UNC Charlotte designated Bicycle Friendly University

Date: 
November 15, 2017

UNC Charlotte was recognized with a Bronze Bicycle Friendly UniversitySM (BFUSM) award from the League of American Bicyclists.

With the announcement of 46 new and renewing BFUs, UNC Charlotte joins a list of visionary colleges and universities across the United States transforming their campuses and the communities around them. There are now 182 Bicycle Friendly Universities in 45 states and Washington, D.C.

“From renewing Platinums to brand new Bronzes, this latest class of Bicycle Friendly University awardees show a wonderful commitment to safety, health, and sustainability through their efforts to support bicycling on campus,” said Amelia Neptune, Director of the League’s Bicycle Friendly America Program. “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.”

Bicycle-friendly features like bike lanes and bicycle parking relieve traffic and parking congestion on the rapidly growing UNC Charlotte campus.  The University encourages bicycling to and around campus by providing amenities and other incentives such as bike lockers and 60 minutes of ride time per day with no membership fee in the Charlotte Wheels bike-share program.

According to Mike Lizotte, University sustainability officer, “Bicycling addresses many desires on our growing campus – affordable transportation to local housing, last-mile solutions for transit riders, and active ways to explore the campus and University City.”

When colleges and universities invest in bicycling, great things happen: cleaner air to breathe from less pollution; stronger, interconnected communities develop; healthier lifestyles are encouraged, and commuters experience less congestion on roadways.

Moving forward, UNC Charlotte will have access to a variety of free tools and technical assistance from the League to become even more bicycle-friendly.  Details about Charlotte Wheels and the free BFU program are available online.