The 2014 Campus Bicycle Master Plan[1] focuses primarily on infrastructural improvements to the university’s network of bikeways in order to:

1. Increase safety for all users;

2. Encourage a sustainable mode of transportation;

3. Improve the bicycling experience for all campus cyclists;

4. Identify funding needs and secure funding for bicycle infrastructure and programming improvements; and

5. Improve the university’s standing as a national leader in bicycling.

This objective is intended to continually support and implement the 2014 Campus Bicycle Plan to achieve the goals listed above. The plan lists several high-, medium-, and low-priority bikeway improvement projects as well as safety information and educational opportunities. In addition to providing bicyclists and pedestrians with safety guidelines and rules of the road, we want to take further steps (e.g., improving traffic calming measures in heavily-trafficked streets and intersections) to ensure that the campus itself is safe and conducive to bicycle travel. 

Bicycle Friendly University (BFU)

Illinois was promoted to Silver BFU status by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) in October 2019 because of great progress in bicycle engineering, education, enforcement, evaluation, and encouragement. Moving forward, we intend to maintain the qualities that have earned us this designation and continue to improve the campus’s bicycle friendliness. To further elevate our BFU status, the LAB recommends implementing a national bicycle registration program to increase the number of bicycles registered on campus. Our current goal is to achieve Gold BFU status by FY27. 

Long-term bike storage

As part of our efforts to encourage campus bicycling, we want to ease the logistical difficulties that individuals face with the task of keeping a bike at school. This is especially true of students in apartments with limited storage space. We plan to implement long-term bicycle storage (i.e., a garage-like space capable of storing 1,000 or more bicycles) on campus by FY24. 

Bike sharing and maintenance

More departmental bikes (e.g., those owned by iSEE, F&S, and the Sustainability Living Learning Community) will be offered. To ensure that campus-owned bikes are well taken care of, personnel with departmental bicycle access will be encouraged to participate in maintenance courses through Campus Recreation and the Campus Bike Center, or get regular maintenance at local bike shops to prolong the life of the bike. Students will continue to have access to short-term bike rentals through companies such as Veo. Long-term rentals are also available in town as well.[2] Now and in the future, we will encourage individuals to practice sanitary best practices while operating shared bikes. 

[1] https://go.illinois.edu/BikePlan_2014
[2] https://www.neutralcycle.com/rental