04-23-2012 Mayor Buttigieg Dedicates Bicycle Wayfinding Signs

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SpU TH 8F � G z s 1865 CITY OF SOUTH BEND PETE BUTTIGIEG, MAYOR Office of the Mayor FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 23, 2012 Contact: Debra Johnson, Director of Communications Phone: 574-235-5853 MAYOR BUTTIGIEG DEDICATES BICYCLE WAYFINDING SIGNS South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg will dedicate new bicycle wayfinding signs to the City of South Bend Tuesday, April 24 at the Jon Hunt Plaza. The event will take place at 12:00 p.m. at 211 North Michigan Street. The mayor will also proclaim May as bike month in South Bend. "These bicycle wayfinding signs are another meaningful step forward in the evolving identity of South Bend as a great bicycling community," said Buttigieg. "Our economic recovery depends largely on our ability to furnish a good quality of life. A bicycle-friendly culture is an important part of this identity." Bicycle wayfinding signs guide bicyclists along bike routes to major local destinations. The City of South Bend installed twenty-four signs along Riverside Trail and portions of Colfax and Notre Dame Avenues. South Bend's bicycle wayfinding system consists of two sign types, destination signs and confirmation signs. Destination signs include the South Bend Bikeway logo, plus direction, distance, and travel time information to local destinations. Confirmation signs include the Bikeway logo that indicates a bicyclist is traveling along a designated bike route. "I have traveled far and wide around the country with my bike, and from my experience, South Bend's wayfinding signs are unrivaled," said Judy Lee,President of the Bike Michiana Coalition and member of the Bicycle Wayfmding Committee. "The eye-catching design and valuable content are sure be used as an example for other communities, both in our region and elsewhere." Donations provided by Bike Michiana Coalition, Bike the Bend, and Grass Roots Media helped with the cost of the signs' production and installation. These donations will also allow for the placement of additional signs later this year. Bicycle wayfinding signs will eventually be placed at key points throughout the South Bend Bikeway system, which includes about 60 miles of bicycle routes in the City. According to long- term plans, this network of routes will expand to over 90 miles. South Bend was named as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists 1400 COUNTY-CITY BUILDING•227 W.IEFFERSON BOULEVARD•SOUTH BEND,INDIANA 46601 PHONE 574/235-9261• FAx 574/235-9892