Free bike loaner program part of UMKC’s Clean Commute initiative

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) received honorable mention as a “Bicycle Friendly University” for its Clean Commute initiative at the 2011 National Bike Summit in Washington, DC. Sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists, the Bicycle Friendly designation recognizes colleges and universities that create exceptional environments where bicycling can thrive and provides a roadmap and technical assistance to create great campuses for bicycling.

“Universities have long served as incubators for developing bike-friendly cultures and practices, and that has a big impact on the expectations that students bring to the workplace and beyond,” said Bill Nesper, director of the League’s Bicycle Friendly America Program. “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.”

Bicycling and Clean Commute is part of a multi-pronged transportation program at UMKC geared toward reducing the number of single passenger vehicles on campus. UMKC now has 50 bicycles for the bike commute program. The bikes are loaned out and can be chained to one of the 20 bike racks now installed on campus.

“The recent student vote for the All-Access Bus Pass is another big step toward reducing the number of cars on campus,” said Kaye Johnston, UMKC Sustainability Coordinator. “We also are working on electric charging stations for electric vehicles, which will be part of UMKC’s proposed new Cherry Street Parking Garage. The new garage also will include an infrastructure for solar powered showers, bike lockers and covered bicycle parking, making it more of a multi-modal transportation facility.”