Elissa Margolin, Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists, congratulated the communities. “Our Bicycle Friendly Communities display uncommon political commitment, technical expertise, and community involvement to become better places to bicycle. The rewards for residents are huge: reduced traffic, better air quality, increased travel choices, and greater opportunities to lead more active lifestyles.”

League staff and reviewers consider several factors before granting a community BFC status, including:

• The physical environment for bicycling – on-street facilities, trails, parking etc.
• Education programs to promote a “share the road” ethic among bicyclists and drivers
• Promotional initiatives to persuade people to ride or ride more often
• Enforcement of traffic laws for both motorists and bicyclists
• Future plans and evaluation techniques to improve conditions further

In Folsom, California, a silver level community, 95% of arterial streets have bikes lanes or paved shoulders, their bike to work day event is well attended and creates competition among employers to be designated the most bicycle friendly employer for the year. Children in Folsom sign a bicycle contract stating they understand and will follow all safety rules and municipal laws related to bicycling. Law enforcement officers help to reinforce this safety effort by paying special attention to bicyclists’ behavior at the start of the school year

A number of communities received honorable mentions, recognizing that important steps have been taken to become bicycle-friendly, but much more remains to be done. Four communities receiving this recognition are Carmel, IN; Indianapolis, IN; Baton Rouge, LA; and Lincoln, NE. Reviewers noted that in both Indiana communities the popular Monon Trail is proving to be a remarkable catalyst – but that a single trail or trail system does not make an entire community bicycle-friendly.

The League announced awarded communities in May and October of this year and anticipates a rapidly growing list of award winners as additional communities apply for the honor. Communities wishing to be considered for the award should visit www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org to view the application and learn more about the program. Applications received on or before March 19, 2004 will be considered in the next application review cycle.

The League’s Bicycle Friendly Community Campaign is a national grassroots effort to increase the number of trips made by bike, promote physical fitness, and help make communities more livable. The Campaign works in the most effective way possible—town by town, city by city—to encourage bicycling and achieve a bicycle-friendly America.

The Campaign is supported by generous grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (www.rwjf.org) and Bikes Belong Coalition (www.bikesbelong.org).