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Office of the Mayor
NEWS RELEASE
April 28,2011
Ceremony marks national ranking
South Bend receives Bicycle Friendly Community signage
Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications&Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564
or Chris Dressel, Bicycle Coordinator, 235-9371
A representative from the League of American Bicyclists today presented Mayor Stephen
J. Luecke with official roadway signage designating South Bend as a Bicycle Friendly
Community.
The ceremony formally marked South Bend's entrance into an elite group of 158 U.S.
cities in 43 states, so designated for their "remarkable commitment" to bicycling. South
Bend is one of four Indiana cities designated and the only Bicycle Friendly Community
in northern Indiana.
"The League of American Bicyclists was impressed with many aspects of South Bend's
bicycling community, including the growing bike culture in South Bend. South Bend is
becoming an even better place for cycling," said Nancy Tibbett, a League representative.
Tibbett cited the increased volume of bicycle commuting, the high participation in
bicycling events and the proximity of residents to bike routes—nearly 70 percent live
within a quarter-mile—as factors in South Bend's bronze-level designation. "The League
looks forward to helping South Bend move up the ranks and become an even better
cycling city," she said.
Luecke also announced that the City of South Bend has recently surpassed his
commitment in his 2007 State of the City address to add 50 miles of new bike routes by
the end of 2011.
"We're proud of this national recognition of the progress we've made in South Bend with
the development of trails along the St. Joseph River and bike lanes in our city streets. The
Bicycle Friendly Community logo will become very familiar to bicycling enthusiasts
among our residents and visitors,"Luecke said. "I'm happy we also can use this occasion
to observe the passing of a milestone—50 miles of new bicycle routes in our community
since 2007.
"The Bicycle Friendly Community designation validates the tremendous efforts
undertaken by the Bike Michiana Coalition, the City of South Bend and other cyclists to
enhance our quality of life," said Judy Lee, president of the Bike Michiana Coalition, a
local nonprofit bicycling advocacy organization. "South Bend is a model to other
communities as the region's clear leader in making bicycling safe and accessible."
South Bend was among 18 new Bicycle Friendly Communities, which were chosen in fall
2010 from 48 applicants. South Bend received a bronze designation in its second time
applying.
The three-year designation (up for renewal in July 2014) is based on a detailed
application that provides a comprehensive picture of a community's commitment to
bicycling through engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, and
evaluation/planning. Communities must demonstrate achievements in each of the five
categories for designation. Communities with more significant achievements receive
superior awards.
"We will continue to work with our partners in the bicycling community, such as the
Bike Michiana Coalition and Bike the Bend, to increase bicycling alternatives and make
South Bend a more livable community,"Luecke said.
Community representatives said the Bicycle Friendly Community designation impacts
the whole community, not only cyclists. "Many homeowners, especially young
professionals, are looking for locations that offer easy commuting and recreational
opportunities," said Laurie LaDow, a Realtor with Cressy and Everett. "In my opinion,
this designation will help to raise demand for real estate in South Bend and will help
increase property values, especially for homes on designated bike routes."
The designation also can draw visitors and tourist dollars to South Bend, according to
Rob DeCleene, executive director of the South Bend/Mishawaka Convention and Visitors
Bureau. "South Bend being designated a bicycle-friendly community by the League of
American Bicyclists is a huge coup for the community, and the City of South Bend
should be commended for their efforts,"DeCleene said. "Bicycling has a very passionate
following and represents so many positive aspects of a community fitness,
environmental awareness, family-friendliness, etc. The entire sport just has an unspoken
edge to it that is an essential attribute to positioning a destination to a savvy demographic,
and will help in any progress we can make in establishing South Bend as a hip collegiate
city."
The designation came in a year in which the first Bike the Bend drew nearly 1,800
recreational bicyclists to the streets of South Bend, Mishawaka and St. Joseph County,
and in which South Bend also became Indiana's leading city for commuting by bicycle,
according to 2008 U.S. Census statistics.
In today's ceremony at Jon Hunt Plaza,Luecke also proclaimed May as bike month and
representatives of Bike the Bend and Bike to Work Week detailed plans for upcoming
events:
• Bike the Bend is now registering participants for its second annual ride, which takes
place from 6:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, May 15. For more information, visit
www.BiketheBend.com
• Michiana Bike to Work Week is encouraging bicycle commuters to ride to work
during the week of May 16-20 with a combined goal of having all riders exceed
35,000 total miles. For more information, visit www.MichianaBiketoWork.org