LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS
PRESS RELEASE - OCTOBER 2004

Washington, DC—The League of American Bicyclists is pleased to announce it has recognized six American communities with its prestigious Bicycle Friendly Community designation; the League has now honored a total of 44 communities across the nation with the award. Eugene, Oregon—which was granted the League's silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) award—leads the new group. The other new BFC winners—all at the bronze level—include: Ada County, Idaho; Chandler, Arizona; Chico, California; Lawrence, Kansas; and Orlando, Florida. The League gave honorable mention designations to Carmel, Indiana; New York, New York; and Oakdale, Minnesota.

The BFC designation honors the commitment of the award-winning communities to provide safe accommodation and facilities for bicyclists, and recognizes their efforts to encourage bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation.

(See www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org for more information.)

BIKEBOY COMMENTS: We should be honored about this recognition - and excited.  (Wow!  To be on the list with Lawrence, Kansas, and Orlando, Florida!)  But seriously... it might provide encouragement to continue efforts toward community bike-friendliness.  I got to review the application - the questions, and the answers provided by ACHD.  I commented to the fella who submitted it that I thought he was a bit "optimistic" in many areas.  Particularly in education and incentives... I believe our infrastructure is quite adequate.  But, local members of the League reviewed it and passed off on it, and that makes me happy.)

What's in our future?  Silver medal, perhaps?  (Eugene has long prided itself on its efforts to encourage cycling... maybe we're slowly catching up.)