Bicycle Friendly Community

Simsbury, CT | Bronze Level

Community Highlights: Simsbury has a long history of financially supporting and developing bike and multi-use trails, beginning with the Bike Trails Committee's establishment of one of the first "rails trails" (Central New England) in 1972. With construction of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, along with a signed on-road system, Simsbury has a good on/off street balanced network.  Simsbury has established an excellent support system through collaboration with the Capitol Region Council of Government (CRCOG), Farmington Valley Trails Council, its Bicycle Advisory Committee, the Farmington Valley Visitor's Assoc., and the Simsbury Main Street Partnership. Simsbury has endorsed and is committed to implementing the Complete Streets Policy, education programs, and publicity to encourage biking. These goals are detailed in the Region's Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, and require cooperation with CRCOG, Central Connecticut Bicycle Assoc., the League of American Bicyclist, and the Rails to Trails Conservancy.  Simsbury's 2007 Plan of Conservation and Development sets a goal to "actively pursue creating clearly marked bicycle lanes on our roadways and/or designated multi-use paths to be used for transportation in lieu of automobiles."