Getting Friendlier – Let’s Celebrate!
To start the celebration of Cleveland Heights just-announced Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) award from the League of American Cyclists, come to Cleveland Heights City Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, October 21, for the Council meeting. Representing Heights Bicycle Coalition (HBC), vice president and founding member Joy Henderson will present Mayor Ed Kelley an award certificate and BFC road sign to commemorate Cleveland Heights new status. We’ll then immediately continue the celebration at Bottle House Brewery!
“Cleveland Heights is playing a critical part in creating a truly Bicycle Friendly America,” said Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists. “We know Cleveland Heights’s investment in bicycling will be returned many times over in the health, environmental, and quality of life benefits of a thriving community.”
The bronze level BFC award recognizes Cleveland Heights’s commitment to improving conditions for bicycling through investment in bicycling promotion, education programs, infrastructure and pro-bicycling policies.
The BFC program is a way for communities evaluate their quality of life, sustainability and transportation networks, while providing a measuring tool to gauge their progress toward a more bicycle friendly community. There are now 291 BFCs in 48 states.
Cleveland Heights received a BFC honorable mention in 2010. Since then, the City, the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District, and the HBC have worked together to make Cleveland Heights more bicycle friendly.
Collectively, the community has added bicycle facilities such as the first buffered bike lane in Northeast Ohio, sharrows, and bike racks, offered community rides, bike rodeos, and much more.
Before the end of this year, Cleveland Heights will have a Transportation Advisory Committee to encourage alternative modes of transportation. Also coming are School Travel Plans to encourage kids to walk or bike to school.
The BFC program provides a roadmap to building a Bicycle Friendly Community and the application process is a rigorous and an educational tool for change. Since its inception, more then 500 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 the free BFC program, visit bikeleague.org/community.
About the Bicycle Friendly America Program
The Bicycle Friendly Community, Bicycle Friendly State, Bicycle Friendly Business and Bicycle Friendly University programs are generously supported by program partner Trek Bicycle. To learn more about building a Bicycle Friendly America, visit http://www.bikeleague.org/
The League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. The League represents the interests of America’s 57 million bicyclists, including its 300,000 members and affiliates. For more information or to support the League, visit www.bikeleague.org.
