The award was announced last week at the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C. The program recognizes colleges and universities that create exceptional environments where bicycling can thrive and provides a roadmap and technical assistance to create great campuses for bicycling.

“Universities have long served as incubators for developing bike‐friendly cultures and practices, and that has a big impact on the expectations that students bring to the workplace and beyond,” said Bill Nesper, director of the League’s Bicycle Friendly America Program. “With the launch of the Bicycle Friendly Universities program, we’re able to highlight the crucial role that academic institutions play in shaping a more bike‐friendly future.”   

UCLA earned bronze‐level status as part of the first class of Bicycle Friendly Universities. The application submitted by UCLA Transportation demonstrated the wide variety of ways it enhances bicycling on campus through its Bruin Bikes program, featuring departmental loaner bikes, the Bike Library (all 50 bikes have been rented for Spring Quarter), Drive Bike Friendly safety campaign, the award‐winning Bike‐U‐mentary short film, and designated campus bike route with sharrows affixed to the roadway.

“We are proud to earn the designation as a Bicycle Friendly University and it shows that even in Los Angeles, it is possible to create an atmosphere conducive to bicycling,” said Dave Karwaski, Manager, UCLA Transportation Planning & Policy. “We expect to receive feedback on our application and the survey from LAB in about six weeks. With their feedback, we hope to identify areas we can improve   Given that approximately 2,400 commuters bike to and from campus each day, and that the City recently approved their Bicycle Master Plan, our hope is that this success can be expanded and built upon,” emphasized Karwaski.

Currently, five percent of students and two percent of staff and faculty commute to campus by bike. Promoting bicycle commuting to the campus community is a simple solution to improving sustainability, physical activity and quality of life.  

Published: Wednesday, March 16, 2011

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