Bicycle Friendly University

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities| Silver Level

University Highlights: The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UofM) is committed to providing a bicycle and pedestrian friendly campus and comprehensive transportation system, making it a hub for bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit users. A comprehensive approach to transportation allows the UofM to reduce vehicle congestion on campus and create a supportive bicycling and walking environment. The University of Minnesota's most significant investment for bicycling to date has been the provision of bicycle parking with the capacity for 9,000 bicycles (from a base of 2500) on campus that aligns with the APBP bicycle parking guidelines. Providing bicycle parking is a visual cue to staff, faculty, and students of the University community that we support and encourage bicycling to, from, in, and around the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus.

Most Compelling Recent Bike Related Accomplishment:
The UofM has employed a paid bicycle coordinator since 1996, whose latest effort led to securing $560,000 in Federal Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot funds in addition to $100,000 own funds to build the University Bike Center and implement the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) commuter validation system, a technological solution to the problem of identifying and validating bicycle trips. The RFID system has been discussed as a possible solution to aid large employers in Minneapolis with validating bicycle commuting for their employees.

Most Compelling Fact:The RFID consists of small electronic tags affixed to registered users bicycles by Bike Center personnel. RFID receivers installed at strategic locations around campus will read and wirelessly transmit the tag information to a server accessible to users and the institution.