The League of American Bicyclists (LAB) is a non-profit membership organization which promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation through advocacy and education. The League is one of the largest membership organizations of cyclists in the United States. The League's Bicycle Friendly America program distributes awards to communities which have adopted measures to accommodate and encourage bicycle use. To date, 259 towns and cities in 47 states have received recognition as Bicycle Friendly Communities including Simsbury and South Windsor here in Connecticut.
Over the last year, the Town of Farmington completed an application for recognition and received an Honorable Mention for its efforts to date. Encouraged by this result, the Farmington Town Council formed the Farmington Bicycle Advisory Committee and named several residents to this committee and assigned town staff to assist the committee with its goal of obtaining Bicycle Friendly Community status.
In parallel to the Advisory Committee, a community-based committee, Bicycle Friendly Farmington (BFF), has formed as an outreach group aimed at organizing the Farmington bicycling community toward the goal it shares with the Advisory Committee, obtaining Bicycle Friendly Community status.
Find out what's happening in Farmingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
BFF intends to organize bicycling events here in Farmington. In fact, its inaugural event, BFF’s Family Fun Ride, is planned for September 29th as a part of the Unionville Festival. This short 2½ mile ride is intended for all ages and hopes to encourage ridership for all.
BFF also intends to communicate bicycling information throughout Farmington. These communications will include safety tips as well as “favorite rides”. In fact, this communication has already begun through the creation of a Bicycle Friendly Farmington group on Facebook (check it out) and through the creation of this Patch blog.
Find out what's happening in Farmingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
All of this activity provides benefits to the riding community but why should non-bikers care one iota? Coincidentally (well maybe not coincidentally) Bicycle Friendly Communities are consistently ranked high in overall livability and high livability communities maintain high real estate values. It seems that the simple bike can help your pocket book .... go figure.
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