Local Efforts to Promote Bicycling Recognized by the League of American Bicyclists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2011

For more information, please contact:
Raymond Hess, Sr. Transportation Planner, 349.3423, [mailto:hessr@bloomington.in.gov]
Jared Schlemmer, Communications Director, 349.3406, [mailto:schlemmj@bloomington.in.gov]




Bloomington, IN - Mayor Mark Kruzan and the League of American Bicyclists recognized local accomplishments that advance bicycling at an award ceremony today on the B-Line Trail.

Bill Nesper, the Director of the League's Bicycle Friendly America Program, lead the ceremony and recognized several organizations for their designations from the League, including:

• A bronze "Bicycle Friendly University" designation to Indiana University
• A silver "Bicycle Friendly Community" designation to the City of Bloomington
• A bronze "Bicycle Friendly Business" designation to Bloomingfoods
• A silver "Bicycle Friendly Business" designation to City Hall
• "Club of the Year" designation to the Bloomington Bicycle Club

Representatives from each organization spoke to the importance of the national recognition and the importance of bicycling in general. Speakers included Kruzan; Nancy Tibbett, Executive Director of Bicycle Indiana; Bill Brown, Director of Sustainability at IU; Keith Vogelsang, President of the Bloomington Bicycle Club; Darcy Harvey, Administrative Support and George Huntington, General Manager for Bloomingfoods; and Josh Desmond, Assistant Director of Planning for the City of Bloomington.

"These designations from the League of American Bicyclists demonstrate that the Bloomington community is working collectively to improve the 'bike-ability' and ultimately the 'livability' of the area," said Kruzan. The best way to become a premier bicycling community is via community collaboration. It's exciting to have partners being recognized by the League and countless others to help the community achieve this ambitious goal."

In an effort continue and build upon these local successes, the City Council created the Bloomington Platinum Biking Task Force. This group will produce a report this fall that will provide a strategy on how Bloomington can achieve the highest Bicycle Friendly Community designation from the League by 2016. The City and the Task Force will hold a Platinum Bike Summit on April 28, 2011, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Convention Center, 302 S. College Avenue, to solicit input and generate ideas on how to further promote bicycling in the community.

According the League's Bicycle Friendly America: The Blueprint, the purpose of these recognitions is to set standards for what constitutes a real cycling culture and environment. Additionally, they help affect decisions on how communities and businesses grow, inspire action and involvement among people that want to improve conditions for bicyclists, and reward persistence as people respond to feedback and make changes.

For more information about the awards, contact Raymond Hess, Senior Transportation Planner, at 349-3423 or [mailto:hessr@bloomington.in.gov].

###