On Tuesday, the League of American Bicyclists honored the efforts of Warsaw and Winona Lake to build better places for people to bike with a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) award.
Warsaw and Winona Lake join 460 communities across the country in the movement for safer streets and better bicycling for everyone, according to a provided news release. The award recognizes Warsaw and Winona Lake for their commitment to creating transportation and recreational resources that benefit their residents of all ages and abilities while encouraging healthier and more sustainable transportation choices.
“Bicycling is more than just a mode of transportation - it’s a powerful tool for building healthier communities, fostering sustainability and connecting people,” said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. “The cities and towns recognized in this round of Bicycle Friendly Community awards are leading the way by investing in infrastructure and programs that make biking an easier, safer and more accessible choice. Their leadership demonstrates that supporting bicycling is an investment in a healthier future for everyone.”
The League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly America program sets the standard for how communities build and benchmark progress toward making biking better. The League strives to provide continual updates to the application as part of a commitment to help communities raise their standards for safety, equity and accessibility.
This round of awards includes 91 new and renewing awardees, joining a total of 460 current Bicycle Friendly Communities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Silver BFC award recognizes Warsaw and Winona Lake’s commitment to improving conditions for all people who bike through investments in bike education programs, regular bike events that promote and encourage people to choose biking, pro-bike policies and bike infrastructure, the release states.
Jackson Longenbaugh, assistant city planner at the city of Warsaw and chair of the Ride+Walk Advisory Committee, said, “Warsaw and Winona Lake are thrilled to be designated as a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community. Both municipalities are committed to enhancing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure while prioritizing safety. Together with individuals across Kosciusko County, both communities actively support these initiatives through the Ride+Walk Advisory Committee. The committee’s vision is to develop a comprehensive and accessible transportation network that serves as a valuable community asset. This system, designed for users of all ages and abilities, aims to promote safety, health, education and recreation. Both communities plan to continue expanding the network to enhance connectivity and accessibility.”
Nearly 900 communities have applied for recognition by the Bicycle Friendly Community program, which provides a roadmap to making biking better for communities of all shapes and sizes. While the award process considers very visible elements such as bike infrastructure, other essential elements include efforts around adult and youth bike education, encouragement through events like Bike to Work Day, evaluation mechanisms, and enforcement all through the lens of equity. The rigorous application process is an educational tool in itself, and includes an opportunity for local bicyclists and active transportation advocates to provide input on their experiences and perceptions of bicycling in their community, according to the release.
The five levels of the BFC award – diamond, platinum, gold, silver and bronze, plus an honorable mention category – provide a clear incentive for communities to continuously improve. Awarded communities must renew their status every four years to ensure that they not only maintain existing efforts, but also keep up with changing technology, national safety standards, and community-driven best practices.
To learn more about the BFC program, visit bikeleague.org/community.