CCU named ‘Bicycle-Friendly’ by national league
CCU joins a cutting-edge group of U.S. colleges and universities that are transforming their campuses and the communities around them. There are now 127 bicycle-friendly higher education institutions in 42 states and Washington, D.C.
Coastal Carolina University encourages bicycling as a sustainable option for transportation. CCU provides amenities, such as locker rooms and showers at the HTC Student Recreation and Convention Center for those who bike to campus, as well as incentives such as free bicycle repairs.
The Coastal Cycles Bicycle Program, which allows students to rent a bicycle for 30 days at a time, free of charge, has been a successful program for students. Currently, the University has a fleet of approximately 350 cruiser bikes available to students. In the 2014-2015 academic year, 729 total students took advantage of the Coastal Cycles Bicycle Program.
"We have made a lot of progress in the last year to make our campus more bicycle friendly," said Layne Flynn, coordinator of the Coastal Cycles Bicycle Program, "We have added more bicycles, increased the number of bicycle racks on campus, hosted bicycle safety and educational programs, and formed a Bicycle Advisory Committee to help move us forward with our goal of making CCU a more bike-friendly environment."
Senior Ashley Baker, a political science major who has used the program for two years, applauds the convenience of the bike program. "The Coastal Cycles Bike Program has been a lifesaver. Driving around campus can be a hassle, as is finding a parking spot. Being able to rent a bicycle is just another way for our campus to continue to be sustainable."
The bicycle friendly application focuses on five areas: engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation. For more information, visit bikeleague.org/university.