Bicycle Friendly Business

Urban Ecology Center| Bronze Level

Business Highlights: Urban Ecology Center is active within the Milwaukee community to promote bicycling to residents and improve conditions for cyclists.  They work with Milwaukee County to improve conditions of bicycle trails, the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee to improve bicycle access and bicycling among students and advise local businesses on ways to encourage employee biking.  The center hosts safe riding classes as well as bike trips for school groups where they teach bicycle use and safety classes from elementary school through high school. The center has a number of programs that introduce bicycling to urban kids who often have no other exposure to biking, in an effort to promote bicycling to the next generation.  Urban Ecology Center supports its goals of teaching the community how to live more sustainably by promoting bike commuting to employees and visitors.   The center is located directly on a bike trail and within a bike route system, allowing for a safe option for cyclists to access the center.  UEC offers shower and locker room facilities, as well as maintenance tools for repairs.  The Ecobuck program offers financial incentives ($1 per day) to employees for each day they get to work via bicycle.  The UEC secured enough grant money to purchase a fleet of bicycles for the Riverside Park location, as well as for bicycle parking and showers for employees in the building design.

Most Significant Bike Related Accomplishment:   During the employee Eco-Commute Challenge last spring, Urban Ecology Center exceeded its 5000 mile goal by an additional 1000 miles.