It Takes a Village to Raise a BFC

As we highlighted yesterday, our latest round of Bicycle Friendly Community awards includes some big names — including Los Angeles, California.

League President, Andy Clarke, presented the designation to city officials at MacArthur Park, and Lisa Sarno from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s office snapped some great photos of the event.

For me, the images really drove (er, pedaled) home a key point: Becoming a Bicycle Friendly Community truly is a team effort.

League President Andy Clarke congratulates LA for becoming a Bronze BFC

It takes supportive elected officials, like Councilman Ed Reyes. “More and more people are leaving their car keys at home and taking advantage of L.A.’s bicycle-friendly streets,” Reyes said. “We are leading the nation as a bicycle-friendly city, thanks to an active bike culture and bicycle advocates working with the City. I am honored to accept this prestigious award on the City’s behalf.”

Councilman Reyes accepts LA’s BFC award

It also takes supportive and innovative city staff, like Michelle Mowery, Senior Bicycle Project Coordinator at the LA Department of Transportation (who’s being honored by Multicultural Communities for Mobility (MCM) at its third annual awards ceremony next week!).

Michelle Mowery from the LADOT

And, of course, it takes leadership from local bike advocacy organizations, like MCM, the Bicycle Kitchen, C.I.C.L.E., and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. “The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition thanks the Mayor, City Council, and City departments for their dedication and leadership to achieve this award,” said Eric Bruins, Planning & Policy Director for LACBC. “The staff of LADOT and LAPD regularly go above and beyond to serve people who bicycle. We look forward to continuing to work with the City to implement the Bicycle Plan and realize our shared vision of a better, more bike-able Los Angeles.”

LA bike advocates, including LACBC’s Carol Feucht (teal t-shirt) and JJ Hoffman (red shirt)

With that kind of teamwork, we know LA is just getting starting climbing the BFC ranks. Onward and upward to Silver, Gold and Platinum!

Congratulations to LA — and all the fall award recipients!

Click here to see the full list of Fall 2012 BFCs.