Mountain View Receives Bicycle-Friendly Community Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 26, 2004

Contact: Patrick J. McCormick

Communications Director

League of American Bicyclists

Phone: 202-822-1333; Fax: 202-822-1334

Email: [email protected]

Washington, DC— As part of its celebration of National Bike Month TM ( www.bikemonth.com ), the League of American Bicyclists is honoring Mountain View, California with its prestigious Bicycle Friendly Community award. Ariadne Delon Scott, Advocacy Coordinator for Specialized wi ll present the award on behalf of the League at the Mountain View City Council meeting on June 8 at 6:30pm. The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, at 500 Castro Street. Mountain View has earned the bronze-level of the Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) awards.

Mountain View is one of 38 communities that have been granted the BFC designation to recognize their commitment to providing safe accommodation and facilities for bicyclists, and for their efforts to encourage bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation. Visit www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org to learn more about the awards process and view the recently published highlights on the award-winning communities, as well as the results of the League's recent International BFC Symposium .

Andy Clarke, Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists, said, "I am delighted to honor Mountain View and our other BFC award winners. Given the choice, people will and do ride their bikes. Bicycle Friendly Communities are special places, with a heightened sense of community spirit and an uncommon devotion to improving their quality of life. With political commitment, focused investment in infrastructure and policies, and broad community involvement, cities and towns can become better places not only to bicycle but also to live. The rewards for residents are huge: greater opportunities to lead active lifestyles; improved air quality, and increased travel choices."

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

Among the factors the League's staff and reviewers cited in their decision to honor Mountain View is that, over the last 25 years, the City has invested over $20 million in its bikeway network. It recently completed a new section of the Steven's Creek trail, including crossings of two major freeways. In Mountain View, 100% of arterial streets are outfitted with bike lanes or paved shoulders. To enable cyclists to combine their riding with other modes of transportation, Mountain View constructed a 52-space bicycle shelter at the Downtown Mountain View Transit Center, a multi-modal transit hub and the primary transit station for the city.

Boulder, Colorado was granted the League's gold-level BFC award. Silver-level award winners include Gainesville, Florida; Olympia, Washington; and Tucson, AZ. Bronze level distinctions were awarded to Ashland, Oregon; Auburn, Alabama; Carrboro, North Carolina; Longmont, Colorado; Portage, Michigan; and Rockville, Maryland; as well as Mountain View. An Honorable Mention was given to Milpitas, California. The League has yet to bestow its highest-level platinum award to any communities.

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 and Bikes Belong Coalition.

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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 50 million bicyclists, including its 300,000 members and affiliates. Visit the League's website for more information or to support the League and the BFC program. May is National Bike Month™; visit www.bikemonth.com for safe cycling tips, promotional ideas, and events in your area.