Nov. 30, 2012 - City to host Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community award ceremony

Media Contacts:
Mike Banuelos, Public Works, 303-441-4073
Sarah Huntley, Media Relations, 303-441-3155
Carolyn Szczepanski, League of American Bicyclists, 202-621-5452
www.bouldercolorado.gov

City to host Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community award ceremony
Boulder celebrates current rank; strives to become the nation’s first Diamond-level BFC

With hundreds of miles of bike lanes and a bike-commute rate more than 20 times the national average, Boulder once again achieved Platinum Bicycle Friendly status from the League of American Bicyclists earlier this year. The city was one of only three to earn this honor nationwide. Now Boulder is aiming even higher, meeting with league staff to potentially become the very first Diamond-level Bicycle Friendly Communities and the nation’s top cycling city.

The public is invited to attend a community cycling celebration and award ceremony in honor of Boulder’s recent renewal as a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) on Thursday, Dec. 6, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The celebration will be held at West Flanders Brewing Company at1125 Pearl St.

League of American Bicyclists President, Andy Clark and League Bicycle Friendly Community Specialist, Nicole Wynands, will present Boulder’s award to city representatives and local cycling partners.  Appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided, along with a no-host bar. Please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by Monday, Dec. 3.

At 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, city and league representatives (along with local non-profit Community Cycles) will lead a bike tour of Boulder’s bicycling system.  The public is encouraged to join; the ride will depart from the Municipal Building Sister City Plaza (east side of Municipal Building, 1777 Canyon Blvd). Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with questions and to RSVP.

During their visit, league representatives will unveil the new ‘Diamond’ BFC challenge.  Working with city staff and the local cycling community, Clarke and Wynands will audit the current bicycling network, plans, and bike-friendly policies and programs to identify what measurements and goals would need to be set over the next five years to move the city toward Diamond status. 

For the first decade, the BFC program ranked communities at the Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels. But cities like Boulder have made such tremendous progress that the league has raised the bar. Only three cities are currently working toward this new Diamond status, including Boulder.

“The fact that Boulder could be the first Diamond-level Bicycle Friendly Community is an incredible testament to the city’s commitment to bicycling and its unique leadership for the rest of the country,” said League President Andy Clarke. “We are excited and honored to be working with Boulder to take the Bicycle Friendly Community program to new heights!”

Securing a Diamond designation will involve an individualized challenge tailored to each community. The league will conduct a detailed audit for each city and work with community leaders to create clear 5, 10, and 15-year goals for important factors like bicycle mode share, land use, crashes, network connectivity and bike culture.

Learn more about the Beyond Platinum program at www.bikeleague.org/bfa and about bicycling in Boulder at www.goboulder.net.    

Last Updated on Friday, 28 December 2012 08:00