UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The League of American Bicyclists has recognized Penn State's University Park campus with a silver Bicycle Friendly University (BFU) award. With this designation, Penn State is one of more than 150 bicycle-friendly colleges and universities across the country.
With the announcement of 51 new and renewing BFUs today from 25 states, Penn State is among a cutting-edge group of colleges and universities across the United States transforming their campuses and the communities around them. There are now 164 BFUs in 44 states and Washington, D.C.
“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,” says programs director Bill Nesper. “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.”
Previously recognized with a bronze BFU award in 2012, Penn State has since completed a number of projects to improve bicycling on the University Park campus, including the installation of bicycle repair stations and additional bicycle travel lanes, as well as increased covered bicycle parking and development of bicycle education programs. The University also hired Cecily Zhu, its first alternative transportation program coordinator, who focuses exclusively on alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle travel, such as bicycling, car share, rideshare, and use of mass transit.
“The silver BFU designation is a wonderful acknowledgement of the ongoing collaborative efforts of many at Penn State to make this a more bicycle-friendly campus, and of Penn State’s larger efforts to support sustainable transportation options for our students, faculty, and staff,” says Rob DeMayo, director of Transportation Services at Penn State. “We’re very proud of everyone’s work to enhance and promote bicycling on campus, and excited to explore new ways to do so in the years to come.”
Moving forward, Penn State will have access to a variety of tools and technical assistance from the League to become even more bicycle-friendly. When colleges and universities invest in bicycling, great things happen: For example, the campus community decreases its carbon footprint, bicyclists enjoy improved health, and bicycling encourages a more connected community.
The League of American Bicyclists is leading the movement to create a "Bicycle Friendly America." The League is committed to defining standards and sharing best practices to engage diverse communities and build a voice for change.
Learn more about the League’s Bicycle Friendly University program at bikeleague.org/university. For more information about bicycling on campus, please visit the Biking page at the Transportation Services website or email biking@psu.edu.