Yale earns gold level honor for being a bicycle-friendly university

(Arnold Gold-New Haven Register) Yale freshman Quintin Herbert walks through Yale University's Old Campus in New Haven during finals week on 12/15/2015. Herbert is from Cincinnati, Ohio, where the weather has been just as warm. less (Arnold Gold-New Haven Register) Yale freshman Quintin Herbert walks through Yale University's Old Campus in New Haven during finals week on 12/15/2015. Herbert is from Cincinnati, Ohio, where the weather has ... more Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Yale earns gold level honor for being a bicycle-friendly university 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

NEW HAVEN — Yale University on Wednesday was named a gold-level Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists, the only college or university in Connecticut and one of 20 in the nation to earn that recognition.

Yale moved up from silver level, which it earned in 2014, according to a press release. The university was first recognized at the bronze level in 2012. There are 182 institutions that have been named Bicycle Friendly Universities as of this year, including five at the platinum level, in 45 states and Washington, D.C.

“From renewing Platinums to brand new Bronzes, this latest class of Bicycle Friendly University awardees show a wonderful commitment to safety, health, and sustainability through their efforts to support bicycling on campus,” said Amelia Neptune, director of the league’s 6-year-old Bicycle Friendly America Program, in the release.

“We applaud this round of BFUs for raising the standard and being innovative in making bicycling a safe, convenient and enjoyable option for students, staff and visitors alike.”

Yale has more than 2,700 bicycle parking spaces in and near the campus, including indoor and outdoor racks and lockers, the release said. Shower facilities are offered to cyclists and Yale students, faculty and staff who take a safety training course are given a free bike helmet.

Yale partners with the state Department of Transportation’s CTrides program, which offers a guaranteed ride home and commuter rewards, the release said. The university will launch a bike-share program this fall and is completing a study on ways to encourage walking, cycling and mass transit.

Yale’s Sustainability Plan 2025 has set goals to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and works with the city’s Department of Transportation, Traffic and Parking to make the city’s environment more sustainable, the release said.