University FAQ & Resources

Read through these FAQs to learn more about the program and how to apply.
General
Applicants
There is one application cycle per year, with the deadline in the fall. The 2021 Application will open in early April and close in mid-October 2021. Please stay tuned for more updates!
Yes, there is a $100 application fee for each application that is submitted.
Discounts are available for the following institutions:
- Existing Bicycle Friendly Universities that are scheduled to renew this year (their last application was 4 years ago).
- Previous BFU applicants that received No Award or Honorable Mention on their most recent application.
- Insititutions that are a current Affiliate/organizational Member of the League, and maintain their membership for the full 4 years of their BFU designation.
- HBCUs and other Minority Serving Institutions.
- All-Women's Colleges.
- Community Colleges.
Please contact bfa@bikeleague.org to learn more if your school is eligible for a discount.
Invoicing is available for schools with Purchase Order systems.
Once your online application is finalized, there will be an option to "add to cart." From there, you will be prompted for payment before you are able to submit the application. You will be able to select whether you want to pay by credit card or request an invoice to pay by check or purchase order. Payment is due within 30 days of the application submission deadline.
Any university, college, community college or other institution of higher education with a physical campus is eligible to apply for the BFU℠ program. Your bicycle, sustainability, or transportation program manager should review the application and resources. University administration should work alongside campus bicycling groups to complete the form. BFU staff are available to answer questions about eligibility, the application process and best practices.
Visit the Getting Started page to learn more about the application process.
To complete the most comprehensive application, the applicant should be aware of all aspects of the university’s bicycle-related activities and efforts. We encourage the applicant to consult bicycling students and staff to help advise on the campus’s true environment for cycling.
Please be certain that the leaders of the college or university are consulted before applying.
New and renewing applicants fill out the same application form.
If your last application was started before April 2016, you will not be able to transfer data from your previous application to the current cycle. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please contact us at bfa@bikeleague.org to find out if we have a record of your previous application in-progress.
Beginning in the 2016 BFU application cycle, applications that are not submitted by the application deadline will be automatically transferred to the next application cycle. Please note that any questions that were changed or added may not transfer data correctly, so it is important to double check all of your answers before submitted an application that was started in a previous round.
Applicants that just fall short of a designation receive an Honorable Mention. Universities that receive an Honorable Mention are being promoted on the League website for one year. However, they do not receive a certificate, seal or award. The names of applicants that do not receive any recognition are not published. All applicants that do not achieve Bicycle Friendly status still receive a detailed feedback report that can be used to work towards a designation next time the business applies.
The BFU designation is given on a four-year basis, after which time the university must reapply to maintain or improve their status. Universities that do not maintain their cycling environment over the years may also lose their BFU status.
Any university, college, community college or other institution of higher education with a physical campus is eligible to apply for the BFU program. Your bicycle, sustainability, or transportation program manager should review the application and resources. University administration should work alongside campus bicycling groups to complete the form. BFU staff are available to answer questions about eligibility, the application process and best practices.
An important part of the BFU designation is the official presentation of the award to the college or university. The following steps are usually involved in setting up an award ceremony:
- Choose a date and location.
- The League will identify a representative to present the award – the representative may be a League staff person or board member, the head of a local club, a member of the bike industry, or other appropriate person. If you have a preference, please let the League staff know. The League will provide talking points for the presentation.
- The League can assist you in developing a press release for your business announcing the award ceremony. Most universities use their communications department to distribute the press release.
Resources for Building a Bicycle Friendly University
- Major in Bicycling - A Guide to Making your Campus Bike Friendly from Transportation Alternatives
- 17 bicycling infographics about bicycling, including How Bikes Can Save Us, Bicycling in the U.S., Bicycle Theft at US Universities and New American Transit - Young Americans Shift Away from Car-driven Culture
- Check out video of UC Davis' BFU development
- Improving Conditions for Bicycling and Walking - a best practices report listing outstanding projects
- Strategies to promote bicycling
- U.S. PIRG study 'A NEW COURSE: How Innovative University Programs Are Reducing Driving on Campus and Creating New Models for Transportation Policy'
- U.S. PIRG study 'MILLENNIALS IN MOTION: Changing Travel Habits of Young Americans and the Implications for Public Policy'
- A health impact study on the health risks and benefits of cycling in urban environments compared with car use
Complete Streets Policy
- Complete Streets resources, reports & guidance
- American Planning Association report on Complete Streets Best Policy and Implementation Practice
- Taking it a step further by integrating Complete Streets, land use and urban design using the Model Design Manual for Living Streets
Bicycle Facility and Streetscaping Design Standards
- AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, 4th Edition
- MUTCD Traffic Controls for Bicycle Facilities
- NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide
- Model Design Manual for Living Streets
- FHWA Planning Guidance for Bicycle Transportation Facilities
- Read about the University Courses on Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation
- Learn about bicycle specific conferences, visit the Pedestrian & Bicycle Information Center, APBP, and the Project for Public Spaces
Bicycle Parking
- Campus Bike Parking webinar and presentation slides from Ground Control Systems
- APBP Bike Parking Guidelines
- A review of bike parking considerations and costs
- Dero's Bike Parking Guide
- Sample Guidelines for Artistic Bicycle Rack from the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition
- Secure indoor bike parking resources from Bike Station
- Streetfilm about on-street bike parking
- Model bicycle parking ordinance
- Making a Place for Bicycles fact sheet
- See an example of a bike parking garage at Portland State University
- See a map of University of Washington bike racks
- Read a discussion forum on college and university bike racks and drainage grates
Bikes and Transit
- How to improve transit accommodation of bikes in the U.S.
- Information from FHWA regarding bicycles connection to transit
Trails
- Please also see section on Bicycle Facility and Streetscaping Design Standards above
- Information on structure and design considerations when constructing underpasses and overpasses for bicycles
- Trailbuilding Resources
- FHWA Bicycle and Pedestrian Program
- See more about mountain biking on the Michigan Tech campus
Bicycle Facility Maintenance
Bicycle Skills and Share the Road Education
- A database cataloging educational materials
- Motorist Education
- The League’s Smart Cycling Program
- The League’s Ride Better Tips and Presentations
- League Cycling Instructor seminar
- Marin County Bicycle Coalition’s Share the Road and Share the Path Campaigns
- Stanford’s popular Bike Safety Ambassador, Sprocketman
- Stanford's website of Bike Safety Information & Resources for New Students
- Review of Stanford's Bike Safety Program
- University of Michigan's alternative transportation promotional video for new students
- Bicycle diversion program at Stanford University
- City of Berkeley's bicycle education programs
Campus Tours
- See an example of unique bike tours at Alfred University
- See further examples of bicycle campus tours
Campus Bike Share Program
- Bike-sharing programs on U.S. campuses
- Read about NYU’s bike share program
- Find our more about Yale University's bike share program
Bike Rental Program
- Check out Michigan State University's bike rental program
- Find our more about the University of Kentucky's Wildcat Wheels Bicycle Library
- See an example a bike co-op that also rents bikes, the UC Davis Bike Barn
- See an example of bikes available for renting at University of Colorado
- Read an example of innovative uses for abandoned bikes
Bike Maps
- Check out the bike map at Princeton University
- See another example of a bike map from the University of Arizona
Campus Bike Center
- Check out the UCSC Bike Library, the UC Davis Bike Barn, The Bike Hub at Portland State University, and the Campus Bike Center at the University of Minnesota
- Check out The Handlebar at Dickinson College, and Green Bikes at Pomona College
- See an example of a bike coop in Twin Cities
- Read information on how to organize a coop or campus bike shop from the Bicycle Collective Network
Events
- Check out the bike rodeo and Earth Day event at University of Phoenix
- See an example of a bike rodeo at Yale University
- Check out the Indiana University Little 500, an example of a larger University cycling event
- Check out Centralia College PTS pit stop, an example of university involvement in a larger bike event
- See an example of a university’s participation in a commuter challenge
- Mentoring program for new riders
- See the League’s National Bike Day and Month guide
Other Encouragement Groups, Activities, Services, etc
- Check out the "Why Not? Campaign" from Emory University
- Review a directory of Youth Bicycle Programs
- Check out the commute club at Stanford University
- See an example of a commuter incentive program at CSUF
- Read a VeloNews article on collegiate cycling
- See an example of a university bicycle congress
- Augsburg Pedalers For Progress: an example of a student run advocacy group with a big mission
- How UNL creates a bike friendly campus culture
- 10 ways to encourage cycling on campuses
- Read LAB’s report why Bicycle and Pedestrian staff are needed
- Learn about bicycle advisory committees
- Check out the Portland State University's 2011 Bicycle Transportation Plan, as an example of a great college bike plan
- Read Western Michigan University's evaluation of best practices of bike friendly universities
- More Campus Bike Plans: James Madison University (2014), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2014), Utah State University (2012), University of Utah (2011)
- See additional examples of campus bike plans, (AASHE members only)
- Review other sample bicycle plans
- See an example of a crash reduction report
- Review the results of a bike survey at UC Davis
- Check out a bikeability checklist, a tool for evaluating the bikeability of a campus or community
- Read about funding resources and research
Read our full statement: Removing Enforcement from the '5 E' Framework
As of October 5, 2020, the League has officially and permanently removed ‘Enforcement’ as one of the pillars of the Bicycle Friendly America program’s ‘5 E’ framework.
As applicants and advocates consider how to apply these changes in their own community, we invite participants to consider these resources on equitable solutions and alternatives to enforcement:
- Center for Policing Equity: a national nonprofit organization eliminating bias in policing by measuring it
- Create Fair and Effective Policing Practices from The Opportunity Agenda: Transforming the System
- A Toolkit for Promoting Justice in Policing from PolicyLink and The Center for Popular Democracy
- Vera Institute of Justice: Ending Police Violence and Ensuring Accountability
- Campaign Zero: Police Use of Force Policy Analysis
- Our Streets Minneapolis: Why we don't Support Traffic Enforcement
- Transportation Alternatives: The Case for Self-Enforcing Streets
- Changelab Solutions: Equitable Enforcement to Achieve Health Equity
Read how other national organizations are making similar changes:
- Safe Routes to School National Partnership: Dropping Enforcement from the Safe Routes to School 6 E’s Framework
- Vision Zero Network: Active for Racial Justice & Just Mobility More Resources for Bicycle Friendly Communities
Equity & Accountability in Enforcement
- Center for Policing Equity: a national nonprofit organization eliminating bias in policing by measuring it
- Create Fair and Effective Policing Practices from The Opportunity Agenda: Transforming the System
- A Toolkit for Promoting Justice in Policing from PolicyLink and The Center for Popular Democracy
- Vera Institute of Justice: Ending Police Violence and Ensuring Accountability
- Campaign Zero: Police Use of Force Policy Analysis
- Changelab Solutions: Equitable Enforcement to Achieve Health Equity
Alternatives to Enforcement
- The Movement for Black Lives (M4BL): Defund the Police Resources and Messaging Guidance
- Our Streets Minneapolis: Why we don't Support Traffic Enforcement
- Transportation Alternatives: The Case for Self-Enforcing Streets
- Atlanta Bicycle Coalition: Petition to Remove Police Enforcement from Vision Zero
- Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia: We Are Dropping Police Enforcement From Vision Zero
- Walk Bike Berkeley: De-policing transportation to create safe streets
Bike Theft Prevention
- Bicycle Theft, Problem Oriented Guide for Police
- Bait bike program
- See a resource to track stolen bikes
- Read about what Berkeley is doing for bike theft prevention
- See more information on University of Oklahoma bike registration
Laws & Regulations
More resources for BFUS:
- Review Michigan State University biking ordinances
- See an example of a university policy for impounding bikes
- Check out the police bike store
- See an example of the activity of the university bike police at Indiana University
- See a toolkit on helmet promotion programs
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Residents and Advocates
The League has developed a promotional BFA toolkit specifically for bicycle advocates -- learn more on the Advocate Tools page.