Despite being formed a little more than one year ago, the Bicycle Infrastructure Improvement Committee (BIIC) is already making an impression on the campus and community. The committee, along with the Institute itself, was recently honored by the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition as its Partner of the Year for 2011.

“We were pretty excited,” said BIIC Chair Johann Weber, a graduate student in public policy. “Georgia Tech and the BIIC jointly won the Partner of the Year award as recognition for what the committee has done, as well as Tech’s efforts through funding and installing facilities, viaCycle and all our program expansion over the course of 2011.” Other nominees for the award included New Belgium Brewery, Sopo Bicycle Co-op, the Metro Atlanta Cycling Club and the Atlanta Falcons.

“We’re very honored to receive such recognition, and we view it as a sign that Georgia Tech has really stepped out from under the shadows to become a leader in supporting bicycling in Atlanta,” Weber said.

The ABC awarded Georgia Tech for its “comprehensive approach to becoming a bicycle friendly university. Combining support from university administration and student involvement on the Bicycle Infrastructure Improvement Committee, Georgia Tech is paving the way in Atlanta.”

Aaron Fowler, campus transportation planner in Parking and Transportation, attributed the award to improvements during the past year in bicycle infrastructure, a partnership with the ABC on a grant to improve the intersection of 5thand West Peachtree Streets, the launch of viaCycle and an ABC partnership with Starter Bikes that enables the sale of refurbished bicycles on campus.

The ABC presented the award at its fifth annual Blinkie Awards, named for the lights used by cyclists to increase their visibility to vehicles, held on Feb. 10 at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market; the award is adorned with its own blinkie.