The League of American Bicyclists has honored Portland, Ore. with a platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) designation. Portland is the first large city in the U.S. to gain the designation and joins Davis, Calif., as the only other platinum BFC in the country. More than 200 communities have applied for BFC recognition since 2003. Of those, 84 currently have a bronze or higher designation (levels include bronze, silver, gold and platinum).
Portland was awarded gold status in 2003 and has been working ever since to reach platinum. In ranking cities, the League of American Bicyclists looks for communities that “are realizing the potential of bicycling to address the challenges of climate change, traffic congestion, rising obesity rates, and soaring fuel prices.”
Since the 2000 Census, Portland has increased bicycle ridership by 144 percent. Portland’s bikeway network includes 270 miles of on-street bike lanes, bike boulevards and paved trails. An additional 40 miles of unpaved trails offer mountain biking opportunities in city parks.
League of American Bicyclists
www.bikeleague.org
