Bicycle City: A Brief Look at Bicycle Friendly Communities

Now that gas prices have given die-hard drivers pause and global warming is winning over skeptics, Americans are showing a renewed interest in carpooling, public transportation, and other energy-efficient modes of transportation - including our old friend, the bicycle. Gone are the days of the purely recreational bicycle, when weekend warriors only hit the paths, mountain and municipal, to pedal for exercise and enjoyment. People are increasingly commuting to work and school via bicycle, and cities and towns are making changes to their infrastructure and laws to ensure this socially responsible choice remains safe and supported. The League of American Bicyclists even maintains a nationwide rating system, begun in 2003, devoted to identifying and celebrating “bicycle friendly communities.”

Bicycle City: Big Cities and College Towns Alike

Based on LAB’s designations - which include platinum, gold, silver, and bronze levels – nearly 60 communities across the country have received one of the four awards. But it’s not just the expected college towns making the cut. Sure, you’ll see university-oriented communities like Bellingham, Boulder, Ann Arbor, Missoula, Eugene, Tempe, Gainesville, and their many peers on the list, yet the real surprises are the huge cities that have taken similarly huge steps toward bicycle-friendliness for their residents. These include Denver, Chicago, Albuquerque, Washington, and (new this year) my very own Milwaukee, which proudly received a bronze award for its pro-bicycle projects.

Bicycle City: Criteria for Bicycle Friendly Communities