APL Awarded Silver Bicycle Friendly Business Award

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, was awarded a Bicycle Friendly Business silver award by the League of American Bicyclists on Dec. 9.

Recognized for its investment in bicycling to promote employee health and social responsibility, APL has an active cycling club and, for bike riders, offers showers, locker rooms, secure parking and personal fitness financial incentive.

Recently, the Lab quadrupled its bike parking capacity and introduced a bike share program. With the announcement of 43 new and renewing BFBs today, APL joins a group of more than 1,090 local businesses, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies in 49 states and Washington, D.C.

“Cycling is one of many activities we encourage to contribute to the health of our staff members, which is terrific for our organization,” said Maria Cimilluca, head of the Facilities Maintenance Department at APL. “Our bike share program has been a big success in promoting a fun and active atmosphere on our campus. We aim to make APL a welcoming place for cyclists.”

In earning silver status — a promotion from the bronze award it won in 2011 — APL joins other notable national winners such as Microsoft, Apple and VMware.

The League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. The League represents the interests of America’s 57 million bicyclists, including the organization’s 300,000 members and affiliates. It was founded in 1880, and counts the Wright Brothers as early members.

“The business community’s investment in bicycling is playing a central role in making the country a safer, happier, and more sustainable place to live and work,” said Amelia Neptune, League Bicycle Friendly Business Program Manager. “We applaud this new round of businesses, including APL, for leading the charge in creating a bicycle-friendly America for everyone.”

APL’s 453-acre campus features 151 bicycle parking spaces, a third of which are covered; more than three-dozen bicycles are available to staff members for travel around campus, and APL is a leading participant in Howard County’s annual “Bike to Work Day” activities.

The county added a bike lane in front of the campus on Johns Hopkins Road in October 2011 to accommodate the growth in bicycle traffic.

“With more than 200 staff members active in cycling activities at APL and a growing number who commute to campus regularly on their bikes, APL’s cycling amenities help make biking increasingly popular,” said Chris Hersman, president of APL’s Cycling Club and the systems engineer for NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto. “The new shared bikes have expanded cycling’s appeal to all staff members as a fun, efficient way to move around the campus.”

Read more about the Bicycle Friendly Business award here.