Anne Arundel, Annapolis Honored As Bicycle Friendly Community

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The League of American Bicyclists has recognized Anne Arundel County and the City of Annapolis with a joint Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) award, Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman announced Thursday.

“We applaud these communities for making bicycling a safe and convenient option for transportation and recreation,” said Bill Nesper, executive director at the League of American Bicyclists, in the statement from Pittman. “We are encouraged by the growing number of leaders who see bicycling as a way to build more vibrant, healthy, sustainable and connected communities.”

There are currently 464 BFCs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to the league. The Bronze BFC Award recognizes the city and county's commitment to improving conditions for bicycling through investment in bicycling promotion, education programs, infrastructure and pro-bicycling policies.

“We’re honored to receive this award. Our new county slogan is 'The Best Place,' and we want to make Anne Arundel County the best place to ride a bike,” Pittman said in the statement.

The county and city, with the support of local nonprofit organization BikeAAA, applied jointly for the prestigious award.

The two jurisdictions recently collaborated on a bikeshare program. There are more than 60 miles of bike routes (trails and on-road lanes), though many are disconnected.

The city and county seek to connect these segments and close gaps, encouraging more people to ride to work, school, recreation and other destinations, the statement added.

"This would help relieve traffic congestion, improve health, protect our environment, and make our area a more attractive place to live, work and visit," the league said.

“As an avid, daily commuting bicyclist, this bronze award is an honor and a step in the right direction to continue our commitment to making Annapolis the most bike-friendly city in the state," Mayor Gavin Buckley said in the statement.

"Bicyclists spend more in locally owned shops, help alleviate valued parking in our historic district, and attract more tourism," the mayor said. "I look forward to connecting more of the city’s safe bike routes with the growing network of trails and bike lanes in the county to create safe options for cyclists and communities.”

How It Works

Since the Bicycle Friendly Community program’s inception more than 20 years ago, more than 800 distinct communities have applied for recognition. The program provides a roadmap to building a Bicycle Friendly Community for areas of all shapes and sizes.

The five levels of the BFC award – diamond, platinum, gold, silver and bronze, plus an honorable mention category and a no designation level, "provide a clear incentive for communities to continuously improve," the league said.

To learn more about the BFC program, click here.

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