In January, the League of American Bicyclists honored the efforts of Miami-Dade County to build safer, more connected places for people to bike with a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) award. Miami-Dade joins over 400 communities nationwide recognized for advancing safer streets and improving bicycle conditions for residents and visitors alike.
The award recognizes Miami-Dade County for its commitment to creating transportation and recreational resources that benefit its residents of all ages and abilities while encouraging healthier and more sustainable mobility options.
Miami-Dade County was first recognized by League of American Bicyclists in 2017 with a Bronze award. “I’m thrilled that our County has earned this prestigious distinction,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “This Silver-award certification highlights our progress and solidifies Miami-Dade County’s reputation as a vibrant, bicycle-friendly region. But we’re not stopping here. My administration will continue working with our partners to make Miami-Dade a safer and more connected biking community”.
The recognition is the result of a collaborative application led by the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization (TPO). The TPO organized a cross-sector Project Working Group (PWG), collecting information on countywide efforts for bicycle engineering, education, encouragement, evaluation, and planning. The rigorous application process serves as both a benchmarking tool and an opportunity for local bicyclists and active transportation advocates to share feedback on their experiences and perceptions of bicycling in their community.
“Thanks to our ongoing efforts and coordination with Miami-Dade County and the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW), we were able to achieve this important recognition from the League of American Bicyclists,” said Aileen Bouclé, AICP, Executive Director of the TPO. “Together, we are building a more accessible, healthy, and resilient community for all.”
Over 900 communities have applied for recognition by the Bicycle Friendly Community program, which provides a roadmap to make biking better for communities of all shapes and sizes. This round of awards includes 79 new and renewed awardees, joining a total of 444 current Bicycle Friendly Communities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
“The Silver BFC award recognizes Miami-Dade County’s and DTPW’s commitment to improving conditions for the cycling community,” said Stacy L. Miller, P.E., DTPW Director and CEO. “We are expanding our network of bike lanes, enhancing roadway safety features, and implementing roadway infrastructure enhancements that make biking a safer and more accessible option for everyone in our community.”
The five levels of the BFC award – diamond, platinum, gold, silver and bronze, plus an honorable mention category – provide a clear incentive for communities to continuously improve. Awarded communities must renew their status every four years to ensure that they not only maintain existing efforts, but also keep up with changing technology, national safety standards, and community-driven best practices.
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