Bend named bicycle-friendly community

The League of American Bicyclists announced Wednesday the city of Bend as a recipient of the Silver Bicycle Friendly Community Award.

The designation reflects the city’s commitment to improving transportation while protecting natural resources and sustaining Bend’s high quality of life. Bend is one of only 73 cities in the country with this designation.

“Bend residents know well, biking is about mobility, sustainability, health and so much more. Bicycle Friendly Communities are great places to live, work and visit,” said Robin Lewis, city of Bend Transportation Engineer and project manager for the Bicycle Friendly Community application.

The League was impressed with many aspects of Bend’s efforts to build a safe, biking-friendly community, including:

· Collaborative, intergovernmental approach

· Comprehensive Plan for sustainable, compact urban development, over sprawl

· New bike facilities, such as the Colorado Avenue trail undercrossing, more than 10 miles of new bike lanes, buffered bike lanes and parking protected bike lanes

· Plan to build Neighborhood Greenways on existing residential streets so that everyone can walk and bike without being on busy roads

One of the Bend City Council goals for 2015-17 was to “Improve the Transportation System to move people in a safe, accessible and cost-effective manner,” which includes promoting multi-modal transportation options.

According to the League of American Bicyclists, Bicycle Friendly Communities like Bend welcome bicyclists by providing safe accommodations for bicycling and encouraging people to bike for transportation and recreation. They strive to make bicycling safe, comfortable and convenient for people of all ages and abilities.

For more information about Bicycle Friendly Communities: http://www.bikeleague.org/community

For more information about Bend’s plan for walking and biking facilities: http://bendoregon.gov/bikewalk