Bronze level awarded by League of American Bicyclists
Julie Happy, 509.625.7773
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at 9:44 a.m.
On Tuesday, the League of American Bicyclists recognized Spokane with a Bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community award.
The award recognizes the City’s commitment to improving conditions for bicycling through investment in bicycling promotion, education programs, infrastructure and pro-bicycling policies. Specifically, Spokane was awarded in part for its public outreach education, bike month and bike to work events, bike plan implementation and bicycle-friendly laws and ordinances.
Spokane joins a group of 326 Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC) in all 50 states.
“Visionary community leaders are recognizing the real-time and long term impact that a culture of bicycling can create,” said Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists. “We applaud this new round of communities for investing in a more sustainable future for the country and a healthier future for their residents and beyond.”
The BFC program provides a roadmap to building a Bicycle Friendly Community. Since its inception, more than 800 distinct communities have applied. There are five levels of the award for communities that are recognized– diamond, platinum, gold, silver and bronze. Spokane’s bicycle friendly designation is valid for four years.
Currently, the City is working to expand Spokane’s on and off street bike network, to increase network connectivity, and to complete the trail gaps of the “Centennial Trail.” There are also plans to adopt and implement the bike plan update being prepared and to create a City web page dedicated to bicycle education, city projects, and more.
