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Contact: Marissa Monroy, Senior Public Information Specialist, Austin Transportation Department, (915) 355-5854

League of American Bicyclists awards Austin GOLD bicycle-friendly designation Austin, Texas -- On Nov. 16, 2016, the League of American Bicyclists will recognize Austin, Texas with a Gold Bicycle Friendly Community award, demonstrating Austin’s leadership in revolutionizing the way our community evaluates quality of life, sustainability and transportation networks.



“Austin joins just a handful of major cities in the entire nation to earn this award for efforts to make this city a bicycle-friendly community. But this distinction isn’t about bicycling; it’s about the benefits that bicycling brings to Austin,” said Austin Transportation Director Rob Spillar. “It’s good for your health, great for your family’s transportation budget, and may be the quickest way to get around town. Austin’s commitment to bicycling is evident through the implementation of our recently adopted Bicycle Master Plan which will make bicycling safer, more comfortable and convenient for people of all ages and abilities.”



With the announcement of 54 new and renewing Bicycle Friendly Communities, Austin joins a leading group of cities, in all 50 states, that are building the resilient, liveable and successful places of the future.



“We applaud these communities for making bicycling a safe and convenient option for transportation and recreation,” said Bill Nesper, Vice President of Programs 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 Bicycle Friendly Community program allows communities to benchmark their progress toward improving their bicycle-friendliness. The Gold award recognizes Austin’s commitment to bringing the benefits of bicycling to everyone through more affordable transportation choices, safer streets and healthier communities.



The Bicycle Friendly Community program provides a roadmap to building a Bicycle Friendly Community and the application itself has become a rigorous educational tool in itself. 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.



The City of Austin invites the public to celebrate this achievement with breakfast tacos on Nov. 16, from 8 to 9 a.m. at Austin City Hall. At 8:30 a.m., Mayor Steve Adler, Council Member and Mobility Chair Ann Kitchen, Austin Transportation Director Rob Spillar, and Public Works Director Howard Lazarus will make the official announcement and offer brief comments about what this means for our community. ###