The city of Orlando has been recognized by a national biking organization for its efforts to improve bicycle infrastructure across the region.
On Wednesday, the League of American Bicyclists awarded the city a Gold Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) award. The city joins 1,500 businesses across the country that have been honored for “contributing to the movement to build a more Bicycle Friendly America,” according to a statement issued by city officials.
The award recognizes businesses and municipalities for their investments in biking infrastructure and amenities, including safe bike parking, bike repair stations, bike safety trainings, a bike share program, and employee incentives to use bikes, including bike commuter benefits.
“Orlando has been hard at work transforming the City Beautiful into the City Bikeable – a world-class, economically vibrant, sustainable city with multi-modal transportation options for residents and visitors alike,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.
In addition to the city, a dozen businesses were also recognized for their efforts.
The city’s bicycle network consists of over 45 miles of off-street trails, over 50 miles of signed routes, and over 265 miles of bicycle lanes. The city’s transportation division is working toward making downtown Orlando a more walkable, bike-friendly destination with two-way streets, widened sidewalks, and improvements to the connectivity of the city’s urban trails.
This year, portions of the Downtown Loop, including the North Quarter Urban Trail Gap and the Downtown Connector Trail Gap, will be completed to help make the 8.5-mile trail through downtown Orlando a reality by 2025.
“Orlando is ready to ride and creating a solid mobility foundation for all users is paramount within our transportation department. Each business that becomes bike friendly brings us one ride closer to a network that is connected, accessible and innovative,” said Tanya Wilder, director of the Transportation Department at the City of Orlando.
Learn more about the city of Orlando’s efforts to make the community more bike friendly.