Bicycle Friendly University

University of North Carolina, Wilmington| Bronze Level

University Highlights: The University of North Carolina, Wilmington (UNCW) currently has bicycle lanes along half of all campus roads. Additionally, there is a paved multi-use path that circles 3/4 of the campus and a wooded area with two miles of mountain bike trails. Bicycle parking is available at the vast majority of campus destinations and covered parking is available in the new parking deck on campus. All four sides of campus can be safely accessed by bike, since five of the eight roads leading into campus provide either bicycle lanes or an off-road multi-use path. The multi-use path that circles campus is part of the City of Wilmington's Cross City Trail, a 20-mile bicycle trail that runs north-to-south through town. The City's 10-mile River to Sea Bikeway, running east-to-west, is also easily accessed by bike lanes from campus, providing easy access to community destinations.The University has a strong relationship with the City's Transportation Planning Division. University faculty have assisted with numerous grant applications by the City to fund bicycle facilities. In the last two years alone, this partnership has resulted in over $235,000 for construction. Additionally, a UNCW staff member serves on the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization's BikePed Committee and contributed to the City's application to become a Bicycle Friendly Community. The university sponsored the City's River to Sea Ride in 2011 and provides community outreach through free bicycle safety training offered with the Cape Fear Cyclists Club.

Most Compelling Recent Bike Related Accomplishment:
The University added covered bike parking in a new parking deck and 25 additional bike racks throughout the academic core of campus.

Most Compelling Fact: Researchers at UNCW collaborated with City of Wilmington staff to perform an economic impact study of the City's two main cycling trails, the 20-mile Cross City Trail (CCT) and the 11-mile River to Sea Bikeway, both of which are accessible from campus. The estimate impact of the trails on bicycling by university-affiliated persons was a 302 unit reduction in parking space requirements, which produces an estimated one-time reduction in university parking facility costs of $1.66 million. In addition, the study assumed that if fewer auto parking facilities are necessary, the university can use the liberated land for classroom and dormitory buildings, reducing the university's land acquisition costs.