City Officials Hold Press Conference Announcing Bicycle and Pedestrian Initiatives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 21, 2011

For more information, please contact:
Tom Micuda, Director of Planning, City of Bloomington, 349.3423, [mailto:micudat@bloomington.in.gov]
Susie Johnson, Director of Public Works, City of Bloomington, 349.3516, [mailto:johnsons@bloomington.in.gov]
Jared Schlemmer, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349.3406, [mailto:schlemmj@bloomington.in.gov]

Bloomington, IN -- Mayor Mark Kruzan and the City of Bloomington invite community members to a press conference announcing several new bicycle and pedestrian projects and initiatives on Tuesday, March 22 at 11 a.m. in City Hall Council Chambers, 401 N. Morton Street.

Kruzan will be joined by City Councilmembers Andy Ruff and Dave Rollo, and Bloomington Planning Director Tom Micuda. Ruff is the Council's representative on the Metropolitan Planning Organization and Rollo serves on the Bloomington Platinum Biking Task Force. Each will discuss the significance of the initiatives and how they address the mobility needs of bicyclists and pedestrians in the community.

The initiatives are ultimately designed to elevate Bloomington's status as a bicycle friendly community. In October 2010, Bloomington received a Silver level Bicycle Friendly Community designation from the League of American Bicyclists. This designation upgraded Bloomington's Bronze rating, which was awarded in 2003. Bloomington's goal, as officially outlined in a City Council resolution adopted on May 12, 2010, is to elevate the community's bicycle friendly designation to the highest status, Platinum, by 2016. Only three cities in the United States have attained Platinum designation - Portland, Oregon; Davis, California; and Boulder, Colorado.
"I look forward to announcing these exciting new ideas to the community," said Kruzan. "These are the kind of investments that will help elevate our status as a Bicycle Friendly Community and keep our city sustainable and viable for future generations."

For more information about Bloomington's transportation plans and projects, contact Micuda at 349-3459 or micudat@bloomington.in.gov, or Susie Johnson, City Public Works Director, at 349-3516 or [mailto:johnsons@bloomington.in.gov].

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