Bicycle Friendly University

University of California, Davis| Gold Level

University Highlights: The University of California at Davis (UC Davis) has a history of welcoming and encouraging bicycle use that stretches back to the early 1960s. Visionary administrators, faculty and staff members realized early on that not only should the thousands of bicycle commuters be provided safe accommodation on the campus, but that measures should be taken to promote more bicycle use. The subsequent closure of the core campus to motor traffic, the installation of bike racks at every building and destination, and the construction of a network of bicycle paths was unprecedented in the US. UC Davis continued to implement policies and build innovative bicycle facilities into the 1970s and to the present day. The campus bicycle shop opened in 1971 and continues to operate today from two locations. Several grade-separated crossings were constructed early on to provide cyclists with car-free crossings of major roadways including a freeway. Bike parking areas grew and improved as the campus took advantage of the latest rack designs to provide high security facilities. Police used bikes to patrol campus beginning in the 70s and a full-time bicycle coordinator was hired in 1980. Today, the core area of campus is closed off to almost all motor traffic, instantly creating a network of wide paths with separate walkways; bicycle parking areas are provided at all campus destinations to meet demand and are sited conveniently near major building entrances; fifteen roundabouts improve bicycle circulation and safety; and bike paths connect the campus perimeter (and city bikeways) to the core area, further reducing potential conflicts between motorists and cyclists.

Most Compelling Recent Bike Related Accomplishment:
In the last year, UC Davis began construction on the planned West Village residential development, which will provide extraordinary bicycle access for more than 3,500 UC Davis students or employees to encourage bicycling as the primary mode of transportation.

Most Compelling Fact: The University conducts an online survey each fall, distributed by email to a random sample (of about 30 percent) of the entire campus population, regarding their travel during the prior week. Results from the October 2009 survey suggest that an estimated 39 percent of those physically traveling to campus on an average weekday do so by bike (33 percent of those living off-campus, 73 percent among on-campus residents), including 45 percent of students and 22 percent of faculty and staff.