NC State has been recognized as a Bicycle Friendly University since 2012.
(RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA) – The League of American Bicyclists, the premier grassroots advocacy organization encouraging better bicycling and protecting the rights of people who bike, has honored NC State University with a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly University award in recognition of the institution’s achievements in promoting and enabling safe, accessible bicycling on campus.
“I am pleased to celebrate 33 new and renewing Bicycle Friendly Universities joining the movement to build a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone,” said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. “On many campuses, bikes are simply another way to get around but at Bicycle Friendly Universities, like NC State University, students, faculty and staff are encouraged to think beyond the utility of bikes as transportation, truly valuing their ability to foster a healthier, more connected campus life. Even in the midst of a pandemic that left many no choice but to transition online, these universities are not only making it safer and easier for people to get around their campus by bike but finding ways to keep campus bike culture alive and well.”
The Bicycle Friendly University program now includes 222 colleges and universities in 47 states and the District of Columbia, and is part of the League’s Bicycle Friendly America program, which also awards communities and businesses with certifications as part of its mission to make bicycling safe, comfortable and more accessible for all.
“The applications from colleges and universities in 2021 demonstrate the myriad challenges educational institutions are overcoming in order to serve the needs of their students and employees,” said the League’s Bicycle Friendly America program director, Amelia Neptune. “What’s clear is that bicycling is part of the solution many colleges and universities are using to better the campus life of their communities and we are grateful to have so many partners in our effort to keep the bike boom rolling!”
Than Austin, Director of Transportation, said “We are proud and appreciative that the League has once again recognized our efforts to encourage and improve the bike culture at NC State. As an urban campus, bicycling is an efficient way to navigate campus and we are constantly striving to implement amenities that our bicycling community will benefit from.”
NC State University encourages bicycling as an easy option for transportation and provides amenities such as clothing and bike lockers, fix-it-stations, plenty of bike racks, and incentives such as the WolfTrails program that provides a limited number of daily parking permits for when you cannot ride your bike to school.
As NC State University continues to improve its campus accessibility by bike, it will have access to a variety of free tools, a library of resources, and technical assistance from the League to become even more welcoming to people who bike. When colleges and universities invest in the comfort and safety of people bicycling, great things happen: improvement of air quality, reduction of greenhouse gases, and a reduction of congestion and idling vehicles.
To apply or learn more about the free BFU program, visit the League online at www.bikeleague.org/university.
For 142 years, the League of American Bicyclists has been leading the movement to create a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. Its commitment is to listen and learn, define standards and share best practices to engage diverse communities and build a powerful, unified voice for change. Learn more at bikeleague.org.
