[Durham INC] City of Durham Named Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Business

[Blalock, Amy]

CITY OF DURHAM

Office of Public Affairs

101 City Hall Plaza

Durham, NC 27701

 

 

News Release

 

For Details, Contact:

Amy Blalock

Sr. Public Affairs Specialist

(919) 560-4123 x 11253

(919) 475-7735 (cell)

Amy.Blalock at DurhamNC.gov

 

 

 

 

For Immediate Release: April 19, 2012

 

 

 

City of Durham Named a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Business

League of American Bicyclists Recognizes City for Sustainable
Alternative Commuting Options

 

DURHAM, N.C. - The League of American Bicyclists has recognized the City
of Durham as a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Business. With the
announcement of 67 new businesses this week,  the City of Durham joins a
group of more than 400 local businesses, government agencies, and
Fortune 500 companies across the United States that are transforming the
American workplace. 

 

"The City of Durham is at the forefront of a movement to make American
businesses more competitive, sustainable, and attractive to the best and
brightest employees," said Andy Clarke, president of the League of
American Bicyclists. "An investment in bicycling enhances employee
health, increases sustainability, and improves the bottom line." 

 

According to The League, by winning the silver level award, the City of
Durham will now have access to a variety of free tools and technical
assistance from the League to become even more bicycle-friendly.

 

"It is an honor to be recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as
a Bicycle Friendly Business, and we look forward to more employees
bicycling to work," said City Transportation Department Director Mark
Ahrendsen. "We encourage other businesses in Durham to make their sites
bicycle friendly for their employees and customers."

 

The City of Durham encourages bicycling by employees as an easy option
for transportation by providing amenities such as bicycle racks,
showers, and lockers, and incentives such as bike safety and maintenance
classes. Currently there are about 20 employees who regularly bicycle to
work. Several employees are "mixed-mode" commuters, who make part of
their trip by bike and part by Durham Area Transit Authority or Triangle
Transit buses.

 

According to Ahrendsen, when employees bike to work, the organization
and the employee can experience the following benefits:

*       Improved health of employees, potentially resulting in lower
health insurance premiums.

*       Reduced burden faced by the City to provide and maintain parking
spaces for employees who drive to work.

*       Increased employee productivity and decreased absenteeism due to
a healthier workforce.

*       Reduced air pollution and congestion on local and regional
roadways due to a decrease in single-occupancy motor vehicle use.

 

For more information about cycling in Durham, contact Dale McKeel,
bicycle and pedestrian coordinator with the City's Transportation
Department, at (919) 560-4366, ext. 36421 or by email at 
Dale.McKeel at DurhamNC.gov.

 

About the Bicycle Friendly America Program

The Bicycle Friendly Community, Bicycle Friendly State, Bicycle Friendly
Business, and Bicycle Friendly University programs are generously
supported by program partners Bikes Belong and Trek Bicycle's One World,
Two Wheels Campaign. To learn more about building a Bicycle Friendly
America, visit www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica
<http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/> . 

 

The League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness,
and transportation and works through advocacy and education for a
bicycle-friendly America. The League represents the interests of
America's 57 million bicyclists, including its 300,000 members and
affiliates. For more information, visit www.bikeleague.org
<file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\bill.BIKELEAGUE.000\Local%20Setti
ngs\Temporary%20Internet%20Files\Content.Outlook\Local%20Settings\Tempor
ary%20Internet%20Files\Meghan\Local%20Settings\patrick.BIKELEAGUE\Local%
20Settings\Temporary%20Internet%20Files\OLK2DA\www.bikeleague.org> .

 

About the City's Transportation Department

The City of Durham Transportation Department is responsible for a broad
range of transportation services, which include traffic signs and
signals, transportation planning, parking operations, street lighting,
the taxicab administration and bicycle and pedestrian planning. The
City's Transportation Department also oversees the Durham Area Transit
Authority (DATA) public transportation system as well as the DATA ACCESS
service for persons with disabilities. The City of Durham leads planning
functions for the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning
Organization (DCHC-MPO). The City's Transportation Department helps to
strengthen the foundation, enhance the value, and improve the quality
and sustainability of neighborhoods that are necessary for a strong and
diverse community. For more information, visit  
http://DurhamNC.gov/ich/op/dot <http://durhamnc.gov/ich/op/dot> .

 

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