Glance around Dublin on any given day and chances are you’ll see at least one person riding a bike. We’re not the only ones to recognize the welcoming roadways and miles and miles of bike paths offering an open invitation to cyclists. The League of American Bicyclists recently named the City of Dublin a Bicycle Friendly Community in recognition of Dublin’s commitment to bicycling through investment in promotion, educational programs, infrastructure and pro-bicycling policies.
“Dublin is playing a critical part in creating a truly bicycle-friendly America,” says Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. “We know Dublin’s investment in bicycling will be returned many times over in the health, environmental and quality of life benefits of a thriving community.”
The Bicycle Friendly Community program is transforming the way communities evaluate their quality of life, sustainability and transportation networks, while allowing them to benchmark their progress toward improving their bicycle friendliness. There are now 291 Bicycle Friendly Communities in 48 states across America.
“We are very proud to receive this designation from the League of American Bicyclists,” says City Manager Marsha Grigsby. “With more than 100 miles of bike paths connecting our community, the City of Dublin has long been dedicated to encouraging travel by bike, whether for recreation or health purposes or for commuting to work or another destination.”
Dublin convened a Bicycle Advisory Task Force in 2009 to identify potential bike-oriented programs and facilities. One initiative that followed is the Dublin Bicycle Ambassador program, comprised of members who spend their time on the paths and roads offering directions; helping with proper bike helmet fitting; checking and reporting maintenance issues on the paths; and serving as overall ambassadors for safe biking in Dublin.
