Proudly Made in Ontario
By Greenspoke
Colleges and universities can promote sustainable transportation while supporting the health and well-being of their students and staff. Making your campus bike-friendly requires a thoughtful plan, including safety, maintenance, and culture. Here are some tips to help colleges build a campus that encourages more cycling.
Assess Current Needs & Build Your Vision
Start With Data: Survey students and staff to understand existing cycling patterns. How many commute by bike? Where are the popular paths or dangerous spots?
Set Clear Goals: Are you aiming to reduce car congestion, increase health and wellness, or hit sustainability targets? Having measurable goals (% of students biking vs number of bike racks, etc.) helps guide the decision making process.
Map Out Desired Bike Lanes: Identify where students naturally ride or walk and plan your bike paths, racks, and repair stations around those locations.
Prioritize Safe, Secure, & Accessible Bike Parking
Students need places to park their bikes that are secure, visible, and accessible.
High Volume Racks Near Key Buildings: Install bike racks close to lecture halls, libraries, dorms and cafeterias.
Sheltered Parking: Use weather-protected bike shelters so bikes don’t get damaged by rain or snow.
Integrate Bike Repair Stations
Cyclists (especially students) may not have tools or a place to fix a flat tire.
Place repair stations at logical points, such as by the campus entrance, near bike lanes, or in close proximity to high-traffic buildings.
Provide high-quality, tethered tools to discourage theft while maintaining functionality.
Encourage a Cycling Culture
Bike Education & Events: Hold “bike to campus” days, workshops on basic repairs, or group rides.
Wayfinding: Clearly mark bike routes, racks, and repair stations with signage.
Visibility: Use branded racks or shelters to make cycling infrastructure part of campus identity.
Make it Inclusive & Scalable
Plan For All Cyclists: Commuters, students who ride casually, staff, and even visitors.
Start Small & Design Modularly: Build infrastructure that can easily expand (more racks, repair stations, or shelters) as demand grows.
Consider Budget: Prioritize high-impact areas, but phase in shelters and repair posts as funding allows.
Implementation Strategy
Creating a cycle-friendly campus is more than just ordering bike racks – here’s a high-level roadmap to get you started:
- Form a working group. Bring together facilities, sustainability, student government, campus planning, and transportation offices.
- Conduct an audit. Map current bike parking, repair needs, and usage rates using surveys or observation.
- Pilot project. Start with one or two trial areas, for example a repair station at commuter lots or a branded rack near a high-traffic building.
- Measure impact. Track how many bikes use the shelter or racks, how often is the repair station used, and assess whether bike commuting is increasing.
- Scale up. Based on pilot results, expand infrastructure in phases and use data to justify funding for more shelters, racks, or repair stations.
- Promote and educate. Launch a bike-to-campus campaign, hold maintenance clinics, and use signage and branding to integrate cycling into the campus culture.
Designing a bike-friendly campus is a win-win: it advances sustainability goals, supports student and staff wellness, and reduces campus congestion. By integrating thoughtfully designed infrastructure – such as bike shelters, racks, or repair stations, colleges and universities can make cycling a practical and attractive transportation option for everyone.
Contact us to find out how Greenspoke’s durable, customizable products can provide a strong foundation for a scalable and user-centered bike program.
Oct
07
2024
As cities become more congested and the need for sustainable transportation options is on the rise, cycling has emerged ...
Nov
14
2024
At Greenspoke, we're passionate about creating products that encourage communities to live more sustainably. Recently...
May
23
2025
As cities strive to reduce carbon emissions and create more livable environments, one strategy stands out for its simpli...
May
01
2024
Ways to Celebrate National Bike Month
By Greenspoke
May is National Bike Month! With the sun shining brighter and the breeze feeling just right, there couldn’t be a bette...
