League Announces Spring 2013 Bicycle Friendly Communities
Gilbert’s bronze status was renewed; Glendale garners an honorable mention on their application.
Arizona communities currently enjoying BFC status are
- Gold — Tucson/East Pima Region, Scottsdale
- Silver — Tempe, and Flagstaff
- Bronze — Chandler, Cottenwood, Gilbert, Mesa and Sedona
Read the LAB press release here. (dead link)
Arizona is 4th Highest
Arizona has the fourth highest percentage of population living in bicycle-friendly communities, the top 5 are
- Alaska – 46%
- New York – 42%
- Nebraska – 38%
- Arizona – 36%
- California – 35%
(there was a typo/miscacluation in the list originally published in the March-April 2013 issue of American Bicyclist magazine. The LAB will correct)
Would be interested in the standards for your classification of “bicycle-friendly communities.” I’m a newbie here (1 year), have been cycling for 15 years, including a self-contained cross-continent bicycle trip. NEVER have I been openly threatened by motorists like I have been in the last year of living in North Scottsdale.
Two factors stand out in my mind and experience here:
1. Open and blatant ignoring of traffic laws, signs and signals by motorists who clearly consider their rights superior to those on bicycles; and
2. The almost-complete absence of any enforcement efforts by the police.
How can Scottsdale have the chutzpah to post signs claiming its bicycle-friendly status? More importantly, how can the Coalition give a “Gold” pat on the back to such cities and communities?