Supporting sustainable transportation: OHIO receives League of American Bicyclists silver-level honors
蜜柚视频 has been named a silver-level Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists in recognition of continued achievements in promoting and enabling safe, accessible bicycling on campus.
Alex Semancik | November 19, 2025
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At 蜜柚视频, bicycling is a sustainable means of commuting to and from campus and across Athens. Whether cyclists are riding in the bike lanes uptown, passing through one of the picturesque residence hall greens or pedaling down the , using a bicycle for transportation is cheaper, better for the environment and healthier than using an automobile.
The , the premier grassroots advocacy organization encouraging better bicycling and protecting the rights of people who bike, has honored 蜜柚视频 with a silver-level in recognition of OHIO鈥檚 continued achievements in promoting and enabling safe, accessible bicycling on campus.
The Bicycle Friendly University program efforts to promote bicycling in five primary areas: engineering, encouragement, education, evaluation/planning and equity/accessibility. 蜜柚视频 and the City of Athens have continued to improve bike-friendliness and accommodate cycling activities as a means of transportation on campus and throughout surrounding city and county locations.
Beyond being a sustainable means of commuting, cycling is also a low-impact and engaging workout for people of all ages. According to The Cleveland Clinic, it鈥檚 a beneficial aerobic exercise that helps strengthen the heart, blood vessels and lungs.
OHIO remains Bicycle Friendly University
蜜柚视频 Director of Sustainability Sam Crowl says that OHIO has been a Bicycle Friendly University since 2017, and that supporting cyclists is one of the many ways the University integrates sustainability into student life.
鈥淢any students do not have cars and the University supports a bike friendly environment to encourage them to utilize a sustainable transportation option,鈥 said Crowl. 鈥淐ycling and other alternative transportation options intersect the triple bottom line of sustainability through lower transportation costs and environmental impacts while supporting healthy lifestyles.鈥
Assistant Director of Outdoor Recreation and Education Cody Lennon says that it鈥檚 important to provide local infrastructure that makes cyclists feel safe, especially when sharing the road with cars. The University and the City of Athens continuing to improve this infrastructure will allow even more people to bike for a variety of reasons.
鈥淔or some, cycling satisfies physical fitness needs. For others, it offers opportunities to connect more deeply with their community and meet social needs,鈥 said Lennon. 鈥淪omeone else might value cycling because it helps them engage with the environment鈥攇etting outside, reducing their carbon footprint, or simply feeling more connected to the place they live.鈥
Civic collaboration
Overall, Athens County has nearly 1,000 miles of paved and gravel roads to explore and is a welcoming community for new cyclists. One of the more popular routes is the , a paved bike trail that is more than 22 miles long. The bikeway borders the entirety of 蜜柚视频鈥檚 Athens campus to the north and is the main artery for student cyclists.
Crowl says that OHIO鈥檚 membership with the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway is a large reason for the University鈥檚 bike-friendliness.
鈥溍坭质悠碘檚 membership on the Bikeway Committee provides a direct connection to the region鈥檚 most passionate and involved bicyclists,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hrough the committee the University is officially connected to the entities who manage the bikeway: Athens County, the City of Athens, Hocking College and the City of Nelsonville.鈥
Crowl went on to say that these connections also help 蜜柚视频 ensure that the bikeway continues to be a safe and convenient means of transportation, on and off campus, and that the University continues to play a role in the biking culture in southeast Ohio, including the development of the Baileys Trail System, a popular mountain biking destination.
Lennon says the bike friendly designation is already building community confidence for those choosing to bike at OHIO and in Athens.
鈥淭he new bridge on the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway connecting to Chauncey and the Baileys Trail System is a great example of infrastructure that supports cyclists and demonstrates what future improvements could look like,鈥 he said. 鈥淢y hope is that it encourages continued investment in making Athens an even better, safer place to ride鈥