Sedona AZ (October 4, 2011) – The League of American Bicyclists, headquartered in Washington, DC announced in May that Sedona, Arizona was awarded the Bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community designation. Signs have been posted at entrances to the City to inform residents and tourists of this designation.

Sedona joins Chandler, Flagstaff, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Tempe and Tucson as Arizona Cities that have been designated Bicycle Friendly Communities. Across the United States there are 179 cities that have received the Bicycle Friendly Community designation, a list that includes Sister, Oregon with 1,200 people and New York City with 8 million.

The Sedona project started when Mayor Rob Adams addressed the annual meeting of the Verde Valley Cyclists in May of 2010. Mayor Adams challenged the cyclists to work toward becoming a Bicycle Friendly Community as part of his vision for Sedona to become a sustainable community.

David Singer, who serves unpaid as the City of Sedona Bicycle Coordinator, completed an application for the designation early in 2011. The application required providing information regarding over 200 items in five categories referred to as the Five E’s  (Engineering, Enforcement, Evaluation and Planning, Education, and Encouragement).  

In the future, the City of Sedona hopes to rise to the silver and gold designation levels as it becomes even more bicycle friendly. Projects planned prior to July 2012 include the placement of several bicycle parking stands within the community. Work is currently underway to sign a bicycle route stretching between Dry Creek Road and Soldier Pass Road that will utilize Sanborn and Carruth roads.

Singer is coordinating the second annual Mayor’s Bike Ride for spring 2012. For more information about Bicycle Friendly Communities visit www.bikeleague.org/blog/category/league-news/bicycle-friendly-communities.

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