KU honored as a ‘bike-friendly’ community
LAWRENCE — The League of American Bicyclists has recognized the University of Kansas with a Bronze Bicycle Friendly University (BFUSM) award, joining more than 150 colleges and universities from across the country.
With the announcement of 51 new and renewing BFUs from 25 states, KU joins a cutting-edge group of colleges and universities across the U.S. transforming their campuses and the communities around them. There are now 164 BFUs in 44 states and Washington, D.C., including three in Kansas.
"The KU Bicycle Advisory Committee and our campus partners have worked hard over the past few years to encourage students and employees to ride to campus, raise awareness about bicycle safety and promote new standards for bike infrastructure on campus," said Jeff Severin, director of the Center for Sustainability. "Their efforts are helping build a stronger bike culture and making KU a more bike-friendly campus."
One project of the KU Bicycle Advisory Board (KUBAC) that has contributed to the BFU designation and that will help guide future improvements is the Campus Bike Plan. The KUBAC worked with graduate students from the Department of Urban Planning’s Transportation Implementation class in spring 2016 to develop the plan, which was completed this fall by the Center for Sustainability. It includes a study of current conditions for cycling on campus and provides a list of recommendations that address the 5 E's of bike planning outlined by the League of American Bicyclists: education, encouragement, enforcement, engineering and evaluation.
Priority recommendations outlined in the plan include adopting new standards for bike parking and end-of -trip facilities (such as showers and locker rooms) for new construction and renovations, adding signage and road markings to identify bike routes and remind motorists to share the road, and hiring a campus bicycle coordinator.
An executive summary of the KU Bike Plan and list of key recommendations is available at www.bike.ku.edu. The full document is undergoing final revisions and will be published online Dec. 9.
“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,” said Bill Nesper, programs director for the League of American Bicyclists. “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.”
About the Bicycle Friendly America Program
The Bicycle Friendly Community, Bicycle Friendly State, Bicycle Friendly Business and Bicycle Friendly University programs are generously supported by Planet Bike and League members. To learn more about building a Bicycle Friendly America, visit www.bikeleague.org/BFA
The League of American Bicyclists is leading the movement to create a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. As leaders, our commitment is to listen and learn, define standards and share best practices to engage diverse communities and build a powerful, unified voice for change.