[Published: June 20, 2022]

In May, we introduced the latest addition to our Stanford Transportation fleet – our do-it-all Mobile Concierge E-Bike. We asked for the Stanford community’s help in naming this stellar new set of wheels. The submissions poured in – 266 in total. Our Stanford Transportation management team judges were impressed by all of the creativity. While it was difficult to choose, there can only be one winner so…drumroll please!

Congratulations to Mara Violanti for her winning name: Petite Marguerite.

Mara, who works as student services manager for the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, will receive namesake bragging rights, along with a helmet and bike safety kit.

Along with being catchy, Mara’s winning name is steeped in campus history. Since the university’s inception, Stanford has prioritized providing sustainable and free transportation. In fact, the university’s first mode of transport was a buggy service that ran from Palo Alto to Stanford. One of the horses who pulled the carriage was named, you got it, Marguerite. Hence, the origins of the Marguerite Shuttle’s moniker. Since the early seventies, “The Marg” has offered free shuttle bus service to the public. Today, it boasts 41 electric buses, which run on renewable energy.  The legacy continues with the new Petite Marguerite E-bike, which will be used to efficiently host events and transport supplies and minimize the use of CO2 emissions while traveling the campus.

“The name is a perfect fit and continues the history of providing transportation options on campus that are in the spirit of energy efficient motion,” said Ariadne Delon Scott, Stanford Transportation’s assistant director of Active Mobility. “Thanks to all who sent us their suggested names—beyond inspired!”

To meet Petite Marguerite up close and personal, we’ll show her off Friday, August 5 on the main campus at White Plaza and Wednesday, August 10 on the Stanford Redwood City campus at Cardinal Hall from noon to 1pm at both locations.