Resources | League of American Bicyclists

Resources | League of American Bicyclists
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Bicycle Friendly America
Community
Resources
Resources
BFC Application Resources
Expand
Log in to access the online BFC application here
Review the BFC Program FAQs here
View the 2026 BFC Application Preview Document in Google Docs here.
(For informational purposes only -- applicants may copy Google Doc to work on with collaborators, but applications must be submitted through
the online form
Find local League Cycling Instructors, League-affiliated clubs, bike shops, and organizations
Existing awardees: Find your current award level and BFC Report Card on the
BFA Awards Map
Guide to the (2021 and older) Bicycle Friendly Community Report Card
Bicycle Account Guidelines
- This guideline document is meant to help communities, businesses, and universities learn about evaluation tools that they can adapt to their organization to measure bicycle-related improvements, including public surveys.
BFA Brochure
- The BFA Brochure provides a high-level overview of the Bicycle Friendly America programs and the impact they have had. It is an ideal primer for the community, business, or university considering participating in a Bicycle Friendly America program.
View the Action Plan
for Bicycle Friendly Communities charter and download the editable Word document
here
General Information
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Guide for using policy to build Bicycle Friendly Communities
IBPI's
Guide to Creating Walkable and Bikeable Communities
FHWA Works: How the Federal Highway Administration Makes Walking and Bicycling Safer
(Video)
Information on the
Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act
USDOT Secretary Anthony Foxx's
Action Plan on Bike and Pedestrian Safety
USDOT's
Safer People, Safer Streets - Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Initiative
FHWA's
memorandum
to support taking a flexible approach to pedestrian and bicycle facility design. The memorandum recognizes the AASHTO Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities, AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, ITE Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares document, and the NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide as resources to inform the design of safe, comfortable, and context-sensitive pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
FHWA report:
Bicycle and Pedestrian Funding, Design and Environmental Review: Addressing Common Misconceptions
Supporting Research and Case Studies
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General Information
Infographic on
American's Support for Funding Sidewalks and Bike Lanes
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Report:
Active Transportation Transforms America. The Case for Increased Public Investment in Walking and Biking Connectivity
European Cycling Lexicon for bicycling terms in 27 languages
Economic Benefits of Bicycling
2021 League Report:
Bicycling Benefits Businesses
Blog
Economic and Health Benefits of Bicycling Northwest Arkansas
2018 Report by BBC Research & Consulting)
A collection of studies and other resources on the economic benefits of bicycling
Economic Impacts of Bicycling in the US (
report
Smart Growth America's report:
Safer Streets, Stronger Economies
Protected Bike Lanes Mean Business
A study on the
Economic Value of Active Transportation
A study of the
economic impact on local business
when adding bike lanes to a commercial area
A study of
business and user perceptions of bike sharing
in Washington DC
NYDOT:
The Economic Benefits of Sustainable Streets
Portland/OR Bicycling Economic Impact Studies:
Bicycling for recreation contributed $1.5 billion to Oregon's economy in 2019
and
Portland State Study Finds Bike Lanes Provide Positive Economic Impact
Virginia Creeper Trail Economic Impact Case Study
FHWA's
White Paper: Evaluating the Economic Benefits of Nonmotorized Transportation
Health Benefits of Bicycling
Research Article:
Evidence on Why Bicycle-Friendly Cities Are Safer for All Road Users
The health risks and benefits of cycling in urban environments compared with car use:
health impact assessment study
In the Northeast, Improved Walking and Bicycling Infrastructure Could Save Hundreds of Lives, Billions of Dollars
Case Studies and BFC Spotlights
Bicycle Friendly Community Ideabook
Rural & Small Town BFCs: an interactive map of rural case studies and spotlights
Michigan DOT's
Grand Rapid's Case Study - Community and Economic Benefits of Bicycling
Improving Conditions for Bicycling and Walking
- A best practices report listing outstanding projects that communities have undertaken
10 lessons from the world's great biking cities
Bloomington, IN, Platinum Bicycle Task Force Final Report:
Breaking Away: Journey to Platinum
Technical Assistance Success Stories
Bismarck, North Dakota, Hosts Bicycle Friendly Community Workshop
How Cheyenne’s Bronze BFC Award Started with One Local Champion
Working Together to Make East Lansing More Bicycle-Friendly
Nashville Advances Mobility with Data-Driven Insights
Ridgeland, Mississippi: Pedaling Toward Prosperity and Wellness
Cost and Funding Options
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Costs
Building a new roadway for motor vehicles can cost millions of dollars to construct, and many of the pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure facilities are extremely low-cost in comparison. Use
this database
and this
resource document
to review up-to-date estimates of infrastructure costs of pedestrian and bicycle treatments from states and cities across the country.
General Resources
Advocacy Advance report:
How Communities are Paying for Innovative On-street Bicycle Infrastructure
Advocacy Advance report:
How Communities are Paying to Maintain Trails, Bike Lanes, and Sidewalks
Federal Funding
Since 1992 bicycle and pedestrian projects have been eligible for federal transportation funding. To learn more about what federal funds are available for bicycle projects,
FHWA provides a table of eligible funding programs
by bike/ped project type
FTA Program & Bicycle Related Funding Opportunities
State Funding
Biking and walking dollars aren't only available from the federal government. States can also have their own revenue sources that can be used to fund active transportation. Use
this report
to explore your state’s funding sources for bicycle and pedestrian improvements.
Local Funding
Local governments can also create their own revenue streams to improve conditions for bicycling and walking. Three common approaches include: special bond issues, dedications of a portion of local sales taxes or a voter-approved sales tax increase, and use of the annual capital improvement budgets of Public Works and/or Parks agencies. Bicycle facility improvements can also be tagged onto larger projects to create economies of scale that result in reduced costs and reduced impacts on traffic, businesses, and residents. For example, if there is an existing road project, it is usually cheaper to add bike lanes and sidewalks to the project than to construct them separately. To learn more about public funding of bicycle infrastructure improvements, visit
Resources and Support
Our page of resources for Advocates
offers several tools, resources, and workshops to help advocates and agency staff maximize eligible funding programs.
Engineering Resources
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Rapid Response & Implementation
NACTO's COVID-19: Transportation Response Center
Equitable Infrastructure
BUILDING EQUITY: Race, ethnicity, class, and protected bike lanes: An idea book for fairer cities
Equity of Access to Bicycle Infrastructure: GIS methods for investigating the equity of access to bike infrastructure
Complete Streets and Routine Accommodation
Complete Streets
resources, reports & guidance
from Smart Growth America
Pedestrian & Bicycle Information Center
Complete Streets Resources
American Planning Association report on Complete Streets
Best Policy and Implementation Practice
Smart Growth America's
Best Complete Streets Policies of 2018
Complete Streets in
Rural Contexts
Cambridge, MA
Cycling Safety Ordinance
Bicycle Facility and Streetscaping Design Standards
Design Resource Index
- Identifies the specific location of information in key national design manuals for various pedestrian and bicycle design treatments
AASHTO
Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, 5th Edition
MUTCD
Traffic Controls for Bicycle Facilities
(Also see FWHA's
Bicycle Facilities and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices webpage
FHWA
Bikeway Selection Guide
Pedestrian & Bicyclist Safety Information Search Tool
NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide
NACTO Urban Street Design Guide
NACTO Designing for All Ages & Abilities
Model Design Manual for Living Streets
FHWA
Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning, Program, and Project Development
FHWA Small Town and Rural Design Guide: Facilities for Biking and Walking
Kittelson & Associates:
NCHRP Research Report: Guide for Roundabouts
Washington County
Bicycle Facility Design Toolkit
Scottsdale, AZ
Road Streetscapes Design Guidelines
Network Connectivity
Guidebook for Measuring Multimodal Network Connectivity
, find PDF
here
Measuring Multimodal Network Connectivity Pilot Grant Program Final Report
, find PDF
here
FHWA reports on bicycle networks:
Delivering Safe, Comfortable, and Connected Pedestrian and Bicycle Networks - A Review of International Practices
and
Case Studies in Delivering Safe, Comfortable, and Connected Pedestrian and Bicycle Networks
Target/Low Design Speed
NACTO
City Limits: Setting Safe Speed Limits on Urban Streets
FHWA:
Speed Limit Setting Handbook
FHWA:
Self-Enforcing Roadways: A Guidance Report
NACTO on
design speed
and
speed reduction measures
WHO's
Speed Management Road Safety Manual for Decision-makers and Practicioners
Blog:
Slowing Traffic to a Target Speed: How to make our Streets Safer
World Resources Institute:
Low-Speed Zone Guide
Philadelphia Automated Speed Enforcement Pilot Program - 2021 Annual Report
Training for Bicycle Program Coordinators, Engineers and Planners
Training opportunities related to trails and greenways
Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
National Highway Institute
Pro Walk Pro Bike Conference
(held every 2 years)
Liability
National Cooperative Highway Research Program’s Liability Aspects of Bikeway
Bicycle Parking
APBP Bike Parking Guidelines
A review of bike parking considerations and costs
Guidelines for Artistic Bicycle Rack
Model bicycle parking ordinance
Dero's Bike Parking Guide
Making a Place for Bicycles
fact sheet
Portland, OR
bike parking ordinance
(starting page 266-22) and
bike parking design and placement guidelines
Mobility Lab's
10 Rules for Construction of Good Bicycle Parking
League Webinar: Two Hours Or More, Long term Bike Parking For Sure
End of Trip Facilities
Guidelines by the European Union on Bicycle Maintenance and Repair Facilities
Bike Sharing Programs
Bike Share in the United States (NACTO)
North American Bikeshare Association
Resources Overview
and
Advocacy Toolkit
Better Bikeshare Partnership
Engaging Youth in Urban Biking and Bike Share Toolkit
from the
Better Bikeshare Partnership
Bikes and Transit
First Mile, Last Mile: How Federal Transit Funds can improve access to public transit for people who walk and bike
FTA
Manual on Pedestrian and Bicycle Connections to Transit
Connected Multimodal Networks
Information from the FHWA regarding bicycles connection to transit
On-Street Bike Facilities and Treatments
FHA Bicycle Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System
FHWA's guide to signing, striping and marking bike lanes on streets
DOT FHWA's
Road Diet Informational Guide
DOT FHWA's
Separated Bike Lane Planning and Design Guide
Study: Evaluating the Safety Effects of Bicycle Lanes in New York City
Study of Contra-Flow Bike Lanes in Cambridge, MA
Bicycle Boulevard Planning & Design Guidebook
Barre-Montpelier Road Diet video
Off-Road Trails and Other Recreational Facilities
The Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program
The Rails to Trails Conservancy’s Trail Building Toolkit
Trailbuilding Resources
Philadelphia - Wissahickon Trail
San Francisco-
Mt Sutro Open Space
Tucson- Fantasy Island at Saguaro National Park
NYC - Highbridge Bike Park
Seattle - Colonnade Mountain Bike Skills Park
Boulder -
Valmont Bike Park
Bicycle Facility Maintenance
FHWA's
Guide for Maintaining Pedestrian Facilities for Enhanced Safety
Iowa DOT's statewide network and trail maintenance recommendations
Seattle Spot improvement program
How Communities are Paying to Maintain Trails, Bike Lanes, and Sidewalks
Winter Bike Lane Maintenance
Pedestrian and Bicycle Facility Maintenance Program in San Francisco County
Land Use and Urban Form
Building in Healthy Infill
Planetizen's
DIY Form-Based Code: An Introduction
(28 min video, free)
Understanding Smart Growth Savings - Evaluating Economic Savings and Benefits of Compact Development, and How They Are Misrepresented By Critics
Attracting Infill Development in Distressed Communities - 30 strategies to help local governments overcome obstacles and encourage infill development in distressed communities
Resources for Rural Communities
FHWA Small Town and Rural Design Guide: Facilities for Biking and Walking
Complete Streets in
Rural Contexts
Rural Transportation.org
National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Rural Bicycle & Pedestrian Resources
NADO
Rural and Small Urban Bicycle and Pedestrian Initiatives (2014-2020)
NADO
Rural Transportation Technical Assistance Reports
(March 2019)
Education Resources
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ADULT CYCLIST AND MOTORIST EDUCATION
The League's
Bicycle Friendly Driver Program
The League’s
Smart Cycling Tips and Presentations
The League's
Smart Cycling Quick Guide
Ticket diversion: Bicyclist traffic education and enforcement programs in Arizona
Share the Road public service announcements
OCTA's humorous
Bike Smart, Bike Safe - 3 Feet for Safety Act PSA video
Bicycle Education en
(the option to switch to Spanish is in the upper right-hand corner of the page)
League Cycling Instructor seminar
Marin County Bicycle Coalition’s
Share the Road
and
Share the Path
Campaigns
Florida's Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow Education Campaigns
Using rewards,
This App Saves Lives
is out to make roads safer for cyclists and distracted driving a habit of the past. Students and employees at BFUs can find TASL in the iOS App Store or go to this link:
apple.co/3kQAISu
to download directly. Use referral ID ”LEAGUEBFU” at sign-up.
PROFESSIONAL DRIVER EDUCATION
San Francisco Bicycle Coalition's
Frequent Driver Training
CHILDREN AND YOUTH CYCLING EDUCATION
Project Bike Tech: in-school STEAM and CTE education for High Schools
Recommendations for Safe Routes to School Programming
Safe Routes to School Guide
Bike Texas'
SafeCyclist Curriculum and Certification
designed for fourth and fifth grade
FHWA's
Bicycle Safer Journey
Youth bike clubs – After-school Bike Education
Bike Rodeo Manual
Kidical Mass DC's
ABC of Family Biking class
Community Cycling Center and Summer recreation programs
Sheriff’s
Safety Town
in Shreveport, LA
High School NORCAL Bike League
BIKE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
Chicago program
Philadelphia program
Fort Collins Program
Washington, DC Program
Encouragement Resources
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Bike Month, Bike to Work Day and Bike to School Day
Guides and materials
for Bike Month and Bike to Work Day
Bike to School Day
Bike Commuting
An
Employer Guide
to Bike Commuting
Create-a-Commuter program
at the Community Cycling Center in Portland, OR
Bike Challenges
Drive Less, Bike More
Active Transportation Alliance’s
Bike Commuter Challenge
Women Biking Resources
Report: Engaging More Women in Bicycling
Women Bike Grants and Toolkits
Women Bike Webinars and Webcasts
How to Host a Women's Bicycling Forum
The Atlantic article:
There's a Biking Gender Gap. And It Has A Real Economic Impact.
Black Girls Do Bike
Youth Engagement & Family Biking
Trips for Kids
Family Biking Guide
(in English, Spanish and Chinese) by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
Portland's Family Biking Guide
Kids and Bicycling
Resource example for Maine
Kidical Mass DC
Kidical Mass Chicago
Kidical Mass Portland
Family Biking Ages and Stages
Gear Guide
Child Seat Reviews
Discover Traffic Gardens
Using Safe Routes to School to Combat the Threat of Violence
Events
Washington Area Bicyclist Association’s
Community Bike Events
Implementation & Advocacy Manual
for Summer Streets/Ciclovia/Sunday Parkways (in Spanish)
Open Streets Event Toolkit
Bike Events in Portland, OR
Other Encouragement Groups, Activities, Services, etc.
The League’s
guide
on how to start a bike club or advocacy organization
League of Michigan Bicyclists
guide
on how to start a bike club
Friends of the Trail Groups
National Mountain Bike Patrol
Bicycle Co-ops
An example of
the benefits of a community bike shop
Find
specialty bicycle retailers
Recycle-a-Bicycle program
Bucks for Bikes program
Local Trips for Kids chapters
Black Girls Do Bike
Maps
The top online bike route mapping
websites
Pittsburgh’s award-winning
bike commuter map
Aspen & Pitkin County
trails map
Colorado's
interactive trail map
Evaluation & Planning Resources
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Evaluating and Prioritizing
NCHRP's
Pedestrian and Bicycle Transportation Along Existing Roads - ActiveTrans Priority Tool Guidebook
League of Illinois Bicyclists'
Bicycle Level of Service Calculator
OTREC Report:
Improving Regional Travel Demand Models for Bicycling
Mineta Transportation Institute
Research Report
on Low-Stress Bicycling and Network Connectivity
Use the
bikeability checklist
for evaluating the bikeability of a community
Staffing
Your Guide to forming a Bicycle Advisory Committee
by MassBike
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee best practices
Find your
state bicycle coordinator
Association of Bicycle and Pedestrian Professionals
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Recruitment, Hiring and Retention
from the
Urban Sustainability Directors Network
Surveys & Bike Counts
Advancing Transportation Equity through Inclusive Travel Survey Data Methods
(Portland State University
TREC
National Bicycle & Pedestrian Documentation Project (NBPD)
See the
Final Report from the BPAC of Alexandria, VA
, for an example of how the NBPD project is used to benefit a community
Bike Count Resources
from
Eco-Counter
Eco-Counter COVID-19 Dashboard: Understand the impact of the pandemic on cycling
Automatic bicycle counters in Arlington, VA
Strava Metro for Cities
Bike Counts & Data Collection Webinars
How to Make Your Bike Data Count
(July 20, 2021) -
Download Slides
Doing More with Bike Data
(October 28, 2020)
Collecting and Applying Bike Data: Current and Future Trends
(September 25, 2019)
Safety
FHWA's
BIKESAFE: Bicycle Countermeasure Selection System
Bicycle crashes and safety facts
New York's
Vision Zero campaign
and Transportation Alternatives'
analysis
STI's
Vision Zero: Adopting a Target of Zero for Road Traffic Fatalities and Serious Injuries
Seattle's
Vision Zero plan
Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool (PBCAT)
Intersection Magic – Crash Records Analysis
Synthesis of Methods for Estimating Pedestrian and Bicyclist Exposure to Risk at Areawide Levels and on Specific Transportation Facilities
Researchers Examine Race Factor In Car Crashes Involving Pedestrians
2020 St. Louis City Crash Report
Bicycle Master Planning and Implementation
Seattle, WA's
Neighborhood Planning Outreach and Engagement Program
to engage residents in ethnically diverse and historically underrepresented neighborhoods
Video produced by Arkansas State University explaining the bike planning process
A case study on Houten, Netherlands for the
design of a bike-centered suburb
Transportation Demand Management Ordinances and Strategies
Trip reduction ordinance database
EPA resource on
Estimating Emission Reductions from Travel Efficiency Strategies
7 Best Practices in Transportation Demand Management
An analysis of Portland's Smart Trips Welcome Program
Comparison of Arlington, VA's and Washington, DC's Transportation Demand Management programs
FHWA report:
Developing a Regional Approach to Transportation Demand Management and Nonmotorized Transportation: Best Practice Case Studies
Public Outreach
Principles For Equitable Public Outreach & Engagement During Covid-19 and Beyond
Equity in Planning
Portland State University's Bicycle Master Plan Equity Report
Planning While Black: A Powerful Call for Racial Equity
by Tamika Butler
Advancing Transportation Equity through Inclusive Travel Survey Data Methods
(Portland State University
TREC
Sharing the Benefits of a Greening City
Inclusionary Trail Planning Toolkit
Oregon Metro's
Strategic plan to advance racial equity, diversity and inclusion
Oregon Metro's Equity Baseline Report 2015
Equity & Accessibility Resources
Expand
Equity & Racial Justice Resources for Bike Advocates and BFCs
League of American Bicyclists Equity Reports and Resources
Race Forward Racial Justice Trainings
Book (for charge):
Bicycle/Race. Transportation, Culture, & Resistance
by Dr. Adonia Lugo
Fighting For Equitable Transportation: Why It Matters
Toole Design Group: The New E's of Transportation
Bridging the Divide: A Transportation Plan for the 21st Century
Reconnecting to the New Majority
: Webinar on the 2021 Report by the Bike League "to update our understanding of demographic trends in bicycling, identify areas of focus to ensure that all people — particularly Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color (BIPOC) — have access to safe bicycling, and further progress actions that promote equity in bicycling."
Principles For Equitable Public Outreach & Engagement During Covid-19 and Beyond
Resources from the Transportation Equity Caucus
Active Transportation and Equity: Key Challenges and Opportunities from the Field
Tamika Butler Consulting & Training Services
List:
Recommended Reading About Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Resources from The Untokening
The Untokening: Mobility Justice and COVID-19
The Untokening: Equity and Mobility Justice
Equiticity Racial Equity Statement of Principle
Attention Transportation Advocates: Race is a Part of the Work
Bicycling Magazine: Why we Must Talk About Race
Grist: "Biking While Black" is a thing, too
Anti-Racist Resources for White Cyclists
Bicycling/Transportation Equity Research & Reports
An Examination of Active Commuting by Race/Ethnicity, Income and Location
ite journal Report: Fear:
A Silent Barrier to Bicycling in Black and Hispanic Communities
Making Bicycling Equitable: Lessons from Sociocultural Research
Disparities in Bicycle Commuting: Could Bike Lane Investment Widen the Gap?
“Are We Building Biking Solidarity:” Gendered, Racial, and Spatial Barriers to Bicycling in Portland, Oregon
Sustainable Cycling For All? Race and Gender-Based Bicycling Inequalities in Portland, Oregon: Sustainable Cycling For All
Equitable Infrastructure
BUILDING EQUITY: Race, ethnicity, class, and protected bike lanes: An idea book for fairer cities
Equity of Access to Bicycle Infrastructure: GIS methods for investigating the equity of access to bike infrastructure
Biking practices and preferences in a lower income, primarily minority neighborhood: Learning what residents want
Not all crashes are created equal: Associations between the built environment and disparities in bicycle collisions
Women and Biking: A Case Study on the Use of San Francisco Bike Lanes
Accessible Infrastructure
Accessible Design for the Blind
Wheels for Wellbeing
Guide to Inclusive Cycling
Walk San Francisco:
Getting to the Curb
Video from
Rooted in Rights
, supported by NACTO:
Disabled People Ride Bikes (and Trikes, and Tandems and Recumbents)!
Anti-Displacement & Gentrification Strategies
Bike facilities often follow income gains, not the other way around
Sharing the Benefits of a Greening City
Inclusionary Trail Planning Toolkit
Portland, Oregon Parks and Nature Racial Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Action Plan
Data-Smart City Solutions: Where is Gentrification Happening in Your City?
LISC Community Benefits Agreements Toolkit
Community Benefits Agreements Law Center
Bike Share Access & Equity
Better Bikeshare Partnership
Breaking Barriers to Bike Share: Insights on Equity
Equitable bike share systems: Removing barriers to access
Engaging Youth in Urban Biking and Bike Share Toolkit
Who is Biking for? Urban Bikeshare Networks’ Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Disparities in Bikeshare Access, and a Way Forward
6 Ways to Correct Bike Share’s Social Equity Problem
Equity & Accountability in Enforcement
Center for Policing Equity: a national nonprofit organization eliminating bias in policing by measuring it
Create Fair and Effective Policing Practices
from
The Opportunity Agenda: Transforming the System
A Toolkit for Promoting Justice in Policing
from
PolicyLink
and
The Center for Popular Democracy
Vera Institute of Justice: Ending Police Violence and Ensuring Accountability
Campaign Zero: Police Use of Force Policy Analysis
Changelab Solutions: Equitable Enforcement to Achieve Health Equity
The Movement for Black Lives (M4BL): Defund the Police Resources and Messaging Guidance
Black Cyclists Are Stopped More Often Than Whites, Police Data Shows
In Chicago, cyclists in Black neighborhoods are over-policed and under-protected
Technical report on bicycle infractions in Seattle (2003-2020): Methodology and preliminary findings on racial disparities
ProPublica: Chicago’s “Race-Neutral” Traffic Cameras Ticket Black and Latino Drivers the Most
Equity in Staffing & Hiring
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Recruitment, Hiring and Retention
from the
Urban Sustainability Directors Network
Equity in Evaluation & Planning
Portland State University's Bicycle Master Plan Equity Report
Planning While Black: A Powerful Call for Racial Equity
by Tamika Butler
Advancing Transportation Equity through Inclusive Travel Survey Data Methods
(Portland State University
TREC
Minneapolis Bike Equity Report. A Tool for Reviewing the Minneapolis Master Bicycle Plan with a Health Equity Lens
Pursuing Equity in Pedestrian and Bicycle Planning
Inclusive and Accessible Bike Education
European Cycling Lexicon for bicycling terms in 27 languages
Enforcement & Safety Resources
Expand
Read our full statement:
Removing Enforcement from the '5 E' Framework
as well as our
FAQs and additional Resources about this change
As of October 5, 2020, the League has officially and permanently removed ‘Enforcement’ as one of the pillars of the Bicycle Friendly America program’s ‘5 E’ framework.
As applicants and advocates consider how to apply these changes in their own community, we invite participants to consider these resources on equitable solutions and alternatives to enforcement:
Center for Policing Equity: a national nonprofit organization eliminating bias in policing by measuring it
Create Fair and Effective Policing Practices
from
The Opportunity Agenda: Transforming the System
A Toolkit for Promoting Justice in Policing
from
PolicyLink
and
The Center for Popular Democracy
Vera Institute of Justice: Ending Police Violence and Ensuring Accountability
Campaign Zero: Police Use of Force Policy Analysis
Our Streets Minneapolis: Why we don't Support Traffic Enforcement
Transportation Alternatives: The Case for Self-Enforcing Streets
Changelab Solutions: Equitable Enforcement to Achieve Health Equity
Read how other national organizations are making similar changes:
Safe Routes to School National Partnership: Dropping Enforcement from the Safe Routes to School 6 E’s Framework
Vision Zero Network: Active for Racial Justice & Just Mobility More Resources for Bicycle Friendly Communities
Equity & Accountability in Enforcement
Center for Policing Equity: a national nonprofit organization eliminating bias in policing by measuring it
Create Fair and Effective Policing Practices
from
The Opportunity Agenda: Transforming the System
A Toolkit for Promoting Justice in Policing
from
PolicyLink
and
The Center for Popular Democracy
Vera Institute of Justice: Ending Police Violence and Ensuring Accountability
Campaign Zero: Police Use of Force Policy Analysis
Changelab Solutions: Equitable Enforcement to Achieve Health Equity
2021 National Bike Summit Keynote: Arrested Mobility - Exploring Impacts of Over-policing on BIPOC
ProPublica: Chicago’s “Race-Neutral” Traffic Cameras Ticket Black and Latino Drivers the Most
Alternatives to Enforcement
The Movement for Black Lives (M4BL): Defund the Police Resources and Messaging Guidance
Our Streets Minneapolis: Why we don't Support Traffic Enforcement
Transportation Alternatives: The Case for Self-Enforcing Streets
Atlanta Bicycle Coalition: Petition to Remove Police Enforcement from Vision Zero
Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia: We Are Dropping Police Enforcement From Vision Zero
Walk Bike Berkeley: De-policing transportation to create safe streets
Philadelphia Automated Speed Enforcement Pilot Program - 2021 Annual Report
Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia
Blog on Automated Speed Enforcement Pilot Program May 2021
Bike Theft Prevention
Bicycle Theft, Problem Oriented Guide for Police
Bait bike program
Laws & Regulations
Bicycle laws by state
COVID-19 Resources for BFCs
Expand
General Resources:
UN Press Release: Bicycles as driver of post-COVID-19 ‘green recovery’
PBIC: Local Actions to Support Walking and Cycling During Social Distancing Dataset
The Untokening: Mobility Justice and COVID-19
Biking & COVID-19 in the News
CityLab: In a Global Health Emergency, the Bicycle Shines
(3/25/20)
WRI: Biking Provides a Critical Lifeline During the Coronavirus Crisis
(4/17/20)
The Guardian: Cycling 'explosion': coronavirus fuels surge in US bike ridership
(5/13/20)
BBC: Will Covid-19 make urban cycling more inclusive?
Rapid Response & Implementation
NACTO's COVID-19: Transportation Response Center
Remote Education & Encouragement Resources
Be a Bike Ambassador During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Back to School 2020: Recommendations for Safe Routes to School Programming
COVID-19 Resources from Safe Routes National Partnership
National Bike Challenge
Smart Cycling videos
BikeMN: Walk! Bike! Fun! At Home Distance Learning Resources
Outreach and Engagement
Principles For Equitable Public Outreach & Engagement During Covid-19 and Beyond
Youth/Schools Engagement
Safe Routes Partnership Report:
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: COVID-19’s Impact on Youth Physical Activity and Safe Routes to School
Safe Routes Partnership Guide: Back to School 2020 Programming Guide
Discover Traffic Gardens: Fun at Home
Bike Counts during the Pandemic
Eco-Counter's COVID-19 Dashboard: Understand the impact of the pandemic on cycling
Temporary and pop-up bike-ped infrastructure: measure impact and make it count
(from
Eco-Counter
COVID-19: Using count data to understand changing bike and pedestrian trends.
(from
Eco-Counter
COVID-19: the evolution of bicycle and pedestrian activity following containment measures
. (from
Eco-Counter
StreetLight Data COVID-19 VMT Monitor
Policy & Advocacy
Congress Must Fast-Track Transit and Active Transportation Invesments in Pandemic Response
Designating Bike Shops as Essential Businesses
Advocates Adapting Streets to COVID-19
Lobbying in a Time of COVID-19
Checklist For Current & Aspiring Bicycle Friendly Communities
For communities that are just getting started or looking for ideas on how to improve their status before even applying to the BFC program, here are some suggestions for current and aspiring Bicycle Friendly Communities on
specific actions you can take now to strengthen your next BFC application and improve your standing in the BFC program
1. Adopt the BFC Action Plan Charter
Expand
Download the BFC Action Plan Charter here.
(.doc)
2. Review BFC Resources, FAQs, and information online
Expand
Review the above BFC Resources for ideas and inspiration
, and familiarize yourself with the
BFC application process and general award criteria
If you have questions, review the
BFC FAQs page
or contact us at
[email protected]
3. Form a Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) or Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC)
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Find these helpful resources for forming
Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC)
or
Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC)
4. Conduct a Bike Parking Inventory or Audit in your community
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The most useful bike parking inventories should include the quantity, quality and type of bike parking. You can also use this opportunity to audit the usage of bike parking in your community and to identify places that need new bike parking - where bicyclists are locking their bikes to trees, sign posts, or fences.
For more tips on improving your community's bike parking,
watch our Webinar co-hosted with Dero
5. Encourage local employers to apply for the Bicycle Friendly Business designation -- and have the city/town set a good example by applying for BFB status as an employer
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Encourage other local employers and businesses to also apply for the
Bicycle Friendly
Business
designation
to help foster a more positive biking culture in your community and to build up programs and services to support bike commuters.
Communities can apply for the BFB designation as an employer
-- apply for City Hall or any other local municipal building, campus, or department. Pro-tip: Encourage your state DOT, County, and neighboring jurisdictions to do the same for their municipal buildings!
Download this printer-friendly
BFB Overview PDF document
to help promote the BFB program in your community.
6. Host a League Cycling Instructor (LCI) seminar or sponsor one or more local residents, bike advocates, and/or city employees to attend one
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Host an LCI seminar
or sponsor one or more local residents, bike advocates, and/or city employees to attend an
existing LCI seminar elsewhere
Use our
Local Resources Map
to find out if your community or neighboring areas already have League Cycling Instructors.
7. Create or improve the inventory of your community’s bike infrastructure
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This includes on-road bike lanes, cycle tracks, neighborhood greenways, and off-road paths and trails. If you don’t have a GIS or engineering data staff in your planning or engineering department, work with a GIS student or class at a nearby college or university.
8. Conduct a bike count to benchmark and measure ridership in your community
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Use resources like the
National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project
Eco-Counter
Strava Metro
, and the
Transportation Research and Education Center
See the Evaluation & Planning section above for more bike count resources and recent webinar recordings.
9. Send someone to attend the National Bike Summit (virtually or in-person)
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The
2023 National Bike Summit
will take place Sunday, March 26 - Wednesday, March 29, 2023, both online and in person in Washington, D.C.
The Summit offers a great opportunity to learn and network with other Bicycle Friendly Communities and bike advocates from across the country.
10. Organize a local bicycling event or series of events such as:
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Open Streets Event
Traffic Garden
or Bicycling Rodeo for kids and families
Bike to School Day
Bike to Work Day
Winter Bike to Work Day
Car-Free Day
Ride with the Mayor
Family ride
Costume ride or holiday ride
Tools for Promoting the BFA Program in Your Community
Tool 1: BFA Booklet and Quick Scorecard
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The BFC, BFB, BFU, and BFS programs are described in
one booklet.
The digital BFA Booklet is designed to give advocates, elected officials, business leaders, students, and university administrators a comprehensive look at the BFA programs. A visual and written tour of the four programs, the small booklet also includes a brief self-assessment tool to evaluate the bicycle-friendliness of your community, business, or university.
The booklet is available for download and print
. Print your desired quantities and place a local organization sticker on the back of the booklet.
Tool 2: BFA Program Information for Your Website
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Promoting the BFA programs on your website is a terrific way of highlighting the success stories in your area (i.e. awarded businesses, communities, and universities). Using your website as a connector for all your local or regional BFA awardees makes for a more robust bicycle-friendly network.
Use this Guide
Download the logos here
Tool 3: Program Presentations and Scripts
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Hosting a BFA presentation is a cost effective and efficient way of distributing information about any of the four programs. This could be done onsite or through a webinar by a local advocate, League staff, or both. Organization of a BFA presentation is easy and is a great way to bring together various local partners and build momentum.
Download an overview of the BFA program or a presentation specific to BFB, BFC, or BFU below or request a copy in PowerPoint format, email
[email protected]
. The presentations are each about 10-15 minutes in length with the script and can be presented at your convenience.
BFA Overview Slides
and
Script
(updated 10/6/20)
BFB Slides
and
Script
(updated 8/16/22)
BFC Slides
and
Script
(updated 10/6/20)
BFU Slides
and
Script
Organize a webinar for your region with a League representative by contacting
[email protected]
Tool 4: Printer-Friendly Resources
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BFC
Application Preview in Word
(.docx) - 2024 version
Attributes of a BFC
(PDF)
BFB
Application Preview in PDF
- 2024 version
BFB Program Overview
(PDF)
Attributes of a BFB
(PDF)
BFU
Application Preview in PDF
- 2024 version
BFU General Scoring Guidelines
(PDF)
Tool 5: Essential Guides and Reports
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Bicycle Account Guidelines
- This guideline document is meant to help communities, businesses, and universities learn about evaluation tools that they can adapt to their organization to measure bicycle-related improvements, including public surveys.
The New Movement: Bike Equity Today
- This report looks at efforts through the United States to make bicycle advocacy and related groups reflect the diverse population of people who bike and address the specific needs of diverse populations through programming and outreach.
BFA Guide
- This Guide looks at actions by leading Bicycle Friendly Communities, Businesses and Universities in 2012-13. Use it for inspiration and guidance as your community, business, or university takes action to make biking better.
BFA Blueprint
- This blueprint looks specifically at the Bicycle Friendly Community program and describes actions that communities have taken across the 5 Es.