Bicycle Friendly University

University of South Carolina, Columbia| Bronze Level

Highlights: The University of South Carolina has invested and continues to invest significant resources in increasing bicycle facilities on campus, including installation of bike racks, bike storage racks, bike lanes and sharrows. The amount of resources allocated to this has increased annually. While it has been and continues to be a challenge to change both infrastructure and culture regarding bikes at The University of South Carolina, Sustainable Carolina, Outdoor Recreation, Parking & Vehicle Management and many other organizations are committed to this mission.

Most Significant Recent Accomplishment: Opening of the Bike Shop on campus, which is providing free tune-ups, free educations clinics, mountain biking adventure trips, free air pumps available throughout campus and the Abandoned Bike Project. The Abandoned Bike Project is an attempt to reintroduce bikes that have been left behind for new and willing owners to take advantage of. The bikes are those that have been left on campus past semester's end and whose owners have failed to claim. This is a wonderful opportunity to really put recycling and sustainability into action.

Most Compelling Fact: Bicycle safety training is provided to all incoming freshman and university housing residents. This training includes providing safety tips such as helmet use and responsibility for cyclists to obey all traffic laws, as well as information on properly securing a bicycle and instructions for registering a bike with the university. Bicycle safety training is also provided, by request, to any group within the community desiring it. This training may include practical application of safety techniques.