From Staff Reports
The League of American Bicyclists has awarded a 2022 Bronze-level award in recognition of UNC Asheville’s achievements in promoting and enabling safe and accessible bicycling on campus, a UNCA press release stated.
"This is UNC Asheville’s first time to receive recognition as a Bicycle Friendly University," the release reported.
Director of Sustainability Alison Ormsby and UNCA junior Joe Franco led the efforts for this award, the release noted. "With support from the Campus Recreation Bike Shop student workers, the team cataloged roadways, safety measures, infrastructure including bike rack numbers and locations, and bike accessibility for students, faculty and staff.
"The team’s report highlighted the Campus Recreation Bike Shop’s ongoing offerings and efforts, which include bike rentals and repairs, and teaching bike maintenance skills. The shop, located in UNC Asheville’s Highsmith Student Union, offers educational events about the environmental benefits of biking, bike maintenance and group bike rides. "
"This work will serve as a launching point for extending bike-friendly programming on campus," Franco said. “We are going to actively collaborate with the local community organization Asheville on Bikes, and we are in contact with the City of Asheville’s Greenways and Multi-modal program
“We have incorporated biking improvements into our draft campus Climate Action Plan and will work with faculty to incorporate bike-related projects into their classes.”
UNCA’s Bicycle Friendly recognition comes as Asheville continues to make its own advancements in transportation options for area residents, the release stated The recent Merrimon road diet and the future expansion of Asheville greenways through the “Close the GAP” plan serve as support for UNCA’s continued efforts to create bike-friendly transportation options for its students.
“This round of Bicycle Friendly Universities demonstrates an inspiring shift in focus from driving to biking and walking on campus,” Amelia Neptune, the league’s Bicycle Friendly America program director, noted.
“What’s clear is that making bicycling a go-to transportation option 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!”
Along with this award, UNCA was recently ranked by the Princeton Review as a Top 50 Green College and #6 in the Review’s new “Green Matters: Everyone Cares About Conservation” list.
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