Following the University’s initial designation in 2019, WVU has retained its designation as a Bicycle Friendly University at the bronze level by the League of American Bicyclists.
WVU is one of 220 colleges and universities across 46 states and the District of Columbia to be designated a Bicycle Friendly University, and the University is the only academic institution in West Virginia to be recognized.
During its renewal process, WVU was evaluated on criteria such as creating safe and convenient places to ride and park, planning for bicycling as a viable transportation option, and educating the campus community on the skills and confidence to ride.
“WVU has many motivations to maintain and improve our status as a Bicycle Friendly University,” said Traci Knabenshue, director of the WVU Office of Sustainability. “Alternative transportation modes reduce our carbon footprint, and bicycling is a fun, healthy way to get from point A to point B.”
As part of the Bicycle Friendly University application process, LAB distributes a survey to our campus community for their feedback. Anonymous survey results are then shared with the University, providing additional insight into how WVU can continue to encourage bicycling on our campus.
Since 2019, new bicycle-friendly features on campus and around the Morgantown area include:
The opening of Reynolds Hall, which sits on the Rail-Trail, and offers trail-adjacent and indoor bike parking,
A bicycle registration program through the University Police Department to aid in bicycle recovery in the event of theft,
3.25 miles of mountain bike and shared-use paths, built by the WVU Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative, as well as a master plan that includes more shared-use paths for bicycling and walking, and
The opening of Morgantown Adventure Outfitters by Adventure WV in spring 2023, which offers hourly bike rentals on the Rail-Trail near the Downtown Campus.
To learn more about the University’s sustainability efforts, visit sustainability.wvu.edu. Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, and Facebook for more updates.