TEMPE, ARIZONA---The League of American Bicyclists designated Tempe a Silver-Level Bicycle-Friendly Community Award winner. Tempe is one of 14 communities around the United States being recognized for providing safe accommodations and facilities for bicyclists and encouraging residents to bike for transportation and recreation.

The League of American Bicyclists examined traffic engineering facilities and policies and bicycling promotion efforts of the communities. The organization also considered cities’ enforcement of traffic laws on motorists and cyclists, efforts to educate both groups on traffic safety and processes to plan for and evaluate policies and facilities for bicycling.

The City of Tempe has more than 150 miles of dedicated bikeways and 3.5 percent of Tempe residents are bicycle commuters. The City recently built several facilities, including the new and improved College Avenue Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge and the Crosscut Canal, Spence Avenue and Kyrene Canal multi-use paths.

The City utilizes the best methods for integrating bicycling and bicycle infrastructure into all levels of City planning. The City’s urban design plans include accommodations for bicycling in order to integrate bicycling as part of the culture of Tempe and to assist in the enhancement of a balanced transportation system. Within the next year, the City plans to expand the bikeway system in Tempe by completing construction of the Country Club Way Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge and adding two more miles of paths on the Rio Salado.

Bicycle-Friendly Community

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 League of American Bicyclists works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. The League represents the interests of America’s 50 million bicyclists, including 300,000 members and affiliates.



For more information about Tempe’s bicycle program, call the Tempe Transit Office at (480) 350-2775 or visit www.tempe.gov/bikeprogram. For more information or to support the League, visit www.bikeleague.org and www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org.