[Archived] Alexandria Aims For National “Spin City” Bicycle Recognition by 2009

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	July 26, 2006 PIO# 180-06/rdo	Brian Hannigan, Director of Communications, or Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

Alexandria Aims For National “Spin City” Bicycle Recognition by 2009
City Promotes Greater Bicycle Use for Recreation and Transportation
“Spin City 2009” Logo Contest Announced

The City of Alexandria is encouraging more bicycle use for transportation and recreation and as part of its City Council-approved “Spin City 2009” action plan to bring “Bicycle-Friendly Community” status by the League of American Bicyclists to the City in the next three years.

“Bicycle-Friendly communities are recognized as places with a high quality of life,” said Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille. “The Spin City initiative will augment and enhance the existing Community Pathways program and help us provide an integrated, multi-modal transportation system for the benefit and enjoyment of all our citizens.”

“Increased bicycling brings reduced traffic demand, improved air quality, and greater physical fitness,” said Richard Baier, Director of the Department of Transportation and Environmental Services. “We are making this commitment because we want to be recognized as a municipality that supports active modes of transportation.”

Between now and late August, the City of Alexandria is also sponsoring a Spin City logo contest. Residents are encouraged to develop and submit creative logos by Friday, Aug. 25. Submissions for the Spin City 2009 logo should incorporate the elements of movement, a historic city, and bicycling. The logo should include the text “Alexandria, Virginia” and the title should be “Spin City 2009.” The logo will reflect how the City serves as a great Bicycle Friendly Community.

A final program logo will be determined by the number of votes with input from a committee of city staff and members of BikeWalk Alexandria.

For the next three years, the City of Alexandria and its community partners will focus on bicycling-related engineering, education, encouragement, and enforcement. The goal of Spin City 2009 is to have Alexandria recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists in 2009. The accreditation-style program recognizes municipalities that provide safe accommodations for cycling and encourage residents to ride for transportation and recreation. The League of American Bicyclists awards the recognition at four levels: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze.

Arlington County, Washington, D.C., and Rockville, Md. are Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Communities. Silver award winners include Chicago and Tempe, Arizona. Gold award winners include Portland and Boulder. Davis, Ca. is a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Community.

A Bicycle Friendly Community provides:

C a safe, comfortable, and connected physical environment for bicycling
• education programs to promote a “Share the Road” ethic
• promotional initiatives to persuade people to ride or ride more often
• enforcement of traffic laws for both motorists and bicyclists
• future plans and evaluation techniques to improve conditions further

To vote for the official Spin City 2009 logo, visit www.alexride.org. To submit a logo entry, e-mail the logo as an attachment to yon.lambert@alexandriava.gov . There is a limit of one submission per e-mail. Logos can also be mailed to: Department of Transportation and Environmental Services, Attention: Pedestrian and Bicycle Coordinator, 301 King St., Room 4100, Alexandria, VA 22314.

For more information on the Spin City 2009 bicycle program, call Yon Lambert, the City’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Coordinator, at 703.838.4966, extension 183.

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