Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community Designation Renewed For Glastonbury

GLASTONBURY, CT — The League American Bicyclists has renewed its Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community designation for Glastonbury.

The award recognizes Glastonbury's "efforts and commitment to creating transportation and recreational resources that benefit residents of all ages and abilities, while encouraging healthier and more sustainable transportation choices."

Glastonbury is among just 11 municipalities in Connecticut to earn the BFC designation this year.

“When we build an America where bicycling is truly safer and easier for everyone, we are strengthening our nation’s economic vibrance, environmental welfare, and mental and physical well-being. That’s why we’re proud to celebrate all of the new and renewing Bicycle Friendly Communities in our movement to build a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone," said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. "This round of awards is a testament to the community leaders and local bike advocates who are joining the League in raising the standard of what it means to be a Bicycle Friendly Community."

The League of American Bicyclists' Bicycle Friendly America program sets the standard for how communities build and benchmark progress toward making biking better. Earlier this year, the League made major updates to add and integrate equity and accessibility into the program’s application and to emphasize the importance of building and connecting low-speed and low-stress bike networks.

The latest round of awards includes 45 new and renewing awardees, joining a total of 506 current Bicycle Friendly Communities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Bronze BFC award recognizes Glastonbury's "commitment to improving conditions for all people who bike through investments in education programs, events that promote and encourage people to choose biking, pro-bike policies, and infrastructure."

Among the many initiatives submitted as part of its application, Glastonbury officials sasid they were "particularly proud of the efforts" surrounding the development and construction of the multi-use trail between House Street and Western Boulevard.

"The Town is continuously seeking opportunities to improve bicycling/pedestrian conditions and the multi-use trail project successfully established recreational opportunities and transportation links within the active downtown area," town officials said.

Glastonbury’s application also highlighted the recently conducted road safety audit, a collaborative effort coordinated by Town staff, Bike Walk Glastonbury, and the Bicycle Advisory Group. The audit identified community strengths as well as areas of improvement, suggested linkages, and potential opportunities to further improve bike/pedestrian amenities.

"We are pleased to maintain the town's recognition as a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community. Glastonbury is constantly striving to improve local conditions for walking/bicycling for all ages and abilities, and this designation is a testament to the ongoing and collective efforts put forth by Town staff and community groups. I would like to extend my thanks to the Health, Engineering, and Parks and Recreation Department staff for their dedication and innovation towards this organizational goal, as well as the Board of Education and local community groups, all of whom contributed their time and talents to recent projects and activities. The Town will continue to seek opportunities to further improve the bike/pedestrian friendly conditions and amenities within the Glastonbury community and looks forward to sustaining this designation for years to come," Glastonbury Town Manager Jonathan Luiz said."

Glastonbury first earned the Bronze BFC status in 2015, was re-designated in 2019, and is proud to again renew the designation for the 2023-2027 cycle. Awarded communities must renew their status every four years to ensure that they not only maintain existing efforts, but are keeping up with changing technology, national safety standards, and community-driven best practices.