January 29, 2026/
Washington, DC — Across the country, communities are responding to growing demand for places that are easier to navigate by biking, walking, and rolling. Today, the League of American Bicyclists recognizes 79 communities across the nation for their commitment to meeting that demand through collective action at the local and regional levels.
“Building better places to bike is a shared effort,” said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. “The communities recognized here are part of a growing national movement, taking practical steps to support bicycling as a safe, accessible, and valuable part of everyday life.”
These new and renewing Bicycle Friendly Community℠ (BFC) awardees join a network of 444 currently-awarded communities nationwide, reflecting the resolve of local leaders, advocates, planners, educators, public agencies, and residents to make their communities safer and more supportive for people who bike. While cultural shifts take time, the BFC program emphasizes institutionalizing progress through policies, plans, and systems that raise standards and sustain momentum, with investments in staff capacity and long-term partnerships often helping communities advance through the award levels over time.
Notable Movement in Bicycle Friendly Community Award Rankings
- Platinum: Fort Collins, CO and Davis, CA both renewed their hard-won Platinum status, maintaining the BFC program’s highest award level. Only five communities have ever received this status.
- Gold: Provo, UT and Alameda, CA both achieved the Gold milestone after decades of consistent progress at lower award levels. Three communities (Aspen, CO; Durango, CO; and Minneapolis, MN) renewed their existing Gold awards.
- Silver: Eight communities moved up to Silver, with judges noting particularly strong applications from Cleveland, OH; Cedar Rapids, IA; and Springfield, OR. Twelve communities renewed their Silver award, including Anchorage, AK and Flagstaff, AZ.
- Bronze: 52 total communities are receiving Bronze awards this round, including five that are receiving Bronze on their very first application to the BFC program, a rare achievement. Bowling Green, KY is one of seven communities moving up to Bronze after receiving Honorable Mention or No Award in a previous round. Bowling Green’s progress was boosted from a League-led Bicycle Friendly Community workshop in 2023 that helped the city prioritize key investments and actions, demonstrating how guided support and local dedication can move a community forward.
- Honorable Mention: Thirteen communities are receiving Honorable Mention, which indicates progress being made toward a BFC award in the years to come. These communities are encouraged to use their Report Card feedback from the League before reapplying for a BFC designation in the future.
Across award levels, communities are building momentum in ways that fit their local context. The examples below offer a snapshot of how sustained investment, regional collaboration, and local effort are helping communities of all sizes make bicycling better.
Springfield, Oregon (Silver, Moving Up — pop. 61,851)
In western Oregon, the city of Springfield works closely with regional partners (including neighboring Gold-level Eugene, OR) to align planning, funding, and on-the-ground improvements to create a safer, more connected bicycling network across jurisdictions. The community also invests heavily in cycling education, encouragement programs, and placemaking initiatives, creating a positive culture around biking that supports local riders and attracts new residents. “The improvements to the bicycle network that have been constructed have increased access to jobs, and the bike share program has provided more opportunities to access recreation and education. More people who are moving to Springfield are mentioning the bike paths and amenities as things that they found attractive when they were looking for a new place to live.” — Springfield, OR
Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Silver, Moving Up — pop. 137,710)
Among a variety of pro-bike initiatives, Cedar Rapids has intentionally expanded staff capacity and coordination across departments to create stronger systems for planning, development, and community engagement around bicycling: “The City has made an intentional effort to have more staff involved in bicycling efforts in Cedar Rapids. For example, Community Development and our Planners are working more closely with Public Works on all aspects of trail and bikeway planning and development, and are also providing staff support for education- and encouragement-focused efforts.”
Morehead–Rowan County, Kentucky (Honorable Mention — pop. 24,409)
Tucked away in the foothills of eastern Kentucky, Morehead–Rowan County has seen tourism revenue reach a record $53.4 million in 2022 after investing in bike- and pedestrian-focused initiatives like its Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and the East Main Corridor: “This surge shows that investing in cycling isn’t just good for health and recreation—it directly boosts local businesses, supports job creation, and enhances community vitality.”
Miami-Dade County, Florida (Silver, Moving Up — pop. 2,701,767)
In Southeast Florida, three transportation agencies (Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach) are united through the Southeast Florida Transportation Council, a formal partnership to coordinate regional transportation planning across county lines. Through shared planning, a regional greenways and trails network, and co-hosted initiatives like the Safe Streets Summit, the region is working toward a more connected and consistent approach to bicycling and complete streets. “Success will mean every resident can safely and conveniently bike to work, school, parks, and transit…Regardless of income, neighborhood, biking will be a joyful, viable, and safe option for all.” — Miami-Dade County, FL
These communities show that building a Bicycle Friendly America is a shared journey that combines local vision, regional collaboration, and sustained effort over time. We applaud each new and renewing Bicycle Friendly Community for not only their efforts to make biking better today, but laying the groundwork for stronger, healthier, and more vibrant communities tomorrow.
To explore all the communities recognized in this round, see the 2025 Awards and Honorable Mentions here, and see the full list of current and past Bicycle Friendly Communities here. Any community that would like to join, return to, or stay on the BFC list, can start their new or renewal application and submit by June 17, 2026 to be reviewed in the next round.
About the Bicycle Friendly Community℠ Program
Bicycle Friendly Community awards reflect local leaders’ ongoing work to build better places to bike and evaluate those efforts as part of a national movement. Each of the five levels of the Bicycle Friendly University award – diamond, platinum, gold, silver, and bronze, plus an honorable mention category – provide a clear path for cities and towns to continuously improve. Visit bikeleague.org/community to learn more about the BFC program.
About the League of American Bicyclists
Since 1880, the League of American Bicyclists has been people-powered, with a goal to make bicycling safer and easier as a means of transportation and recreation. Today, the League continues to improve lives and strengthen communities through bicycling. We are more than 200,000 members and supporters strong with more than 1,000 state and local advocacy groups and bike clubs as well as thousands of businesses, universities, and communities together leading the movement to create a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone.
