BFU Spotlight: Harvard Shines with Silver Award

Harvard joined the ranks of Bicycle Friendly Universities this past week, rising to the ranks of Silver status in its first award. Joining Princeton and Yale as Ivy League BFUs, Harvard certainly has plenty to brag about.

“Harvard is extremely proud to be recognized as a Bicycle Friendly University,” said Lisa Hogarty, vice president for campus services, in a University news release. “While the work of our CommuterChoice team has been exceptional, our initiatives and programs are successful because of the complete support and enthusiasm of Harvard’s biking community. Being named a BFU highlights just how strongly students, faculty, and staff are committed to using alternative forms of transportation.”

Harvard has reason to be proud:

• Approximately 17 percent of its campus commuters used bicycle as their primary means of transportation last year.
• It’s home to almost 400 bicycle racks, creating about 4,000 spaces for bicycles on campus.
• It’s invested more than $600,000 in the Hubway bike share system, of which Harvard has sponsored 12 stations throughout Cambridge and Boston (oh, and they have two other Bikeshare programs, known as CrimsonBikes and Read & Ride Bikeshare, too).
• The university is also an active participant in the Cambridge Bicycle Advisory Committee.

What’s more, it offers a Departmental Bike Program, which gives all schools and departments at Harvard the option of buying bicycles for campus transit. The program, which involves 20 Harvard departments currently, aims to reduce automobile trips and air pollution and increase the health of those on campus.

“Our students, faculty and staff have created a vibrant bicycling community and, in partnership with Harvard’s Schools, departments and community partners, we’re working to make the University safer and more accommodating for bicyclists,” Harvard University Commuter Choice program coordinator Ben Hammer told me this week. “Harvard’s strong support for bicycling makes the University stronger and helps our community explore alternatives to driving that are healthier and better for the environment.”

Keep up the good work! And keep an eye out for award announcements for our other Bicycle Friendly programs in the coming weeks!

(Photo credit: Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer)