Now 164 “Bicycle Friendly Universities” In 44 US States + District Of Columbia
There are now 164 Bicycle Friendly Universities in the United States, spread across 44 different states and the District of Columbia (Washington DC), according to the League of American Bicyclists.
The figure was announced by the group as an accompaniment to the announcement that 51 universities (from 25 different states) have just joined or been renewed as a BFU.
The Bicycle Friendly Universities program, for those unfamiliar with it, is “a cutting-edge group of colleges and universities across the United States transforming their campuses and the communities around them.”
Well, that doesn’t explain much does it. What the program is, though, is essentially a means of supporting the use of bicycles on college campuses — through improved infrastructure, bikesharing programs, bike rental programs, etc.
“In its fifth year, we’ve seen the Bicycle Friendly University program’s momentum continue to grow and reach even more campuses across the country,” stated Bill Nesper, Programs Director. “We applaud this round of BFUs for raising the standard and being innovative in making bicycling a safe, convenient and enjoyable option for students, staff and visitors alike.”
Here’s more from a blog post on the matter:
“This round saw several states with multiple Bicycle Friendly Universities, including Florida with 1 renewing and 3 new BFUs. Georgia had 3, with 1 new and 2 renewing at higher levels. Illinois led the country this round with 1 renewing and 5 new BFUs. One of the new BFUs from Illinois is Northwestern University, in Evanston, IL, which was awarded Silver status. …
“BFUs come in all sizes. This year, the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL, with over 52,000 students, achieved Silver status. The university is particularly proud of their Gator Gears Student Bike Rental Program, a semester long rental model that provides students with a bicycle, helmet, and lock. The program began in Fall 2015 with 100 bikes and has been so popular with students that an additional 100 bikes have been acquired for Fall 2016.”
Those looking to find out more about the program can do so here.
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