League of American Bicyclists Renews City of Bloomington's Bicycle Friendly Business Silver Level Designation

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 22, 2015

For more information, please contact:

Vince Caristo, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, City of Bloomington Planning and Transportation Department, 812.349.3423, [caristov@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:caristov@bloomington.in.gov]

Alexa Lopez, Communications Director, City of Bloomington Office of the Mayor, 812.349.2489,[lopeza@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:lopeza@bloomington.in.gov]

League of American Bicyclists Renews City of Bloomington's Bicycle Friendly Business Silver Level Designation

Bloomington, Ind. - Mayor Mark Kruzan has announced that the League of American Bicyclists has renewed the City of Bloomington's designation as a Bicycle Friendly Business (BFBSM) award. The City currently retains its Silver Level designation from the League.

The City of Bloomington encourages bicycling as an easy option for transportation for its employees and provides amenities, such as an employee bike pool for work-related trips, showers in the men's and women's bathrooms at City Hall, covered bike parking and a Bike Commuter Credit that gives a monthly bike maintenance allowance to regular commuters.

Mayor Mark Kruzan touted the City's employee bicycling initiatives as an effort to lead by example, saying, "In addition to saving City funds, we hope this will encourage other employers to take simple, low-cost steps to both reduce their impact on the environment and encourage healthy behavior by their employees."

Vince Caristo, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, says that businesses can also take measures to encourage bicycling among their patrons. "Simple things, like providing convenient bicycle parking or a fun incentive for people to bicycle, can impact people's choices of where to go and how to get there," Caristo said. "Customers who arrive by bike are great for a business because they don't add to area traffic congestion or use valuable car parking spaces."

Moving forward, the City of Bloomington will have access to a variety of free tools and technical assistance from the League to become even more bicycle-friendly. When employees bike, great things happen: less road congestion to and from City Hall, weight loss or better physical outcomes, an increase in bicycle awareness on the road for both pedestrians and drivers and a fun and healthy work culture.

With the announcement today of 161 new and renewing BFBs in 46 states and Washington, D.C., the City of Bloomington joins a cutting-edge group of more than 950 local businesses, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies across the United States that are transforming the American workplace.

"Visionary business leaders are recognizing the real-time and long term impact that a culture of bicycling can create," Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists said. "We applaud this new round of businesses for investing in a more sustainable future for the country and a healthier future for their employees."

To apply or learn more about the free BFB program, [visit the League online|www.bikeleague.org/content/businesses]. For more information about the award and other bicycle initiatives, [visit the City's website|/bike] or contact Vince Caristo at 812.349.3423 or [caristov@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:caristov@bloomington.in.gov]

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