NEW ORLEANS – Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced New Orleans has been recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Community. The Bicycle Friendly Community award recognizes New Orleans’ commitment to improving conditions for bicycling through investment in bicycling promotion, education programs, infrastructure and pro-bicycling policies. New Orleans joins other Silver Level cities including Austin, Boston, Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.
Before Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans had fewer than 5 miles of designated bikeways. Today, the city now boasts approximately 93.5 miles of completed bikeways, which includes 37 miles of bike lanes, 40 miles of shared lanes, and 16.5 miles of off-street paths. The City will have over 100 miles of bikeways by early 2015.
“Biking is a healthy, safe, and equitable way for residents and visitors to access jobs and recreation. As bicycle ridership increases across New Orleans, we are committed to expanding our bicycle infrastructure.” Mayor Mitch Landrieu said. “Before Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans had fewer than 5 miles of bikeways. We’re on pace to have more than 100 miles by early 2015. I want to thank the League of American Bicyclists for this important designation as New Orleans continues to advance as a bicycle friendly community.”
The Bicycle Friendly Community program allows communities to evaluate their quality of life, sustainability, and transportation networks, while allowing them to benchmark their progress toward improving their bicycle-friendliness.
“Visionary community leaders are recognizing the real-time and long term impact that a culture of bicycling can create,” said Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists. “We applaud this new round of communities for investing in a more sustainable future for the country and a healthier future for their residents and beyond.”
A broad coalition of partners, including the City of New Orleans, the Regional Planning Commission, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, University of New Orleans Transportation Institute, Bike Easy, Ride New Orleans, Louisiana Public Health Institute, Entergy Corporation, Tulane Prevention Research Center, AARP, Fit NOLA and New Orleanians from across the city have worked tirelessly towards the goal of a bicycle friendly New Orleans.
