Bike Lovers Uniting at UK
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 8, 2011) -- They say that once learned, we always remember how to ride a bike. True or not, it’s hard to forget those exhilarating youthful bike rides– the wind in your face as your hair flies back, the rhythmic hum of wheels on pavement, the not-quite-painful burn in your legs as you pump for greater speed, and the freedom -- albeit limited to a few square blocks -- to go where you wish, when you wish, as fast as you wish.
Thousands of adults in Lexington have returned to that classic, childhood thrill for a more mature, mundane reason – to get where they need to be, when they need to be there without the encumbrance and expense of an automobile.
University of Kentucky students, faculty and staff have passionately embraced the nation’s bicycling culture. In recent years, bike trails have been built all over the city, but especially in the heavily motorized-traffic area around campus. Bicycle parking racks and permission to wheel around interior campus have been established. Events catering to bicyclists abound.
UK’s bike-friendly culture is growing so fast, in fact, that the nation is beginning to put on the hand brakes to pay attention. The League of American Bicyclists (LAB) released its first class of Bike Friendly Universities earlier this month, and UK received an honorable mention.
“Universities have long served as incubators for developing bike-friendly cultures and practices,” said Bill Nesper, director of Bicycle Friendly America Program, “and that has a big impact on the expectations that students bring to the workplace and beyond. With the launch of the Bicycle Friendly Universities program, we’re able to highlight the crucial role that academic institutions play in shaping a more bike-friendly future.”
UK was one of 32 institutions that submitted an application for the new designation. A full review of UK’s efforts relative to the league’s evaluation criteria will be delivered to university administrators later this spring. The Office of Sustainability hopes to work closely with other campus units to use this feedback to make strategic improvements to the university’s efforts. In the meantime some initiatives are already under way.
Perhaps the most exciting development regarding cycling on campus is a funding partnership, formalized this spring, between the several UK units that will provide dedicated funding to improve bike facilities and services on and around campus. An advisory committee is currently being formed to identify priority projects and to oversee implementation. Anyone interested in serving on this committee can contact Stuart Kearns in Parking and Transportation Services at stuart.kearns@uky.edu.
PEDALPALOOZA offers bikers a chance to get acquainted with other riders 1-6 p.m. Saturday, April 9, in the Student Center parking lot. The Student Sustainability Council hosts the bicycling advocacy event, which includes bicycling games, a free bike repair station, and free music and food.
The Wildcat Wheels Bicycle Library has launched a spring series of bike maintenance clinics that will take place in its Campus Repair Shop and across campus. To facilitate the clinics across campus, WWBL will debut their new pedal-powered mobile bike shop. More info on WWBL, the clinic schedule and the Mobile Bike Shop can be found at www.wildcatwheels.org.
The university is working closely with the city to increase the connectivity of the bike facilities on and around campus. In the spring/summer of 2011, bike lanes and markings will be added to:
- Maxwell from Limestone to Woodland
- Rose Street from Maxwell to Rose Lane
- Limestone from Administration Drive entrance to Avenue of Champions
Funding is also in place to extend the University Drive bike lanes from Cooper Drive to Alumni Drive, however the timing of this project is still under development, according to Shane Tedder, director of the UK Office of Sustainability.
With perfect timing, the UK Health & Wellness Program will offer a Bike Commuting Class where attendees can learn basic, on-road riding skills and strategies for route and gear selection. A short ride around campus will be included for those curious about commuting. Commuting class is for competent riders only, and helmets are required for the group ride. The class is taught by Michael Galbraith, a League of American Bicyclists certified instructor, and will be heldfrom 5-7 p.m. April 20 behind Memorial Coliseum, near the outdoor bleachers. Class size is limited. Register now at http://www.uky.edu/HR/wellness/bikeclass.html. The class will be cancelled in the event of bad weather.