Washington, D.C. -- May 13, 2013 -- Kicking off National Bike to Work Week, the League of American Bicyclists today announced its latest round of Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC), including a new Platinum-level community.
Fort Collins, Colo., moved from Gold to Platinum this round, joining the ranks of Portland, Ore.; Boulder, Colo.; and Davis, Calif., as the country's very best for bicycling.
With this impressive round of 17 new BFCs, there are now 259 BFCs in 47 states. The BFC program is helping transform the way communities evaluate quality of life by assessing investment in bicycling promotion, education programs, infrastructure and municipal policies.
"We're excited to see another 'Platinum' city in the west," said Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists. "And with new cities climbing the ranks in the East, it's clear that civic leaders are investing in their communities by embracing the benefits of bicycling. That investment will be returned many times over in the health, environmental, transportation, and quality of life benefits of a thriving, attractive community."
See the full list of Bicycle Friendly Communities here. An additional 18 communities received Honorable Mentions.
A bicycle culture is evident in the top BFCs, and in Fort Collins, a new Platinum community, bicycling is, simply, a "way of life."
"A bicycle culture is key in defining the fabric of what makes Fort Collins a great place to live, work and play," said Fort Collins Mayor Karen Weitkunat. "We know it is a primary means of transportation for many, a major form of recreation for most, and a significant factor in attracting new businesses and new residents. Our City works alongside many community organizations to build a seamless bikeway network and ensure a safe cycling community. Bicycling is a community value and a way of life in Fort Collins."
In the East, Cambridge, Mass., a new Gold-level BFC, has seen its ridership grow threefold in the past decade alone. Cambridge's Harvard University was also honored with a Silver Bicycle Friendly University award last month.
"Cambridge is proud of its reputation as one of the best cities for bicycling in the U.S.," said Cambridge City Manager Robert W. Healy. "The City has actively invested in making cycling a priority, including establishing the Hubway bike share program and creating an expansive network of bicycle facilities. The popularity of bicycling here can be seen in the exponential growth in cycling, with numbers tripling in the past decade. The bicycling culture here is epitomized in such events as the award-winning community bike rides, which highlight the collaborative nature of our work, with citizens, local businesses and the City working together."
And the long, snowy winters in Anchorage, Alaska, which moved up from a Bronze to Silver community, haven't put a stop to the thriving bicycling community there.
"Anchorage bicyclists are so committed to bicycling that nothing can stop them," said Lori Schanche, Municipality Of Anchorage Non-Motorized Transportation Coordinator. "Anchorage's eight long winter months come with darkness, frozen roads and snow but our bicyclists have adapted by gearing up with cold weather gear, lights, fat tires and studs. When summer arrives we all enjoy almost 24 hours of daylight to be out cycling our miles of beautiful trails and bike lanes."
Learn more about the program and view the full list of Bicycle Friendly Communities at www.bikeleague.org/bfa.
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About the Bicycle Friendly America Program:
The Bicycle Friendly America program provides incentives, hands-on assistance, and award recognition for communities, universities and businesses that actively support bicycling, and ranks states annually based on their level of bike-friendliness. Learn more.
About the League:
The League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. The League represents the interests of America's 57 million bicyclists, including its 300,000 members and affiliates. Learn more.
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2013 Award Winners
New Awards
Gold:
Cambridge, MA
Crested Butte, CO
Silver:
Moab City & Grand
County, UT
Bronze:
Appleton, WI
Champaign, IL
Bath, ME
Cleveland, OH
Eastern Placer County, CA
Fernandina Beach, FL
Grand Rapids, MN
Greeley, CO
Newton, MA
Paso Robles, CA
Sturgeon Bay, WI
Temecula, CA
Warsaw & Winona Lake,
IN
Weston, FL
Renewal Awards
Gold > Platinum:
Fort Collins, CO
Bronze > Gold:
Ashland, OR
Bronze > Silver:
Anchorage, AK
Iowa City, IA
Irvine, CA
Santa Monica, CA
Maintained Current Designation:
Portland, OR - Platinum
Bend, OR - Silver
Wood River Valley, ID -
Silver
Cedar Falls, IA - Bronze
Baton Rouge & Parish of
East Baton Rouge -
Bronze
Columbia, SC - Bronze
Roseville, CA - Bronze
Gilbert, AZ - Bronze
Indianapolis, IN - Bronze
San Jose, CA - Bronze
See the full list of the new Bicycle Friendly Communities here.
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