at OHSU.
(Photos © J. Maus)
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) has earned a ‘Gold Bicycle Friendly Business’ rating from the League of American Bicyclists.
OHSU is Portland’s largest employer with 12,400 employees and is the largest organization to ever win a gold or higher designation from the League. The award was announced last month but League representatives presented OHSU with the award today.
Among the reasons cited for OHSU’s bike-friendliness include many things you might recall reading about here on BikePortland. There’s the financial incentive program to encourage bicycling (complete w/ an interactive website to track bike trips), a new bike shop at the base of the Aerial Tram, and of course their proactive efforts (including a free bike valet service) to avert a “traffic crisis” by promoting more bike use during a recent road closure.
at the base of the Aerial Tram
is a clear sign of biking’s popularity
at OHSU.
OHSU also has a manager of transportation options. John Landolfe currently fills that position and he has worked hard to make bicycling better. You might have met him at our Southwest Portland Get Together event or you might have seen him around town. Having a dedicated employee to focus on encouragement and awareness of biking and transit is crucial.
This award gave me reason to peruse the BikePortland archives. Back in May 2006 things weren’t so rosy for bikes at OHSU. Employees and advocates raised serious concerns about the lack of secure bike parking. One former staffer even left her job because she felt OHSU transportation and parking department staff didn’t seem to care.
It’s great to know that things have changed for the better in terms of bicycling at OHSU. They’re a perfect example to other large companies that efforts to encourage bicycling lead to positive results.