Tempe named bicycle-friendly community

TEMPE, Ariz. - The League of American Bicyclists designated Tempe a Silver-Level Bicycle-Friendly Community Award winner. Tempe is one of 70 communities around the United States being recognized for providing safe accommodations and facilities for bicyclists and encouraging residents to bike for transportation and recreation.

The League of American Bicyclists examined traffic engineering facilities and policies and bicycling promotion efforts of the communities. The organization also considered cities' enforcement of traffic laws on motorists and cyclists, efforts to educate both groups on traffic safety and processes to plan for and evaluate policies and facilities for bicycling. The application process is rigorous; just 70 of the 174 applicants for the Bicycle-Friendly Community award since 2003 have been granted the designation.

The city of Tempe has more than 165 miles of dedicated bikeways and 3.1 percent of Tempe residents are bicycle commuters. Within the next year, Tempe plans to complete the state's first bikestation, a full service bicycle commuter center, and add eight miles of bike paths.

Tempe utilizes the best methods for integrating bicycling and bicycle infrastructure into all levels of city planning. The city's urban design plans include accommodations for bicycling in order to integrate bicycling as part of the culture of Tempe and to assist in the enhancement of a balanced transportation system.

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 liveable. The League of American Bicyclists works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. The League represents the interests of America's 57 million bicyclists, including 300,000 members and affiliates.

For information about Tempe's bicycle program, call the Tempe Transportation Division at (480) 350-2775 or visit www.tempe.gov/tim.

For information on the League of American Bicyclists, visit www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org