Date: November 30, 2017
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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE(I got this from Louise Romero in the Public Works Dept. --KJS)
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Los Alamos County named
a Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists
Los
Alamos, New Mexico— Today, the League of American
Bicyclists recognized Los Alamos County with a Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly
CommunitySM (BFC) award, joining over 400 visionary communities from
across the country.
With the announcement
of 65 new and renewing BFCs today, Los
Alamos County joins a leading
group of communities, in all 50 states, that are transforming our
neighborhoods.
“We applaud these
communities for making bicycling a safe and convenient option for
transportation and recreation,” said Bill Nesper, Executive Director at the
League of American Bicyclists. “We are encouraged by the growing number of
leaders who see bicycling as a way to build more vibrant, healthy, sustainable
and connected communities and be a part of the solution to many complex
challenges faced at both the community and national levels. We look forward to
continuing to work with these communities as we move closer to our mission of
creating a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone.”
The BFC program is
revolutionizing the way communities evaluate their quality of life,
sustainability and transportation networks, while allowing them to benchmark
their progress toward improving their bicycle-friendliness. With this
impressive round, there are now over 400 BFCs in all 50 states. The Bronze Level
BFC award recognizes Los Alamos County’s commitment to improving conditions
for bicycling through investment in bicycling promotion, education programs,
infrastructure and pro-bicycling policies.
Philo Shelton
commented “Last year we earned an honorable mention from the League. Within a
year, we worked hard to meet the League’s objectives in becoming a Bicycle
Friendly Community and made significant accomplishments to earn a
Bronze level award. We are only the fourth community in New Mexico to earn such
an award joining Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Santa Fe as Bicycle Friendly
Communities.”
These accomplishments
include investment in bicycle infrastructure improvements such as completion of
Phase 2 of the Canyon Rim Trail system and obtaining a sizeable federal grant
to design and construct and a shared-use underpass for the Canyon Rim Trail beneath
NM 502 near the Coop at Entrada Drive.
As part of bicycle promotion, education and outreach, County Council
proclaimed May as Bike to Work Month which was followed with events celebrating
Bike to Work Day. Lastly, in June County
Council adopted the Bicycle Transportation Plan which emphasizes the County’s
commitment to bicycle planning as part of the transportation network.
The BFC program
provides a roadmap to building a Bicycle Friendly Community and the application
itself has become a rigorous and an educational tool. Since its inception, more than 800 distinct
communities have applied and the five levels of the award – diamond, platinum,
gold, silver and bronze – provide a clear incentive for communities to
continuously improve.
To learn more about
building a Bicycle Friendly America, visit www.bikeleague.org/BFA
The League of
American Bicyclists is leading the movement to create a Bicycle Friendly America
for everyone.
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