NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma was today awarded with a silver Bicycle Friendly University designation by the League of American Bicyclists.
“This is an exciting honor for the university,” said OU President David L. Boren. “Cycling is a popular and accessible transportation option around our beautiful campus. We are proud to promote the sustainability and wellness of our community through bicycle-friendly programs.”
OU had previously been recognized as a Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists and received the organization’s bronze award designation in 2014. Cycling options at OU have advanced due to numerous campus improvements, such as the development of Crimson Cruisers, OU’s bike share program, new bike lanes and more resources for cyclists on campus. With this recognition, OU joins more than 180 visionary colleges and universities across the nation committed to transforming their campuses and the communities around them.
“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.”
As a silver-ranked BFU campus, OU will have access to a variety of free tools and technical assistance from the League of American Bicyclists to become even more bicycle-friendly.
Over the past two years, OU students and staff have collaborated to make many significant improvements to the university’s bicycle infrastructure and resources. Notable achievements include improvements to new and existing bike lanes on campus, including the Van Vleet (South) Oval, Asp Avenue and Timberdell Road; the Crimson Cruisers bike share program, launched by OU’s Student Government Association last spring, that provides members of the campus community with one hour per day of free access to GPS-enabled bicycles located at hubs across campus; as well as a new, comprehensive website (http://www.ou.edu/bike) detailing all bicycle resources available on campus, including an interactive map of all Crimson Cruiser hubs, bicycle repair stations and bike racks.
To learn more about the Bicycle Friendly University program, visit www.bikeleague.org/university.
