American Bicyclist presents the world of cycling to the League's members. The magazine focuses on important issues in bicycle advocacy and education, promoting cycling, cycling events, and enjoying the benefits of the cycling lifestyle.

The League of American Bicyclists is the national membership organization of cyclists. We promote cycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and work through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America.

The League's magazine, American Bicyclist, is a celebration of cycling.

The magazine is published quarterly and distributed to our membership of 40,000 individuals, nearly 500 recreational clubs (representing over 300,000 members), and 140 state and local advocacy organizations. Our readers are the most committed and passionate cyclists in the United States.

Download American Bicyclist Magazine, March/April 2008

PDF format, 49MB, 60Pages.

WHY BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES?

I have been involved directly with bicycling advocacy for 12 years, and prior to that I rode my bicycle for fun, fitness and transportation. When I was in the sixth grade I walked to school. We lived a mile from my elementary school. It was not uncommon to have to jump across the ditch on the narrow, two-lane road with great site lines, in order to get out ofthe way oftraffic. I wrote an essay about what I was going to do when I grew up. I was going to become a famous movie star and get really rich and then I was going to put sidewalks on the road so that kids didn't have to jump across the ditch.

I have yet to become a movie star, but I have been involved with helping to improve the conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians. My current stint as League Region 6 board member and chair ofthe League board allows me to be involved with one very promising program for helping to improve the conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians, and to change people's mindset about what it means to Bicycle Friendly.

When I originally become familiar with the BFC program I was working for the City ofPalo Alto, generally a pretty nice place to ride a bicycle. Since the 1970s, due in large part to the advocacy work ofEllen Fletcher, Palo Alto has worked hard to maintain the historic grid that is the framework for the city. I asked my coworkers whether we should apply for the BFC designation and was informed that the League should just give it to the city since we had were doing so well. I was not convinced.

As a member ofthe Bicycle Advisory Committee and former bicycle retailer in town I knew that there were plenty ofbeefs from local cyclists about the conditions in our town. I convinced our department to go through the application process. We did and were designated a gold-level community.

The application process was very thorough. Palo Alto discovered that there were some things we were excelling at, some things that we weren't doing so well in, and others that we weren't doing at all. Now we had a measurement, a snapshot in time from which to move up, or down, in the future. The city also had more stakeholders on board in terms ofbeing proud ofour designation. It wasn't just the folks riding bicycles every day: department heads, elected officials, even realtors loved it - better value for your home on the Bicycle Boulevard!

BFC is not merely a purple sign handed over to a community. BFC is a tool for bringing more stakeholders to the table. It is an ever-evolving program that continues to gain momentum.

BFC is more than meets the eye. It is the way that the League ofAmerican Bicyclists is helping to transform a nation's thinking from auto-focused to one that includes the bicycle as a part ofthe solution to global warming, peak oil and the growing waistlines ofour nation.

Check it out. Is your community Bicyclist Friendly? Ifnot, or ifthere is room for improvement, what are you going to do about it?

AMANDA EICHSTAEDT
President, League of American Bicyclists

Visit  The League of American Bicyclists Official Website

Our Mission: To promote bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation and work through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America.

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