League Names Chattanooga a Bicycle Friendly
Community
(Washington, DC)-
The League of American Bicyclists has honored Chattanooga,
Tennessee with its prestigious Bicycle Friendly Community
designation because of its longstanding commitment to providing
safe accommodation and facilities for bicyclists, and its efforts
to encourage bicycle travel for transportation and recreation.
Through policy and design, Chattanooga has focused on increasing
opportunities for physical activity and is a model in America's
efforts to reduce obesity. Chattanooga is one of 13 communities
given the Bicycle Friendly Community designation this fall; a total
of 27 cities have been honored with the award in 2003.
Chattanooga has been
granted the League's Bicycle- Friendly Community bronze-level
award, the fourth highest prize in the national awards program. A
total of 17 American communities have earned the bronze-
level designation. Just three cities—Portland and
Corvallis, Oregon and Palo Alto, California—have received the
second highest gold-level award. The League has not yet bestowed
the highest-level platinum award on any communities.
Elissa Margolin,
Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists,
congratulated Chattanooga for its achievement. “Chattanooga
and our other Bicycle Friendly Communities display uncommon
political commitment, technical expertise, and community
involvement to become better places to bicycle. The rewards for
residents are huge: reduced traffic, better air quality, increased
travel choices, and greater opportunities to lead more active
lifestyles.”
League staff and reviewers consider
several factors before granting Bicycle Friendly Community status,
including:
• The physical environment for bicycling
– on- street facilities, trails, parking etc.
• Education programs to promote a “share the
road” ethic among bicyclists and drivers
• Promotional initiatives to persuade people to ride or ride
more often
• Enforcement of traffic laws for both motorists and
bicyclists
• Future plans and evaluation techniques to improve
conditions further
Among
Chattanooga’s numerous policies and programs to make
bicycling better for its residents, the League staff and reviewers
were most impressed by its master plan for the region and its
successful implementation of that plan. Andy Clarke, the Director
of State and Local Advocacy for the League, will officially present
the award at the Chattanooga City Council meeting on December 9
beginning at 6:00 PM.
A related event will
take place that day between 1:30- 2:15 PM at Waterhouse Pavilion at
Miller Plaza. Approximately 180 fourth grade elementary
students from Chattanooga Christian School, Battle Academy, Normal
Park Elementary will present their artwork promoting bicycle safety
in the community. Posters will be judged by both students and
members of the Chattanooga Bicycle Task Force. Finalists will be
presented at the City Council Meeting that evening.
The League’s Bicycle Friendly
Community Campaign is a national grassroots effort to increase the
number of trips made by bike, promote physical fitness, and help
make communities more livable. The Campaign works in the most
effective way possible—town by town, city by city—to
encourage bicycling and achieve a bicycle- friendly America.
Visit www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org
to view the entire list of award- winning communities and learn
more about the program.
Communities wishing
to be considered for the award should visit www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org
to view the application and find out more about the program.
Applications received on or before March 19, 2004 will be
considered in the next application review cycle. The Campaign is
supported by grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
(www.rwjf.org) and the Bikes Belong Coalition (www.bikesbelong.org).
The League
of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and
transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a
bicycle- friendly America on behalf of its 300,000 members and
affiliates. For more information or to support the League,
visit www.bikeleague.organd www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org
.
2003 Bicycle Friendly Community award
winners
|
Platinum
Level
none
Gold
Corvallis,
Oregon
Palo Alto, California
Portland, Oregon
Silver
Denver,
Colorado
Folsom, California
Fort Collins, Colorado
Missoula, Montana
Santa Barbara, California
Stanford University, California
Tempe, Arizona
|
Bronze
Arlington,
Virginia
Beaverton, Oregon
Bloomington, Indiana
Boca Raton, Florida
Brentwood, California
Brunswick, Maine
Cary, North Carolina
Chattanooga, Tennessee
College Station, Texas
Gilbert, Arizona
Mesa, Arizona
Miami Beach, Florida
The Presidio of San Francisco, CA
Redmond, Washington
Schaumburg, Illinois
Shawnee, Kansas
Washington, DC
|
