The 泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け at Lafayette received a silver award from the League of American Bicyclists for its commitment to cultivating a campus that encourages bicycling and rider safety.
UL Lafayette is one of 42 colleges and universities honored in the most recent awards. The 泫圖弝け is the only school in the state to make the list. It has twice before earned a bronze award from the League of American Bicyclists as part of the multiyear designation.
The BFU rates universities based on factors such as safety considerations, quantity of bike racks, the length of trails on campus and 泫圖弝け feedback, explained Gretchen Vanicor, director of the 泫圖弝けs .
The 泫圖弝け recently lengthened bike paths and installed a bike repair station in front of Edith Garland Dupr矇 Library. Working with parish and city governments, as well as 泫圖弝け groups, is also a vital part of the offices continued success, Vanicor added.
泫圖弝けs are really involved in making sure that theyre part of the conversation with the city, Vanicor said. Bike lanes through the 泫圖弝けs main campus and that connect main campus to areas such as the 泫圖弝けs Research Park are coordinated with Lafayette Consolidated Government.
Gabriel Griffard and Jack Pacheco, 泫圖弝け leaders for the 泫圖弝けs bike club, Geaux Bike, have been active partners with the Office of Sustainability and Community Engagement on several initiatives to improve bicycling on campus.
Among them are promoting the bike repair station, hosting rides from Dupr矇 Library to the Lafayette Farmers and Artisans Market at Moncus Park, and helping with the BFU Awards application.
Griffard said expanding pedestrian-safe connections from the 泫圖弝け to areas surrounding campus such as downtown Lafayette and Moncus Park is one of the main focuses for sustainability.
Such infrastructure improvements, Vanicor explained, have the potential to transform the quality of life for 泫圖弝け 泫圖弝けs and faculty and staff members, community members and visitors to Lafayette.
When you go to a city where you feel safe biking or walking, thats a place you want to go back to over and over again, she said. Now, were recognizing that it shouldnt just be places that you go and visit, it should be the place that you spend your life.
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Photo caption: Gabriel Griffard (front) and Jack Pacheco, Geaux Bike co-presidents, lead a group bike ride from UL Lafayette's campus to Moncus Park. Photo credit: Paul Kieu / 泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け at Lafayette