BFA Application Portal Frequently Asked Questions
Please click on any topic or question below for answers to common questions about our online application system and application process.
FAQ Topics covered below:
Online Application Portal // Logging In // Collaborators
If you don't find the answer to your question here, please email ken@bikeleague.org.
Q: Can I save my progress in the online application and return to it later?
Q: Can more than one person work on an online application?
Q: What happens to my application if I don't submit it before the submission deadline?
Q: How do I delete an application I no longer intend to submit?
Q: Can I transfer an application from one user account to another?
Q: Can I print an application I'm working on, or that I already submitted?
Q: Can I make an edit or correction to an application I already submitted?
Q: How can I change or update my username?
Q: How can I reset my password?
Q: I'm a renewing applicant -- Why doesn't the system recognize my email address/username?
Q: I'm a League Member -- Why doesn't the system recognize my email address/username?
Q: Can more than one person edit an application at once?
Q: How do I add collaborators to my application?
Q: I'm a collaborator on an application but I can't submit it. What should I do?
Q: How do I transfer ownership of an application to another user?
Q: Why can't I add collaborators to the application I'm editing?
Q: Can I save my progress in the online application and return to it later?
Yes, you must create an online account in order to work in the online application portal, and the system allows users to save and log in/out to return to their work at any time. (Note applications should also auto-save after roughly 10 minutes of inactivity while a user is logged in.)
Q: Can more than one person work on an online application?
The system does allow collaborators to work on the same application separately, but not simultaneously. The system will automatically lock an application that is being edited by one user so that other users see a 'view only' version and do not risk overwriting each other's work. Please see the 'Collaborators' section below for more information about allowing multiple users to view and edit an application.
Q: What happens to my application if I don't submit it before the submission deadline?
Any answers or data entered into an online application that is still incomplete/in progress/in cart when the submission deadline passes will be saved and transferred over to the next application round.
Every user with an incomplete application will receive automated reminder emails leading up to each submission deadline and will also be notified after the deadline passes, when the next round opens.
If we make any updates to the application questions between submission rounds, we will include details about those changes in the email to applicants whose incomplete submissions carried over to the new round.
Q: How do I delete an application I no longer intend to submit?
To delete an application, log in and navigate to your list of incomplete applications. Select "Remove" next to the application you'd like to delete. If you are having trouble logging in or removing your application, please email bfa@bikeleague.org and we can remove it for you.
Q: Can I transfer an application from one user account to another?
Yes, the primary owner of an application can transfer primary ownership of the application to any collaborator on the application. When logged in to the application, click "Manage Collaborators" -- from the list of collaborators, click "Make Primary" next to the username who you'd like to transfer the application to. (Learn more about Collaborators here.)
If the primary owner of an application no longer works for your organization or if you are unable to log in as the primary owner, please email bfa@bikeleague.org for assistance, and we can transfer the application or update a username for you.
Q: Can I export a PDF of the application I'm working on, or that I already submitted?
Yes, to export a PDF of an application that is currently in progress, please log in and navigate to your list of incomplete applications. Click "Print" next to your application, and the system will open a PDF of your application that you can save or print.
To export a PDF of an application that has already been submitted, log in and navigate to your list of complete applications. Click "Print" next to your application, and the system will open a PDF of your application that you can save or print.
Q: Can I make an edit or correction to an application I already submitted?
Yes, but only before the submission deadline. To edit a previously-completed submission, log in and navigate to your list of complete applications. Click "edit" next to your application to make changes.
After the submission deadline, this option will no longer be available. If you need to make a correction to your application after the deadline has passed, please email bfa@bikeleague.org for assistance.
Your username is your email address. If you have multiple email addresses and aren't sure which one is your username, please email bfa@bikeleague.org for assistance.
Q: How can I change or update my username?
Please email bfa@bikeleague.org to request the change. Only the system administrator can update an account username/email address, but we are happy to help make this change for you.
Q: How can I reset my password?
To reset your password, simply enter your email address at the following link, and then follow the directions that are emailed to you: https://bicyclefriendly.secure-platform.com/a/organizations/main/account/forgotpassword
If you do not receive an email please contact us at bfa@bikeleague.org for assistance.
Q: The person who submitted our last application doesn't work here anymore -- how can we log in without access to their email?
The BFA team can transfer ownership of the last application to a new user or update the username on an existing account. Please email bfa@bikeleague.org with the email address for the original username and the new username for assistance.
Q: I'm a renewing applicant -- Why doesn't the system recognize my email address/username?
We moved to this online system in April 2016, so if your last application was submitted prior to then, you may not have an account in the current system. If you applied after April 2016 and the system does not recognize your email address/username, please email bfa@bikeleague.org for assistance.
Q: I'm a League Member -- Why doesn't the system recognize my email address/username?
The Bicycle Friendly America Application Portal is a different online system from our membership portal.
If you are a League member trying to log in to the BFA portal and this is your first time logging in to submit a BFA application, please create a new account.
If you are trying to login to renew your League membership, please visit: https://bikeleague.secure.force.com/membership/lookup
If you are trying to login to the BikeLeague Hub for organizational League members and LCIs, please visit: https://hub.bikeleague.org/home
For more about League Membership, please visit https://bikeleague.org/join or contact membership@bikeleague.org with questions.
Q: Can more than one person edit an application at once?
No, the system will automatically lock an application that is currently being edited by one user so that other users can only view the application but not make edits, to avoid overwriting each other's edits.
Multiple users who are set up as collaborators on an application can all view that application at the same time, but only one user can make edits at a time.
Q: How do I add collaborators to my application?
When you're logged in to edit an application, click the "Manage Collaborators" button toward the upper right corner of the form.
From there, you will see a list of all current collaborators, if any, who have access to your application.
Click "Add Collaborator" and you will then be prompted to enter the first and last name and email address of each collaborator you'd like to add to that application:
The email address you enter for them should be the same email they'll use as their username. If they already created an account in our system, this process will automatically add your application to their "My Forms" >> "In Progress" queue. If they are new to the system, they'll be prompted to set up their account information and password the first time they log in before they will be able to access the application.
Each collaborator should automatically receive an email from our system (sent from bfa@bikeleague.org) inviting them to collaborate on your application.
Q: I'm a collaborator on an application but I can't submit it. What should I do?
Only the primary applicant (whoever originally started the form) can submit the application (and if applicable, online payment). The primary applicant can transfer primary ownership to any collaborator at any time if someone else should assume the role to be responsible for submission.
If your primary applicant is unavailable or unable to log in, please email bfa@bikeleague.org and we can transfer ownership of an application for you.
Q: How do I transfer ownership of an application to another user?
The primary owner of an application can transfer primary ownership of the application to any collaborator on the application. When logged in to the application, click "Manage Collaborators" -- from the list of collaborators, click "Make Primary" next to the username who you'd like to transfer the application to.
If the primary owner of an application no longer works for your organization or if you are unable to log in as the primary owner, please email bfa@bikeleague.org for assistance, and we can transfer the application or update the account username for you.
Q: Why can't I add collaborators to the application I'm editing?
Only the primary applicant (whoever originally started the form) can add collaborators to that form.
If your primary applicant is unavailable or unable to log in, please email bfa@bikeleague.org and we can transfer ownership of the application so that another user can add more collaborators.
Still have more questions? Please email ken@bikeleague.org!