League of American Bicyclists declares City of Sonoma "Bicycle Friendly" - Bronze Level

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 26, 2009

Contacts:
Meghan Cahill, League of American Bicyclists, 202.822.1333, meghan@bikeleague.org
Wendy Atkins, City of Sonoma, 707.933.2204, WendyA@Sonomacity.org
Sandra Lupien, Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, 707.694.8702, Sandra@BikeSonoma.org

The League of American Bicyclists Announces the City of Sonoma as a Fall 2009 Bicycle Friendly Community
Public Welcome at November 5th Award Ceremony

Washington, DC - October 20, 2009 – The League of American Bicyclists is proud to announce the City of Sonoma as one of our prestigious bronze-level Fall 2009 Bicycle Friendly Communities. “The League is proud to award the City of Sonoma for its work to promote bicycle safety and education while encouraging bicycling in their community,” said League President Andy Clarke. “The League congratulates the City of Sonoma and all of our BFC winners for implementing successful, long-term bicycle plans that provide quality of life improvements for their citizens.” The League is recognizing 15 new Bicycle Friendly Communities and three BFC renewals in its fall 2009 award cycle.

The BFC award recognizes the City of Sonoma’s commitment to improving conditions for bicycling and its practice of making focused investment in bicycling programs and facilities. The BFC judges were particularly impressed with the City of Sonoma’s dedication to implement its Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan that the City Council adopted in October 2008. Clarke noted the impressive advances of all BFC applicants and said, “This round of applications had more communities in the east and Midwest than ever before that are investing wisely in bicycling – all areas of the U.S. are realizing the importance of bicycling.”

An awards ceremony for the City of Sonoma will take place at the Grinstead Amphitheatre located in the Plaza on Thursday, November 5th at 4 p.m. The City of Sonoma and the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition will host a ceremony to celebrate the Bicycle Friendly designation. The public is invited to attend and is encourage to bicycle to the event.

The City of Sonoma is a stand-out community in California for its initiative and progress to become more bicycle-friendly. The BFC’s reviewers were impressed with the City’s strong community support for bicycling and the fact that eighteen of the City’s thirty-six proposed bikeways and project priorities identified in the Sonoma Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan are currently in the process of being installed.

The award comes just one year after, at the first annual Sonoma/Springs Bicycle Festival in Depot Park when former Mayor Joanne Sanders and Mayor Brown both committed to applying for the award.

“The staff of the City of Sonoma worked diligently to acquire this wonderful award,” says the City’s Mayor, Ken Brown. “This further proves that the City of Sonoma is truly committed to creating a bicycle friendly community in Sonoma.”

“Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition commends the City of Sonoma for its commitment to creating better facilities for bike riders,” says the organization’s Executive Director, Christine Culver. “As the first City in the County to receive the League’s certification under its new criteria, Sonoma is leading the way. We’re thrilled that the City’s leadership wants to continue working toward a platinum certification.”

PRESS RELEASE
October 26, 2009