Bicycle Friendly University
For college students, higher education can set the trajectory for a lifetime — and not just for successful careers. Just four years ago, the League of American Bicyclists awarded its freshman round of Bicycle Friendly University℠ designations, recognizing campuses that are making bicycling an integral part of the college experience. Today, the BFU program graduated to a new level, announcing a record-breaking number of top-performing colleges and celebrating the largest pool of applicants ever.
At Dickinson College, located in rural central Pennsylvania, farming is nothing new. The campus farm is a fifty-acre, USDA-certified organic farm, which serves as a “living laboratory” for students. How do bikes fit in the mix? We spoke with Lindsey Lyons, assistant director of the college’s Center for Sustainability Education, to learn more about the Silver-level Bicycle Friendly University’s Bike to Farm Potluck.
Convincing college students to spend money can sometimes be a losing battle. Not so for Grace Kyung, however. Kyung, a graduate student studying urban planning at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, successfully lead a campaign on campus to institute a $1 semesterly fee for bicycle programs and infrastructure. She’ll be talking more about her Big Idea at the 2015 National Bike Summit this March, but we caught up with her to talk more about how her initiative got rolling.
At the University of Vermont, the word “BUG” has a whole new meaning. Last week, we announced our latest round of Bicycle Friendly Universities, including the University of Vermont, a new Silver-level BFU. Vermont advanced from Bronze this round, and the program now has 100 BFUs in 37 states and Washington, D.C.
Access and safety are top priorities for the institute in promoting cycling. Infrastructure around the MIT campus supports safe cycling for MIT and its neighbors through the integration of a cycle track and bike lanes that connect with the surrounding Cambridge community. There are eight bicycle fix‐it stations around campus that ensure quick access to tools for commuters and cyclists on the go. For community members without a bicycle, the annual MIT Bike Auction provides a low‐cost purchasing option to encourage bike ridership. The auction also provides a recycling mechanism for discarded bikes on campus.
Today, on Campus Sustainability Day, the League of American Bicyclists announced 33 new and renewing Bicycle Friendly Universities (BFU) in 20 states. With this new round, 9 of the to 10 colleges and universities in the country, according to the 2014 U.S. News & World Report ranking, are Bicycle Friendly Universities. These institutions join a cutting-edge group of colleges and universities from across the United States transforming their campuses and the communities around them. There are now a total of 100 BFUs in 37 states and Washington, D.C.
Great things are happening for bicycles on college campuses across the country. According to a new study released by U.S. PIRG Education Fund, colleges and universities are working to reduce driving on campuses by promoting biking, walking, transit, car sharing, and even online distance learning as alternatives to personal vehicles.
Yesterday we welcomed Steve Clark to staff, and today we are introducing Amelia Neptune, our new Bicycle Friendly America Program Specialist. We’re excited to welcome Amelia to staff! She’ll be managing the Bicycle Friendly Business and Bicycle Friendly University programs.
Like football and basketball, there’s new competition at the top among California colleges. Today, the League of American Bicyclists announced the designation of 17 new Bicycle Friendly Universities, including just the second Platinum-level BFU in the country: The University of California-Davis. Now, Stanford isn’t alone at the top of the BFU podium. Shining on all fronts, the City of Davis became a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Community in 2005 and the University also became a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Business earlier this year. With this latest round of applications and awards, the program has expanded to a total of 75 colleges in 32 states and Washington, D.C.
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