The League of American Bicyclists honored 34 new and renewing organizations in its latest round of … [+]
A new crop of businesses nationwide has been recognized for demonstrating commitment and work “to build better places to bike” by making cycling safer, easier and more accessible as a means of transportation and recreation.
The League of American Bicyclists honored 34 new and renewing organizations in its latest round of Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) awards. Three additional businesses earned an Honorable Mention.
The honorees, announced earlier this month, included businesses designated as “bicycle friendly” for the first time and others previously cited that moved up in the ranking.
“We are excited to announce these new and renewing Bicycle Friendly Businesses, employers at the forefront of a growing movement for healthier, stronger, and better-connected communities across the nation,” Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists, said in a statement. “Ensuring more people – whether employees, customers, or members of the community – can safely choose to bike is part of the solution to many challenges we face both locally and globally, and we’re proud to see businesses investing in opportunities that make a difference.”
The businesses represent over 32,000 employees and a dozen public and private industry sectors, and they join previously designated Bicycle Friendly Businesses, which now number 1,451 in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
A growing number of Bicycle Friendly Businesses recognize bicycling as a critical aspect of taking action for climate justice in their communities, and are in the energy, utility, and construction industries, the cycling group noted. For example, OnSite Energy, Inc. in Bozeman, Montana moved up to a Silver-level, and newly designated BFB Grid United in Houston, Texas achieved Silver-level.
“As a clean energy company, Grid United aspires to keep its carbon footprint as low as possible. Grid United’s support for bicycling helps us to do our part to keep Houston’s air clean,” the company wrote in its application.
The Travelers Companies, Inc., which employs 6,800 people at the Hartford, Connecticut campus, and moved up from Bronze to Silver in this round, cited lowering environmental impact as a motivation, and reported that cycling to work is part of the company’s sustainability and wellness initiatives. The company’s program for employees, the Travelers Employee Cycling Network, restarted its bimonthly ‘Lunch and Learns,’ this year, with sessions dedicated to bicycle commuting basics, Q&As with regular bike commuters, and a tour of the on-site bicycle commuting facilities and amenities.
The City of Fitchburg Civic Campus in Fitchburg, Wisconsin was commended for its support of biking in the local community. Enacting educational programs broadly for the public and providing access to resources that build support for bicycling throughout the region were cited as reasons why the city earned a Gold-level award, its first.
“The City has hosted educational bike tours around Fitchburg over the years, familiarizing residents with initiatives being taken by the City to support local agriculture and protect environmental resources while simultaneously teaching cycling safety and introducing more riders to the local bike network and facilities,” it wrote in its application.
Efforts like those in Fitchburg can create change at a grassroots level, the cycling group noted, “and generate long-term growth by empowering citizens to get invested in their own community.”
The awards, which include five levels – diamond, platinum, gold, silver, and bronze, plus an honorable mention category – are part of the League’s Bicycle Friendly America program, which evaluates communities and universities in addition to businesses, and ranks and creates a report card for each state.
To learn more about the Bicycle Friendly Business program and considerations for the next round of honorees, click here. To view the list of recent honorees and the complete list of all honorees, click here and here.