Black Hills State University
IN-26: Innovation C

Bike Spearfish! is a unique collaboration between Black Hills State University (BHSU) and Hills Horizon (a local non-profit) designed to infuse a culture of active living via advancing bicycle transportation, trail construction and completion, advocating safe cycling and complete street policies, and community cycling education and promotional events. Working together, in collaboration with a variety of stakeholders, including the City of Spearfish these organizations accomplish more than as individual entities to ensure maximum participation in changed behaviors. The activities and infrastructure included in the initiative promote changed behavior via the “5 E’s” as described by the League of American Bicyclists (http://www.bikeleague.org/content/5-es) including: - Engineering: creating safe, convenient places to ride and park, - Education: including abilities and confidence building - Encouragement: creating strong cycling cultures - Enforcement: ensuring safe roads for users - Evaluation and Planning: collecting metrics, establishing biking as a safe, viable transportation option. Bike Spearfish! was established through a grant from Coeur Wharf Fund and SD Community Foundation with the goal of enhancing bicycle commuter safety and accessibility around Spearfish through improved education, evaluation, enforcement, engineering, and encouragement. In regards to engineering BHSU has worked with the City of Spearfish to create safe routes in the community and to schools. We have provided bicycle signage and informational kiosks around the community. In the first year, 20 people participate in a Traffic safety 101 course (a prerequisite for the League Cycling Instructors) three people, one from the City, BHSU, and the community, will be trained as League Cycling Instructors (LCI), ensuring breadth of education programming. In following years, LCI’s will teach a minimum of 12 hours/year. Another aspect of the innitiative is to launch a cycling advocacy group, Bike Spearfish. The group was launched January 2017 and is tasked with working on evaluation, planning and enforcement for advancing cycling in Spearfish. Participants in this group include diverse stakeholders such as the City of Spearfish, Hills Horizon and the Spearfish Community Bicycle Shop, business owners, Visit Spearfish, BHSU, Spearfish Police Department, Spearfish City Rec and Aquatics, and a local attorney. The Sustainability Office at BHSU worked with a graduate student to conduct a commuter survey and report ensuring all activities are metric-based. By following the “5 E’s,” the success of this program can easily be adapted and replicated in other communities. This project aims to be a model program for small and mid-sized cities. This type of collaboration including, launching a Bicycle Advocacy Committee is a new approach in this community to increasing active living via cycling. These measures empower generations to engage in active, healthier lifestyles.