Bicycle Friendly University

Boise State University| Bronze Level

University Highlights: In 2006, Boise State University’s Department of Kinesiology opened a Bike Barn on campus. This facility supports bicycle commuters who travel from home to campus, as well as campus resident students who wish to secure their bikes in a safe facility. Amenities of the Bike Barn include locked indoor bicycle parking, showers, and lockers. The Bike Barn accommodates approximately 40-50 users per semester. Although the project was created entirely using local funds of the Kinesiology Department, and although the expenditure was comparatively small, the facility helped to galvanize the university’s cycling culture. The Bike Barn immediately became emblematic of the university’s commitment to the encouragement of bicycle transportation. Boise State participates annually in a regional program, called May in Motion, which encourages the use of alternative transportation. The university's campaign generally includes a subsidiary program specific to muscle-powered transportation; in recent years the subsidiary campaign has been called "Go Green, Get Lean." People join this challenge by logging trips for one month, after which the trip log is submitted for review by proponents, who award prizes for various levels of success. Trip logs generally show that bicycling is the favored mode of active transportation. Boise State University signature event is the Community Bicycle Congress, which happens annually in spring semester since 2005. This event has produced four symposia (2005 – 2008) featuring current research on bicycle facility design and implementation. In 2009, the Bicycle Congress offered a Statewide Conference on Active Transportation in which advocacy groups from around Idaho gathered to incubate a statewide organization, later incorporated as the Idaho Pedestrian and Bicycle Alliance. The following year (2010), clinics were offered to address issues faced in particular by women who commute by bike.

Most Compelling Recent Bike Related Accomplishment:
In September of 2010, the university adopted its current Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety Master Plan. The document was produced by Alta Planning + Design, under contract to Boise State University. Based on fieldwork along with input from Boise State University students, faculty and staff, the plan reviews existing conditions and recommends future improvements for bicycle and pedestrian traffic on campus. Recommendations include programs designed to increase safety for pedestrians and cyclists; facilities to improve travel options for people walking and bicycling on campus; facilities to improve bicycle parking opportunities (both short-term and long-term); and facilities to improve security for parked bicycles.

Most Compelling Fact:In June of 2008, Boise State University hosted USA Cycling's Northwest Regional Athlete Development Camp. USA Cycling is the governing body for competitive cycling in the United States. Its Development Camps are for bicycle racing athletes 14 to 22 years of age. Camp attendees receive instruction from USA Cycling certified coaches, so that these young athletes can improve their bicycling skills and become better bike racers. A by-product of the camp is to identify talent and, in some cases, select riders for international competition and/or for a national development camp.