Orlando awarded bicycle award for turning the City Beautiful into the City Bikeable!

Get on you bike, because Orlando is a great place to cycle according to the League of American Bicyclists.

The atonal organisation has recognized the City of Orlando with a Gold Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) award, earning it a place alongside more than 1,500 businesses across the country contributing to the movement to build a more Bicycle Friendly America.

The City was recognized for its investments in biking infrastructure and amenities at Orlando City Hall, including safe bike parking, bike repair stations, bike safety trainings, a bike share program, employee showers and incentives such as bike commuter benefits.

“Orlando has been hard at work transforming the City Beautiful into the City Bikeable — a world-class, economically vibrant, sustainable city with multi-modal transportation options for residents and visitors alike,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “The Bicycle Friendly Business program highlights the partnerships needed to make such a city a reality. We’re proud that Orlando can lead by example and delighted to be one of the hundreds of cities across the U.S. making infrastructure investments at the municipal level, supported by local businesses that welcome and celebrate their employees and patrons that arrive by bike.”

The City also worked with local Main Street, the Milk District, to help eight businesses also receive awards through the BFB program for a total of 13 winning local businesses:

Bike/Walk Central Florida, Platinum Certification

Kyle’s Bike Shop, Gold Certification

HDR Inc., Silver Certification

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., Silver Certification

VHB, Silver Certification

À La Cart, Bronze Certification

Alchemy Salon, Bronze Certification

Barley & Vine Biergarten, Bronze Certification

Inwood Consulting Engineers, Inc., Bronze Certification

Juice Bar, Bronze Certification

Sideward Brewing Co., Bronze Certification

The Nook on Robinson, Bronze Certification

Whippoorwill Beer House and Package Store, Bronze Certification

As part of the BFB network, the City of Orlando and these businesses will have access to a variety of tools and technical assistance from the League to become even more welcoming to people who bike.

As studies show, when people bike, they experience improved physical and mental health, decreased carbon footprint, easy and quick parking options and an opportunity to enjoy the surrounding beauty of the City Beautiful.

“Orlando is ready to ride and creating a solid mobility foundation for all users is paramount within our transportation department. Each business that becomes bike friendly brings us one ride closer to a network that is connected, accessible and innovative,” said Tanya Wilder, director of the Transportation Department at the City of Orlando.

The City of Orlando bicycle network consists of over 45 miles of off-street trails, over 50 miles of signed routes and over 265 miles of bicycle lanes. In Orlando’s urban core, the city’s Transportation Department is working toward making Downtown a more walkable, bike-friendly destination with two-waying streets, widening sidewalks and creating a well-connected urban trail system.

In 2023, portions of the Downtown Loop, including the North Quarter Urban Trail Gap and the Downtown Connector Trail Gap, will be completed to help further the 8.5-mile trail through the greater downtown Orlando area to provide residents with a car-free option to access shopping, dining, entertainment, parks, offices and services, with the entire Loop expected to be complete in summer 2025.

“This round of awardees features shining examples of current and aspiring Bicycle Friendly Businesses working in tandem to boost the number of places in their community where traveling by bike is not only possible but encouraged,” said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. “Orlando City Hall and the Mik District businesses highlighted recognize this and are putting in the work to make bicycling a real transportation and recreation option for all.”

The City of Orlando encourages local businesses to apply for the Bicycle Friendly America program, which awards designations based on the five qualities of engineering, education, encouragement, evaluation, and equality and accessibility.

Examples of bicycle friendliness include hosting events that support bicyclists, encouraging customers and/or employees to arrive by bike and providing facilities that make bicycling to their establishments easier, such as bike parking.

Businesses are encouraged to contact the city's transportation department for assistance in applying. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2023.