Dana Johnston

Community Affairs Officer

302-366-7020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 19, 2014

City of Newark Designation as Bicycle Friendly Community Renewed

    Newark, DE (May 19, 2014) - The League of American Bicyclists announced that the City of Newark's designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) has been renewed through 2018. The award is presented only to communities with remarkable commitments to bicycling. Newark applied for the designation twice before - in 2003 receiving honorable mention and in 2010 receiving the Bronze-level designation. This year, Newark again received designation as a BFC at the Bronze level, recognizing the City's commitment to improving conditions for bicycling through investment in bicycling promotion, education programs, infrastructure and pro-bicycling policies.

    The City underwent an audit of engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, and evaluation efforts in regard to bicycling in the community. This comprehensive and extensive inquiry is designed to yield a holistic picture of Newark's work to promote bicycling. Early feedback from the League indicates that Newark "was very close to a Silver designation" based on our accomplishments during the past four years. Highlights include completion of the Pomeroy Trail and sharrow bicycle markings on Main Street by the City, and South Main Street bicycle lanes by DelDOT. Looking beyond Newark's infrastructure, a strengthened bicycle-parking ordinance, the creation and success of the Newark Bike Project, self-repair stations on the University of Delaware's campus, and extensive programs by White Clay Bicycle Club and Delaware Trail Spinners all promote the culture of bicycling the League seeks to honor.

    "This round of applications overwhelmingly confirms what we heard from local elected officials at the National Bike Summit this year-riding a bike embodies the quality-of-life aspirations of communities across the country," said League President Andy Clarke. "Making this healthy and active transportation mode safe and easy is of growing importance to the 8 million residents of New York City and the 6,000 people in Franklin, Pa., alike. We're excited that Newark has made the smart and vital investments to become a designated Bicycle Friendly Community."

    "There are some great people and organizations pushing to make Newark a world-class bicycle-friendly community in an increasingly competitive environment," said Mayor Polly Sierer at Newark's Bike to Work Day event on Monday, May 19. "The City's adoption of the 2014 Newark Bicycle Plan this past February maps the future of bicycling in Newark and is key to making bicycling better for a competitive, livable community."

    Newark City Manager Carol Houck said, "An amazing network of organizations and grass root efforts working together on a common goal has set Newark apart from other communities and allowed us to advance to a bicycle friendly city with great opportunities for bicyclists of all kinds."

    The BFC program provides a roadmap to building a Bicycle Friendly Community, and the application itself has become a rigorous and an educational tool in itself. Since its inception, more than 769 distinct communities have applied for the five levels of the award - diamond, platinum, gold, silver, and bronze. With this impressive round, there are now 303 BFCs in 48 states across America.

    In the next few weeks, the City will receive feedback from the League of American Bicyclists on what it can do to make Newark more bicycle friendly as well as BFC road signs for posting throughout the City. The City's designation is due for renewal in February 2018; however, the League has encouraged reapplication in a couple years since the City was so close to a silver level designation.

    To learn more about activities underway in Newark to improve bicycling or get involved in the Newark Bicycle Committee, visit www.wilmapco.org/BikeNewark.

The League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. The League represents the interests of America's 57 million bicyclists, including its 300,000 members and affiliates. For more information, visit www.bikeleague.org.

Newark Mayor Polly Sierer, Newark Bike Committee Member Heather Dunigan, and Newark Development Supervisor and Bicycle Committee Member Michael Fortner

Newark Bike to Work Day Celebration

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