Bicycle Friendly Community

Knoxville, TN | Bronze Level

Community Highlights: Knoxville is making great strides in their bicycle friendliness - bike counts have tripled just within the past five years! The city hosts community rides such as the Neighborhood Bike Ride (which turned 10 this year) and the Tour de Lights (more than 450 people turned out in 2009 for this weekday evening ride in December). May is Smart Trips Month in Knoxville, which promotes bicycling, transit use, carpooling and walking. In 2010, they had more than 15 free beginner bike rides, 9 free bike maintenance classes, as well as prizes to the person with the Longest Bike Commute and the Most Miles Biked during the entire month. They also gave away two commuter bikes as part of their second Commuter Bike Essay Contest. The Smart Trips program is an opportunity to bring major employers into the fold. Bike to Work Day included five "BTW Convoys" so that people can ride together from various origins. Bike maintenance classes are offered by every bike shop for free during Smart Trips Month. With the City of Knoxville, Transportation Planning Organization, Health Department, hospitals, universities, police, major companies and public working together, Knoxville is making its mark on the Bicycle Friendly America map.