The city of Warsaw and town of Winona Lake have re-applied to the League of American Bicyclists for consideration to receive a Bicycle Friendly Community designation. A joint application was submitted for the two communities.

An application was previously submitted in 2012, but a designation was not awarded. Since that time, many improvements have been made, including completion of a bicycle and pedestrian master plan, new bike lane and sharrow infrastructure, a planned trailhead park project, additional bicycle parking, bicycling safety classes and more.

The Bicycle Friendly Community program recognizes communities that actively support bicycling through infrastructure, education, encouragement, enforcement and planning.

According to the League of American Bicyclists: “Bicycle Friendly Communities are places with a high quality of life, where people want to live, work, and visit. Building such a community can translate into a more connected, physically active, and environmentally sustainable community that enjoys increased property values, business growth, increased tourism, and more transportation choices for citizens.”

Designations are awarded for four years at a time at different levels, including bronze, silver, gold, platinum and diamond. Results are typically received within a few months of applying.

For more information on the Bicycle Friendly Community application, or on the Ride+Walk Warsaw+Winona Lake efforts, contact Staci Young at (574) 372-9554 ext. 224 or by email at [email protected].