After a one-year hiatus in which the program criteria were retooled, the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) released its Bicycle Friendly State rankings today. Utah has moved from fifth to eighth place in the rankings.
The Bicycle Friendly States assessment is a League of American Bicyclists program that comprehensively evaluates each of the 50 states in five categories: legislation and enforcement, policies and programs, infrastructure and funding, education and encouragement, and evaluation and planning.
Utah’s highest individual scores were in the areas of legislation and enforcement, evaluation and planning, and education and encouragement. Click here to see Utah’s 2017 Bicycle Friendly State Report Card.
“While we’re disappointed to see a drop in our rankings, we’re actually getting ready to announce a number of new initiatives for 2018 that will enhance our bike friendliness,” said Phil Sarnoff, executive director of Bike Utah.
“Also, it’s important to bear in mind that this ranking is not necessarily a reflection that progress in Utah has slowed. Rather, it shows how much other states, like Colorado and California, have increased their efforts.”
He summarized, “The good news is, these rankings show that many states across the country are actively working on improving bicycling.”
When Utah applied to the League’s Bicycle Friendly program in 2009, it was ranked 18th. It then slipped to twenty-first and thirty-first in 2010 and 2011, respectively. However, in 2012, Utah began its ascendancy, moving up the rankings to thirteenth, then fourteenth in 2013, 8th in 2014, and 5th in 2015.
To see each state’s ranking, report card, and learn more about the data used for the ranking please visit the following links:
“The ranking isn’t just about bicycling, but an indicator of how we view Utah’s future,” added Sarnoff. “Businesses are much more focused on quality of life for their employees and this includes access to recreation, better transportation options, air quality, and personal health. Improving bicycling makes Utah a better place to live and that, in turn, raises its prominence nationally and globally. It’s another opportunity for Utah to be a trendsetter.”
For more information about the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly State program, visit www.bikeleague.org/
