Bozeman News

National organization designates Bozeman bicycle friendly community

Posted: Oct 22, 2012 5:21 PM by MTN News

Washington, D.C. -Across the U.S., bicycling is on the rise -- thanks in part to cities like Bozeman taking steps to make riding safer and more comfortable for all residents. The League of American Bicyclists announced the latest round ofBicycle Friendly Communities (BFC) and Bozeman, Montana has been named a Silver BFC.

"We are excited that Bozeman recognizes that simple steps to make biking safe and comfortable pay huge dividends in civic, community and economic development," said League President Andy Clarke. "Bicycling is more than a practical, cost-effective solution to many municipal challenges - it's a way to make Bozeman a place where people don't just live and work, but thrive."

The BFC program is revolutionizing the way communities evaluate their quality of life, sustainability and transportation networks, while allowing them to benchmark their progress toward improving their bicycle-friendliness. With this impressive round, there are now 242 BFCs in 47 states across America.

The Silver BFC award recognizes Bozeman's commitment to improving conditions for bicycling through investment in bicycling promotion, education programs, infrastructure and pro-bicycling policies.

The Bozeman Area Bicycle Advisory Board appointed by the City Commission has been instrumental in these programs and was the organization that applied for this honor. The BFC program provides a roadmap to building a Bicycle Friendly Community and the application itself has become a rigorous and an educational tool in itself. Since its inception, more than 500 distinct communities have applied and the five levels of the award - diamond, platinum, gold, silver and bronze - provide a clear incentive for communities to continuously improve.

The Bozeman City Commission will have a special presentation Monday evening to officially declare Bozeman a "Bike Friendly Community".

To apply or learn more about the free BFC program, visit bikeleague.org.