Southern Arizona receives gold rating for bike safety

Few communities put more effort into establishing and maintaining a cycling-friendly community than Southern Arizona.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Santa Cruz Valley Bicycle Advocacy Committee, Green Valley is now the proud owner of a gold rating for cycling safety from the League of American Bicyclists.

A 68-page application was submitted on March 21. Participants involved in putting together the plan included PAG staff, jurisdictional staff, local law enforcement officials, members from the Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee, and volunteers from the community.

“Tucson and Pima County also made great improvements in bicycle safety education, respectful relationships with law enforcement, and facilities,” said SCVBAC co-chair Bill Adamson. “The region is proud to be the only region in the U.S. to be recognized at the Gold level for bicycle friendly communities and we will continue making improvements to reach the highest, Platinum, level.”

The LAB’s Bicycle Friendly Communities Campaign is an awards program that recognizes municipalities and regions that actively support bicycling.

In May 2006, the Tucson/Pima Eastern Region received gold-status in recognition of the region’s ability to provide a bicycle friendly environment, and remains the only region in the nation to have reached gold-level with the League.

A celebration of the region’s recertification as a Bicycle Friendly Community took place yesterday at the Copper Room of Randolph Golf Complex.

In addition, the annual “Ride of Silence,” will pass through Green Valley on May 21, where the SCVBAC hopes to build even more awareness for the area’s cycling safety measures.

Check Sunday’s Green Valley News for further coverage on the “Ride of Silence” and other area cycling news.

nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747