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Hagerstown Receives National Bicycle-Friendly Recognition
9/14/2011
The City of Hagerstown received national recognition Wednesday for its efforts to continue to make Hagerstown a bicycle-friendly community.
The League of American Bicyclists named Hagerstown an Honorable Mention Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) during its 2011 Fall awards announcements.
“This is great news!” said Mike Mittel, Chairman of the City of Hagerstown’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and owner of Hub City Cycles. “In such a short time the City has mapped out a thorough plan to create an environment that is truly bicycle friendly. It’s really encouraging that initiatives like our bike routes, bike maps and bike racks are already being recognized.”
Hagerstown joins an elite group of communities who have applied for and received BFC awards. The total number of BFCs recognized through the League of American Bicyclists has reached 190 in 46 states.
“We are proud of the roadmap that the Bicycle Friendly Community program provides and how Hagerstown is using it to build a BFC,” said Bill Nesper, Director of the League’s Bicycle Friendly America program. “We are inspired by the tireless efforts of individuals and groups, from everyday cyclists to city leaders to build great communities for bicycling.”
The BFC awards recognize a community’s commitment to improving conditions for bicycling through investment in bicycling promotion, education programs, infrastructure and pro-bicycling policies. The awards are handed out in levels including platinum, gold, silver, bronze, and Honorable Mention. Hagerstown will have the opportunity to reapply next year for a higher designation.
“I think anyone would want the highest designation possible,” said Mittel. “But you also have to look at what’s been accomplished in such a short amount of time. I’ve read it about so many cities who are working on similar initiatives, and yet it seems to take those places such a long time. This recognition says a lot about the City’s desire to be efficiently progressive with bicycle initiatives.”
“We have been so grateful for the work and dedication of our Bicycle Advisory Committee,” said Rodney Tissue, City Engineer. “They are pushing forward with a vision that is putting Hagerstown on the map for the cycling community nationwide, and together we are taking steps to make that vision a reality.”
Hagerstown’s Bicycle Advisory Committee (HBAC) was created last June and the group has worked actively alongside City staff to put new initiatives into effect, including the creation of the “Take a Bike Ride in Hagerstown” map. Since 2009, four and half miles of bike lanes have been created throughout the City and the HBAC has new projects in the works.
“We’re trying to get local businesses involved with our bicycle friendly efforts,” said Mittel. “Whether it’s incentives for employees or customers to bike to their businesses, we believe that it’s the next step in continuing to educate the City of Hagerstown about the benefits of being a bicycle-friendly community.”
For more information on the City of Hagerstown’s Master Bike Plan and the City’s Bike Map visit http://hagerstownmd.org/Engineering/BikePlan.asp. You may also pick up hard copies of the City’s Bike Map at City Hall or at the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
To apply or learn more about the free BFC program, visit the League online at bikeleague.org/community.
