Arvada Named A 'Silver-Level' Bicycle-Friendly City

ARVADA, CO — Arvada is among the top communities in the nation for cycling, according to the League of American Bicyclists. The city was honored with a silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community award.

A total of 482 communities around the country were recognized for their safe streets, cycling opportunities and sustainability.

“Across the country, we have seen so many Americans biking during the pandemic. It’s critical that there are communities like Arvada taking the steps to make biking a safe, accessible option for people, whether they are commuting to essential jobs or looking for recreational options outside their homes,” said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists.

“This award is the culmination of years of work put in by Arvada and its citizen advocates for better biking. This award round, Arvada joins 38 new and renewing Bicycle Friendly Communities in the movement toward healthier, more sustainable and connected places. Our nation and the world is facing an acute public health crisis with long-term implications, and we’re proud that Arvada and communities like it are embracing bicycling as a solution to our collective recovery.”

Don't miss the latest news updates in Arvada: Free Arvada Patch Newsletters and Email Alerts | Facebook | Twitter

More than 850 communities applied for the awards through the Bicycle Friendly Community program, which offers a roadmap for improvement.

The award process considers bike infrastructure, adult and youth bike education, encouragement through events such as Bike to Work Day, evaluation mechanisms, and enforcement "through the lens of equity," the league said.

Adam Lind, Arvada's bicycle and pedestrian coordinator said the city is "committed to creating a city where bicycling is a safe, convenient and efficient option for every trip."

“The City is continuing to plan for better bike infrastructure, for example, by including it’s first separated bike lanes with the W. 72nd Avenue Project," Lind said in a statement. "Our recognition as a silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community acknowledges the progress we are making toward this goal.”

The five levels of the award – diamond, platinum, gold, silver and bronze, plus an honorable mention category – "provide a clear incentive for communities to continuously improve," the organization said.

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, the league said.