After getting spurned two years ago, Healdsburg has been named a “Bicycle Friendly Community,” solidifying its status as a welcoming place to pedal around town or venture onto surrounding country roads.
The League of American Bicyclists gave the designation to Healdsburg last month, following a series of measures taken by the city to improve bike safety and improve its chances of attaining the award.
Officials say it not only fits Healdsburg’s reputation as a premier cycling destination, but can help encourage more local residents to use bikes for transportation.
“Healdsburg, along with the rest of Sonoma County, is really a Mecca for bicycling, and it seemed we had the obligation to put in the work to start down the road of ‘Bicycle Friendly Community,’” said City Councilman Tom Chambers, an avid cyclist.
“It would be a nice culture if we could have more pedestrians and bicycles out there, as opposed to getting into the car every day,” he said.
Healdsburg joins Sonoma and Windsor as the only other cities in Sonoma County to achieve Bicycle Friendly recognition. All have “bronze” status, lower than silver, gold, and the ultimate platinum designation.
Nationally, only four communities have platinum: Davis; Boulder, Colo.; Fort Collins, Colo.; and Portland, Ore.
The City Council is scheduled to formally accept the award at its meeting today, which starts at 6 p.m.
Healdsburg already is trumpeting its bike-friendly status by installing street signs that incorporate a logo of a winged bicycle wheel.
Officials say there are a number of fairly obvious reasons to encourage cycling, ranging from reducing traffic to lessening pollution and promoting physical activity.
“It’s one of those things everyone can get behind. It’s a good, wholesome activity,” Chambers said.
“I hope it changes people’s minds to get on their bikes a little more,” said Tina Lindenberg-Kirchner, Healdsburg’s administrative services director, who oversaw the application for the award.
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