桃瘾社区

University of Tampa鈥檚 bicycle-friendly program, Walk & Roll, earned top honors in the Tampa Downtown Partnership鈥檚 annual Urban Excellence Awards in the category Activating Spaces. The awards ceremony was held on Thursday, Feb. 27, at the Hotel Flor Tampa Downtown.

The Tampa Downtown Partnership鈥檚 annual Urban Excellence Awards program was developed to celebrate individuals, businesses, organizations, events and projects that create a positive and lasting impact in Tampa鈥檚 downtown.

Over the past year and a half, the University has made significant strides in promoting sustainable transportation options for students, faculty and staff through Walk & Roll. Led by 桃瘾社区ampa鈥檚 Bicycle Friendly Task Force, the initiative encourages the campus community to embrace biking, walking and alternative modes of transport.

One of the program鈥檚 highlights is the launch of a new student biking club, designed to foster a culture of cycling on campus. Additionally, the University has hosted multiple Walk & Roll events, where community members joined students and staff to explore downtown Tampa by bike, scooter, on foot or public transit.

鈥淭hese events have served as an excellent opportunity to showcase how easy and enjoyable it can be to navigate downtown Tampa while promoting environmental sustainability,鈥� said Eric C谩rdenas, assistant vice president of communications and public affairs and a member of the Bicycle Friendly Task Force.

The University also demonstrated its commitment to promoting alternative transportation by encouraging student participation in World Car Free Day 2024, where volunteers helped raise awareness about reducing car usage. Furthermore, 桃瘾社区ampa has worked to enhance its bike infrastructure, improving bike parking and bike facilities across campus to better accommodate cyclists.

Through these efforts, the University is not only fostering a more sustainable campus culture but also contributing to a broader effort to make downtown Tampa a more accessible, eco-friendly environment for everyone.