University
of Oklahoma Faculty Senate (Norman campus)
Faculty
Welfare Committee
A resolution
supporting recognition as a Bicycle Friendly University (revisions as of April
2012 in bold)
WHEREAS, bicycling provides an
efficient and convenient means of travel to and around campus, increases campus
connectivity, and is an important mode of transportation between the main
campus and south campus;
WHEREAS, bicycling directly reduces
carbon emissions and generates no air pollution and therefore can be an
important component of the campus commitment to the use of
environmentally-friendly (“green”) technologies;
WHEREAS, the American College &
University Presidents’ Climate Commitment reports that “Several hundred
colleges and universities are implementing plans to make their campuses more
pedestrian and bicycle friendly, thereby saving money and reducing their
ecological footprint.” (http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/resources/transportation/emissions);
WHEREAS, commuting to campus and
traveling around campus by bicycle is an option that many find appealing, and
the efficiency and prevalence of commuting to campus by bicycle will be
enhanced by coordination of campus bicycle routes with City of Norman bicycle
routes where feasible, developing programs that provide recognition and
encouragement for bicycle commuters, and providing resources to accommodate
bicycle commuters such as racks on buses;
WHEREAS, bicycling improves health
and fitness, bicycling is ranked among the top three exercises for improving
cardiovascular fitness, bicycling to campus provides a sustainable and
time-efficient exercise regimen, and a bicyclist-friendly campus is a simple and
cost-effective way to promote wellness;
WHEREAS, construction of bicycle
infrastructure actually is a money-saving option when it offsets the need to
build and maintain additional infrastructure for motorized vehicles;
WHEREAS, increased bicycle commuting
reduces traffic congestion and improves the availability of parking for those
who need to drive or who prefer to drive a vehicle to campus;
WHEREAS, bicyclists are easily
accommodated in the dense core of the campus since 10 to 12 bicycles can be
accommodated in the space required by one car (http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/engineering/parking.cfm);
WHEREAS, Norman and Tulsa, home to
two OU campuses, are the only two cities in Oklahoma recognized as Bicycle
Friendly Communities;
WHEREAS, a Bicycle Friendly
University “is an environment that welcomes cyclists of all skill levels, to
ride safely and comfortably” (http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/bicyclefriendlyuniversity/faq.php);
HEREAS, members of the University
community are more likely to bike if they are welcomed and accommodated;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that
the Faculty Senate of The University of Oklahoma hereby requests that The
University of Oklahoma develop a plan to attain recognition within the next
five years as a Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists.