A growing number of bike-friendly communities across the United States have been cited for their efforts to make biking safer, easier, and more accessible, as a means of transportation and recreation.
In December, the League of American Bicyclists announced its new Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) awards circular. More than 30 cities and towns (some honored for the first time and others in the past discussed that have risen in ratings) were praised for their cadres up to cycling. Seven other places earned honorable mentions.
To date, 501 communities, represented in all 50 states, have been nominated in 4 award categories: 348 bronze; 112 silver; 36 gold; and five record players, the distinction. (The platinum locations are: Davis CA, Boulder CO, Fort Collins CO, Portland OR and Madison WI).
“To be a biker-friendly network, it’s not enough to hold an annual event or build a few motorcycle lanes,” Bill Nesper, executive director of the League, an advocacy and education group, said in a statement. “Cycling communities are places where efforts to create connected motorcyclist networks complement each other by ensuring equivalents of cycling education and hosting inclusive rides and networking events for all types of cyclists,” added Ninester.
Some highlights of the last of the awards:
The network’s awards are part of the League’s Bicycle Friendly America program, which evaluates states, businesses and universities, as well as cities and towns. An interactive map of the U. S. The U. S. Census Bureau displays the state’s overall rating and lists the communities, businesses, and universities listed.
Amelia Neptune, director of the Bicycle Friendly America program, said the app used by towns and villages in search of popularity was recently updated with new questions, features and focus spaces aimed at raising the bar in the variety process. “Art and placemaking as components of a community’s cycling network, all the way to regional coordination, to restoring and designing lower speeds on local roads,” Neptune said in a statement. “We hope that this first winners circular since the update can serve as a model for other communities to sign up for our project to raise the standards for what it means to be a cyclist-friendly community. “
To learn more about the Bicycle Friendly Community program, click here. To see the list of recent winners and the full list of all winners, click here and here.