Bicycle Friendly Community

Baton Rouge, LA | Bronze Level

Community Highlights: Creating a Bicycle Friendly Baton Rouge is an investment for the future of the city. Mayor-President Melvin L. "Kip" Holden has championed a push to make the City of Baton Rouge America's next great city. Bicycle facility improvements translate into a 2.5 million dollar investment by the City of Baton Rouge during difficult economic times. These investments in addition to education and encouragement efforts, such as the three mountain biking parks and velodrome, welcome the citizens and vistors of Baton Rouge to get on their bikes and ride.

Most Recent Significant Accomplishment: The city launched the Healthy Baton Rouge Initiative, which will triple the amount of bike facilities within the next year. Baton Rouge will increase bike facility improvements from 23.4 miles to 67.6 miles by June 2010. The city is also benefitting from a new state law, The Colin Goodier Protection Act, which says motorists must give 3 feet of space when passing.

Current Activities to Promote Bicycling: Baton Rouge poudly promotes Bike Month, Mayor's Family Bike Day, Healthy Baton Rouge Initiative, Baton Rouge Advocates for Safe
Streets 2009 Velo, Velo Rides, Dr. Colin Goodier Memorial Ride, and VEER movie screening.