Washington, D.C. – As bicycling continues to grow in popularity, leaders in cities across the country, like Warsaw and Winona Lake, are embracing the environmental, financial and quality of life benefits that come with a population that likes to ride.

Today, the League of American Bicyclists announced the latest round of Bicycle Friendly Communities and Warsaw and Winona Lake have been named a joint bronze level BFC.

“We are inspired when we see places like Warsaw and Winona Lake making bicycling safer and more convenient,” said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. “We know that investment will be returned many times over in the health, environmental, transportation and quality of life benefits of a thriving, attractive community.”

The BFC program is transforming the way communities evaluate their quality of life, sustainability and transportation networks, while allowing them to benchmark their progress toward improving their bicycle-friendliness. With this impressive round, there are now 259 BFCs in 47 states across America. The bronze BFC award recognizes Warsaw and Winona Lake’s commitment to improving conditions for bicycling through investment in bicycling promotion, education programs, infrastructure and pro-bicycling policies.

“This is a great acknowledgement of the progress we’ve made and the momentum that exists in our community. With the Bike/Walk Master Plan complete and projects such as the Krebs Trailhead Park and Winona Avenue underway, there is a clear vision of where we can go from here if we embrace the opportunities we have,” said Warsaw Mayor Dr. Joe Thallemer.

“It is increasingly obvious that bicycle pedestrian assets not only contribute to the quality of life for our residents, they are a magnet for visitors and an attraction for those who are considering a move to our community,” added Thallemer. “Now that we’ve achieved this distinction, we need to continue to push for greater progress by implementing more elements of our Master Plan.”

The BFC program provides a roadmap to building a Bicycle Friendly Community and the application itself has become a rigorous and educational tool. Since its inception, more then 500 distinct communities have applied and the five levels of the award – diamond, platinum, gold, silver and bronze – provide a clear incentive for communities to continuously improve.

About the Bicycle Friendly America Program
The Bicycle Friendly Community, Bicycle Friendly State, Bicycle Friendly Business and Bicycle Friendly University programs are generously supported by program partner Trek Bicycle. To learn more about building a Bicycle Friendly America, visit bikeleague.org.

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 or to support the League, visit bikeleague.org.