Looking to the future, Epic recently added 200 more of its custom-painted cow bikes for inter-campus travel. To match Epic’s growing footprint, planners needed to beef up the bike count to support cross-campus collaboration among staff. They also added a new option, ridable donkeys.

Epic Facilities lead Jim Schumacher explains the decision to add hoofs to the campus transport fleet: “Bringing in more cow bikes was a no-brainer as we grow. The donkey decision came about when we challenged ourselves to get a little more creative.” Epic already maintains a working farm on its property, so the staff are accustomed to having livestock around. Early feedback from riders is that the donkeys are smart, personable, and affectionate, even if sometimes stubborn. Says Schumacher, “There’s a little feeding and a little cleanup, but it’s a very natural alternative. You can take these guys off the sidewalks and paved paths. Plus, they love the exercise and getting scratches on the nose.”