Huntington was awarded with a Bronze-level status, its highest-ever ranking in the League’s report card. Huntington previously was recognized with Honorable Mention awards in 2012 and 2015.
“We are committed to ensuring our streets and parks are safe for bicyclists and pedestrians, and this recognition is a testament to those efforts,” Mayor Steve Williams said. “We also remain committed to always finding ways to improve our quality of life. Next to safe neighborhoods, being recognized as a bicycle friendly community is tops on our list.”
“This award gives Huntington much-deserved public recognition for its commitment to create safer and more equitable spaces for bicyclists,” added Zane Parsley, chairman of the Huntington Mayor’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. “It’s great to see other organizations taking note of our incredible community. We applaud the determination of our city leadership in making this happen and look forward to continuing to work alongside them to improve our streets and parks for cyclists.”
Bicycle Friendly Community awards reflect local leaders’ ongoing work to build better places to bike and evaluate those efforts as part of a national movement. Each of the five levels of the Bicycle Friendly Community award – diamond, platinum, gold, silver, and bronze, plus an honorable mention category – provide a clear path for cities and towns to continuously improve.
A Bicycle Friendly Community award at any level isn’t meant to be a one-and-done achievement – it’s a legitimate inquiry into the community’s commitment to better biking over time. The League’s goal is to reflect the best practices in the field, and it encourages communities to continue reapplying over time to stay accountable to their action plan and to maintain their award level. Bicycle Friendly Community awards are only retained for four years. A community then must reapply for designation.
Visit bikeleague.org/community to learn more about the Bicycle Friendly Community program.