Bicycle Friendly Community

Fort Collins, CO | Gold Level

Community Highlights: Fort Collins, with its well integrated on and off-street bicycle network, has a long history of a deep and abiding commitment to bicycling. Local programs continually promote bicycle riding as alternative transportation to individuals, businesses, groups and families.  Fort Collins’ relatively flat terrain boasts 280 plus miles of wide bike lanes and 30 plus miles of bike trails that follow both the scenic Poudre River and Spring Creek. Bicycling is a fun, healthy and environmentally friendly way to see all that Fort Collins has to offer. The Fort Collins Bicycle Library lends bicycles to visitors, students and residents looking to explore the city. The city offers a variety of self guided tours from the "Bike the Sites" collection, including a Brewery Tour, Environmental Learning Tour and the Historic Tour. Fort Collins and the surrounding vicinity offers hundreds of miles of incredible road biking. From flat prairie and country roads to several steep canyons west of the City, Fort Collins offers world class road riding. Fort Collins also has miles upon miles of great mountain biking minutes from downtown. The city's comprehensive web site www.fcgov.com/bicycling provides information and links to numerous resources for bicycle safety. Additionally, Fort Collins' bike map contains safety information and is available at all public facilities throughout the city.

Most Significant Recent Accomplishment: The best achievement for Fort Collins is the growth and cohesiveness of the local bicycle culture. Their numerous educational and encouragement events and innovative bike programs, such as the FC Bike Library, are diverse and keep bicycling at the forefront of interest for residents and visitors alike.

Most Compelling Community Statistic: The American Community Survey reported that 5.2 percent of Fort Collins commuting population travels by bicycle. There are currently twelve active bicycle non-profit organizations the community.

Best Result of Designation: The BFC designation has been instrumental in gaining local, regional and national press on the bike friendliness of our community. It has helped brand Fort Collins as a bicycle friendly community to its residents and visitors. The town started the motto, "In Fort Collins bicycling is a way of life!"