FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 2022
Contact: Patrick J. McCormick
Communication Director
Phone: 202-822-1333; Fax: 202-822-1334
Email: [email protected]

(WASHINGTON, DC)—The League of American Bicyclists has named Redmond Washington a Bicycle-Friendly Community, following a detailed audit of the community’s efforts to provide safe accommodation and facilities for bicyclists and to encourage residents to bike for transportation and recreation. Through policy and design, Redmond has focused on increasing opportunities for physical activity and is a model in America’s efforts to reduce obesity.

Redmond was one of just six communities in the United States to receive the bronze award, the fourth highest level of the League’s Bicycle-Friendly Community national awards program. The League honored a total of fourteen communities with the Bicycle-Friendly Community award, but did not bestow the highest-level platinum award to any communities. Just two cities, Palo Alto, CA and Corvallis, OR received the second highest gold award; six were granted the silver level prize.

Particularly impressive aspects of Redmond’s application included the city's Capital Improvement Plan that commits $100,000 per year for bicycle facilities improvements, its award-winning Bike to Work Day public service announcement (produced by Redmond’s community affairs division), and the Marymoor Park Velodrome, which boasts a wide variety of racing opportunities and recreational opportunities.

The League of American Bicyclists considered several factors in evaluating Redmond and other communities that applied for Bicycle-Friendly Community status. Reviewers examined the traffic engineering facilities and policies and bicycling promotion efforts of the communities. The cities’ enforcement of traffic laws on motorists and cyclists, their efforts to educate both groups on traffic safety, and their processes to plan for and evaluate policies and facilities for cycling also were considered.

Elissa Margolin, Executive Director of the League, said, “The League is delighted to honor Redmond with the Bicycle-Friendly Community designation. Thanks to its long-term commitment to better bicycling, Redmond residents benefit every day from reduced traffic, better air quality, and improved public health. These benefits translate to increased quality of life, higher property values, and heightened community spirit.”

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 liveable. The Campaign works in the most effective way possible—town by town, city by city—to encourage bicycling and achieve a bicycle-friendly America.

Barbara Culp, Executive Director of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington, presented the Bicycle Friendly Community Designation Award to Redmond's Mayor, Rosemarie Ives, the Chairman of Redmond 's Bicycle Pedestrian Committee, Arnold Tomac, Redmond's City Council and the public in attendance at Redmond's July 1st City Council meeting.