Contact: Ann Deasy, 625-6318

Spokane is a “Bicycle Friendly Community,” and new signs are being installed to tout this achievement.

This summer, the League of American Bicyclists awarded Spokane the honor of a Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly Community. Signs have been installed on Howard St. near its intersection with Cataldo Ave., and on High Dr. near 43rd Ave. Three more signs will be installed in other locations later this summer.

The sign on Howard has been installed just in time to show it off to participants in the new Summer Parkways event, which is scheduled for Sundays, July 11 and Aug. 22. For the event, Howard Street between Riverfront and Corbin parks will be closed to all motor vehicles and open to all human-powered transportation, including bikes, skateboards, and walking.

“This award is a big deal for Spokane,” says Grant Wencel, the City of Spokane’s Bicycle-Pedestrian Coordinator, who will have a booth at the Summer Parkways event. “We are making significant strides in improving our community for all kinds of cyclists.”

Spokane was one of 16 new cities to receive the bicycle friendly award in 2010. The program is designed to revolutionize the way communities evaluate their quality of life, sustainability, and transportation networks.

Mayor Mary Verner contributed the City’s success, in part, to a variety of recent accomplishments, such as the completed Master Bike Plan, bicycle events like Spokefest and Bike to Work Week, and projects like the Fish Lake Trail.

More information on the award can be found at: BicycleFriendlyCommunities.org. For more information on Summer Parkways visit: SummerParkways.