57 new and renewing Bicycle Friendly Businesses

The League of American Bicyclists welcomes 57 new and renewing Bicycle Friendly Businesses (BFB℠) to the Bicycle Friendly America program today. Over 1,200 visionary businesses from across the country have earned this status. Now there are BFBs in 49 states and the District of Columbia.

List of Summer 2016 awardees |  List of all current BFB awardees

“We are excited to welcome these new and returning Bicycle Friendly Businesses.” said Bill Nesper, Bike League Program Director. “Congratulations to these businesses for demonstrating what can be done to make bicycling safe, comfortable and convenient and for taking the lead in creating a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone.”

The top ranks of BFBs are now filled with more great bicycle industry companies and advocate organizations. Three businesses moved from Gold to Platinum status this round: Kona Bicycle Company in Bellingham, WA, Ground Control Systems in Sacramento, CA, and Washington Area Bicyclist Association in Washington, DC.

The BFB program welcomed two new Fortune 500 companies, Bank of America’s Columbia, SC, offices and new Bronze awardee Praxair of Tonawanda, NY; renewing applicant Williams-Sonoma of San Francisco, CA, moved up from Bronze to Silver status.

The Williams-Sonoma headquarters offers bike parking, showers, lockers, free annual tune-ups, bicycling safety education workshops and a fleet of bikes for staff to use. This combined with a good location in Gold Bicycle Friendly Community San Francisco makes bicycling a great option for staff and visitors.

New Bronze BFB Billings TrailNet in Billings, MT, has an earn-a-bike program for veterans and homeless individuals: “We have a military veteran volunteer who has bicycle mechanic skills and is teaching our etiquette campaign to veterans and homeless shelters. We accept used bicycles, especially children’s bikes, refurbish them and give them to low-income children. We also partner with the City of Billings and the school district to organize a mobile bicycle repair service and provide bicycle mechanics and other volunteers for this trailer which goes out to schools. We go to health fairs and other public events with trail maps in hand and teach helmet fitting, provide information on custom bike routes, offer mentorships and learn connectivity issues which enable us to advocate for more infrastructure within the city.”

Campbell Thomas and Co. Architects in Philadelphia, PA, which rose from Silver to Gold level in this round, provides “education on the role of bicycle transportation in each person’s personal economic and intellectual well-being. We review the importance of choosing a bicycle for transportation in avoiding or eliminating debt, in giving access to otherwise inconvenient but useful public transportation, and in understanding the time savings afforded by bicycling when it doubles as transportation and exercise. We also assist staff in selecting bicycles for commuting, with an emphasis on folding bikes to interface with transit.”

Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, UT, a new Bronze BFB, supports commuting and recreational cyclists and works actively with the community to make improvements for bicycling. The hospital provides cash incentives for bicycle commuters and subsidized company-branded cycling kits for employees and community members to participate in external cycling team
sponsored by hospital. The team leads rides and provides free bike safety and maintenance clinics for riders of all levels. Their impressive indoor and outdoor bicycle parking facilities will receive further upgrades in 2019. 

To apply or learn more about the BFB program, visit the League online at www.bikeleague.org/business.

About the Bicycle Friendly America℠ Program:

The Bicycle Friendly Community℠, Bicycle Friendly State℠, Bicycle Friendly Business and Bicycle Friendly University℠ programs are generously supported by program partner Trek Bicycle Corp and Silver-level BFA Sponsor Planet Bike. To learn more about building a Bicycle Friendly America, visit www.bikeleague.org/BFA.

The League of American Bicyclists is leading the movement to create a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. As leaders, our commitment is to listen and learn, define standards and share best practices to engage diverse communities and build a powerful, unified voice for change.