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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 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 announced the League of American Bicyclists will be in Bloomington on Thursday, April 14, 2011, to officially recognize local accomplishments that advance bicycling.

Bill Nesper, the Director of the League's Bicycle Friendly America Program, will lead an award ceremony starting at 1:30 p.m. on the B-Line Trail Plaza next to City Hall, 401 N. Morton Street. Nesper will present designations to several organizations that have been recognized by the League.

Representatives from each organization will speak to the importance of the national recognition and the importance of bicycling in general.

"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 6:30 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].

###