UCF Campus Bike Paths
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UCF Campus Bike Paths |
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The proposed UCF campus trails could link to The Little Econ Greenway and its unique commuter opportunities provided by The River Run. Just like The Little Econ Greenway, it would be separated from the roadway.
Why a Bike Trail?
To provide alternative transportation
To reduce traffic
To save parking spaces
To make biking safer
To provide for recreation
To connect UCF communities on campus
To connect UCF with neighboring communities via the Little Econ Greenway, Cady Way Trail, Cross-Seminole Trail, and the rest of Orlando
Photos courtesy of Seminole County's Cross-Seminole Trail
Facilities Planning Draft Route
The campus trails would total just over 5 miles around the campus. The campus trail system is divided into 6 segments, ranging from less than a 1/2 mile to just over 1 1/2 miles. The campus map below shows the draft routes created by UCF's Facilities Planning. (You can enlarge the image by clicking on the picture.)
Photos courtesy of UCF Facilities Planning
The first phase of construction will most likely occur on the southern portion of campus, on what is referred to as the South Trail.
Take a virtual tour of what the trail might look like.
Bike Friendly Campuses
Arizona State University (Tempe)
Stanford University (Palo Alto, CA)
University of California – Davis
University of California – Santa Barbara
University of Colorado (Boulder)
University of Georgia (Athens)
Wooster College – Wooster, Ohio
Bicycle-friendly campuses typically have many of the following features:
Bicycle lanes and/ or trails on campus
Plenty of bike racks… covered if in rainy region
On-campus bike repair shop (w/ discount rates)
On-campus showering / changing facilities
Free bike rental for students
Bicycle guidance (rules, maps)
Registration of bikes at Police or Parking Office
How much will it cost?
Approximately $ 90,000 to $ 200,000 per mile for 10 ft wide shared trail
Thus, a “likely first phase” of approximately 1 mile = $ 145,000
A 5 mile looping campus trail = approx. $ 725,000
Who will pay for it?
The funding for the bike paths could come from the following sources:
Student Activities Fee
Student Cap. Impr. Trust Fund (CITF)
Faculty/staff/student parking decal fees
State of Florida DEP “Greenways & Trails” grants ($ 4.5 M statewide / year)
Others????
What are the benefits?
The benefits of a UCF Trail System are both direct and indirect.
Direct Benefits
Students and employees in the immediate area can bike to class or work
Students, employees and neighbors can bike to or from campus for recreation
Indirect Benefits
More exercise for UCF community members
Fewer parking spaces used
Decreased automobile emissions
New opportunity for people to connect with the more natural areas of UCF
New opportunity for neighbors to come to campus
Increased property values for neighboring real estate
Bottom Line
"People said, 'Build this trail and no one will come'...Now commuters use it every day and families come on weekends to blade and bike and walk."
- Tom Murphy, Mayor of Pittsburgh, PA talking about the Eliza Furnace Trail
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