Bicycle Friendly Community

Columbia, MO| Silver Level

Community Highlights: As part of the Federal Highway Administration's Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot program, GetAbout Columbia was created in 2006 to help encourage bicycling in Columbia. The organization distributes bicycle safety materials, offers bicycle safety classes, and organizes community bicycle events. Due to their and others' efforts, Columbia has become a much more enjoyable place to ride with multiple cycling activities throughout the year. There is the Way To Go To Work program that concentrates on outreach efforts to reward and educate cyclists; Errand Bike - a program where bicycles are placed in different business locations for employees to experience the benefits of using a bicycle for their short trips; Cycle Recycle - a program where 200 bicycles are fixed per year and re-distributed to those in need; Earn A Bike - a program that mentors 5th - 8th graders in bicycle mechanics and rewards them with a bicycle; and Neighbors on the Go - a program which educates residents to try alternative transportation modes.

Most Significant Recent Accomplishment: The GetAbout Columbia project has a program called Bike Safe which is a 30-minute presentation given to children in K-3rd grades in 14 of the 17 Columbia Public Elementary Schools.