UNCW has received the silver-level Bicycle Friendly University award in recognition of the institution's achievements in promoting and enabling safe, accessible bicycling on campus. The award is presented by the League of American Bicyclists, a grassroots advocacy organization for cyclists.
"Supporting bicycling on campus helps to encourage sustainable alternatives to driving that promote wellness and protect our environment," said Feletia Lee, UNCW's chief sustainability officer. "The Bicycle Friendly America certification is a wonderful way to spotlight what we've achieved as a university and what still needs to be done to continue creating a campus that supports alternative forms of transportation. I'm proud of our silver designation and look forward to the work and partnerships ahead that will push us to gold in the next award cycle."
The university has been recognized as a Bicycle Friendly University by the league since 2011. UNCW has launched several initiatives through the years to promote a bicycle friendly campus, including:
On-campus bike shop Hawk Wheels offers bike repair services, registration, rentals and safety information for all students.
Two freestanding bike repair stations on campus.
Parking for 4,000 bikes at 199 locations on campus.
Outreach provided by Alternative Transportation through Hawk Wheels and the Office of Sustainability.
Bird Bike share program that averaged 15 rides per day and 4,198 bike riders during the 2022-2023 academic year.
Two miles of bike lanes available on campus.
Last semester, sustainability intern Benjamin Hauptli ’24 worked with the Alternative Transportation Department to research and compile data and documentation to complete the university's certification.
“His work was vital in understanding the university's current bicycle infrastructure and identifying needs for future improvement,” said Lee.
The Bicycle Friendly University program includes 220 colleges and universities in 46 states and the District of Columbia. It 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.
As an award recipient, UNCW will have access to various free tools, a library of resources and technical assistance from the league to become even more welcoming to people who bike.
"It is inspiring to see so many universities committing to the vision of a Bicycle Friendly America," said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. "These institutions, including UNCW, are leading by example and helping to set the standard for better bicycling. Each Bicycle Friendly University acts as a trailblazer to develop and promote safer, more accessible transportation infrastructure and supportive programming for new bicyclists in their communities."
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