Across the U.S., the Bicycle Friendly map just got a little more crowded—in a good way.
On Jan. 29, the League of American Bicyclists announced 79 new and renewing Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) awards, recognizing towns, cities, and regions that are putting in the work to make everyday cycling safer, easier, and more appealing. The latest round brings the total number of currently awarded Bicycle Friendly Communities nationwide to 444, a signal that demand for bikeable places isn’t slowing down—it’s spreading.
What makes the BFC program resonate with riders isn’t flashy infrastructure alone. The League looks at how communities bake cycling into their systems: policy, planning, education, encouragement, and long-term investment. It’s about creating places where riding a bike isn’t a special activity, but a normal way to get around.
“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.”
The big picture
One of the strengths of the BFC program is its focus on continuity. Cultural change takes time, and bike networks don’t appear overnight. Communities are encouraged to institutionalize progress—through staff roles, interdepartmental coordination, and long-range plans—so momentum survives election cycles and budget shifts. That’s why many places steadily move up the award ladder over years, sometimes decades.
This round shows that arc clearly, with movement at every level.
At the top
Only five communities have ever reached Platinum, the highest level in the BFC program, and two of them—Fort Collins, Colorado and Davis, California—successfully renewed their status this year. Maintaining Platinum isn’t about coasting; it requires continued excellence across infrastructure, safety, education, and community engagement.
Two communities reached Gold for the first time: Provo, Utah and Alameda, California. Both have spent years building from lower award levels, a reminder that steady, incremental improvements can add up to major recognition. Aspen and Durango in Colorado, along with Minneapolis ( photo at top), renewed their Gold status, reinforcing their place as consistently strong cycling cities.
Alameda, California
Movers and shakers
Eight communities moved up to Silver, with particularly strong applications noted from Cleveland, Ohio; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Springfield, Oregon. Another twelve renewed their Silver awards, including Anchorage, Alaska and Flagstaff, Arizona. Silver-level communities often stand out for connecting the dots—linking infrastructure with education, encouragement, and cross-agency collaboration.
The largest group this round sits at Bronze, with 52 communities recognized. Five of them earned Bronze on their very first BFC application, a rare achievement. Bowling Green, Kentucky is one of seven communities that moved up to Bronze after previously receiving Honorable Mention or no award at all. A League-led Bicycle Friendly Community workshop in 2023 helped Bowling Green focus its priorities, showing how targeted guidance combined with local commitment can accelerate progress.
On the path
Thirteen communities received Honorable Mention, signaling meaningful progress and clear potential. These places receive detailed report cards from the League, outlining specific steps they can take before reapplying in future rounds.
What it looks like on the ground
Behind the award levels are real-world changes that riders notice.
In Springfield, Oregon (Silver, moving up; population 61,851), regional collaboration is a big part of the story. Springfield works closely with neighboring Eugene—already a Gold-level community—to align planning, funding, and infrastructure across city lines. The result is a more connected bike network, supported by education programs, encouragement campaigns, and placemaking. City leaders note that new residents are increasingly citing bike paths and amenities as reasons they chose to move there.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Silver, moving up; population 137,710) has focused on building internal capacity. More staff across departments are now involved in cycling efforts, with planners, community development teams, and public works coordinating on trails, bikeways, and public engagement. That kind of behind-the-scenes alignment is often what turns good intentions into consistent results.
In Morehead–Rowan County, Kentucky (Honorable Mention; population 24,409), investment in biking and walking has delivered measurable economic returns. After implementing a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and improving corridors like East Main, tourism revenue hit a record $53.4 million in 2022. It’s a clear example of how cycling infrastructure can support local business, jobs, and broader community vitality.
Miami-Dade County, Florida (Silver, moving up; population 2.7 million) shows how regional thinking can matter just as much as local action. Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties coordinate through the Southeast Florida Transportation Council, aligning planning and developing a regional greenways and trails network. Shared initiatives like the Safe Streets Summit help push a consistent approach to complete streets across municipal boundaries. The goal, according to the county, is straightforward: safe, joyful, and practical biking for every resident, regardless of neighborhood or income.
A shared journey
Taken together, the 79 new and renewing Bicycle Friendly Communities underscore a simple truth riders already know: better biking doesn’t come from a single project. It comes from sustained effort, collaboration, and a willingness to keep improving.
Communities interested in joining—or rejoining—the BFC list can apply by June 17, 2026, for the next review round. For riders, advocates, and planners alike, the growing map of Bicycle Friendly Communities is both a progress report and a roadmap for what’s possible when cycling is treated as a core part of everyday life.