The membership, offered through Health and Wellness Center and in partnership with the GW Office of Sustainability, will allow George Washington commuters with a valid GWorld card access to the locker room facilities at Lerner for $50 each semester whenever the building is open. The cost will include a towel and one locker room lock. Users are asked to spend no more than one hour in the locker rooms.
Since the program is launching mid-semester, passes for the rest of the fall semester will cost $25. Membership forms can be found on the Health and Wellness Center website.
Associate Athletic Director Andre Julien said the program—a common one in recreational facilities across the country—will especially help accommodate the growing popularity of biking around the District and to campus. There are currently 77 bike racks on campus, including racks in front of the Health and Wellness Center and in the P1 level of the Lerner parking garage, which provide space for 492 bikes.
“Our bike racks are always full, and the Capital Bikeshare program is pretty popular,” said Mr. Julien. “For many professionals, biking as transportation is ideal, and initiatives like GW’s shower-pass program support these commuters.”
Sustainability Project Facilitator Sophie Waskow said this program will also help the university reduce its carbon footprint.
“The more that we can incentivize lower-carbon modes of transportation such as public transport, biking, walking or carpooling, the more impact we can have on lowering our carbon footprint,” she said. “Increasing bike amenities is a key part of George Washington’s Climate Action Plan, and the shower pass program is a great way for us to incentivize lower-carbon commuting options.”