Bicycle Friendly State

Resources

The BFS Resources page was developed to equip State Bicycle Coordinators with some fundamental information to assist in filling out the questionnaire.

This page is divided into five sections to coincide with the on-line questionnaire and provides good examples of programs, policies, and standards from around the country.

Program staff is also available and eager to assist you, please email bfa@bikeleague.org or call 202.822.1333.

Legislation and Enforcement

• The National Conference of State Legislatures guide “Encouraging Bicycling and Walking: The State Legislative Role” can be found here.
• A full listing of laws and regulations pertaining to bicycles can be found here.
• Information on bicycling in the Uniform Vehicle Code can be found here.
• The League of American Bicyclists opposes mandatory side path laws and any legislation that would restrict bicyclist access to roads as operators of vehicles. The  League’s position on this topic can be found here. For a pdf format, click here.
• For information regarding helmet laws for your state please visit www.helmets.org/helmlaws.htm. Also see the League’s position on helmet use.
• States that require a safe passing distance of 3 feet or greater can be found here.
• Information on photo enforcement can be found here.
  
• Information on state laws restricting cell phone use can be found here.
• Examples of officer bicycle and pedestrian law trainings can be found here and here.

Programs and Policies

• 2008 American Community Survey (ACS) bike commuting mode share numbers can be found here.
• League of American Bicyclists supports Complete Streets that are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and bus riders of all ages and abilities are able to safely move along and across a complete street. For more information please visit completestreets.org and for examples of statewide policies see here and here.
  
• Examples of mountain biking plans or MOU/MOA’s with mountain biking organizations can be found here and here.
• For examples of carbon emission reduction plans, click here.

• Cyclists often travel across city, county and even state boundaries. For an example of bike facility coordination with neighboring states click here.

Infrastructure

• Information on FHWA’s rumble strip recommendations can be found here. Information on Colorado’s bicycle-friendly design can be found here and here.

• Information about Bicycle Level of Service (BLOS) can be found here.

• Information on Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) can be found here and here.

• For information to determine your state’s obligation rate for Transportation Enhancements click here.
• Information on Safe Routes to School go here and here.
• Information on Recreational Trails Program (RTP) click here.
• Information on State Planning & Research (SPR) can be found here.
• For information on 2009 SRS, RTP, CMAQ and TE rescissions go here and here.

• For an example of a statewide bicycle route network, click here and here

• Breakdown of Transportation Enhancements, CMAQ and Recreational Trails as percentage of August 2010 rescissions, click here.
• For information on national US numbered bike routes, click here.
• For percentage of Transportation Enhancements funds under American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dedicated to bike/ped click here.
• For more information on the liability issues of bikeways see the National Cooperative Highway Legal Digest

• For context sensitive design guidance see - Oregon’s Main Street…When a Highway Runs Through It and Maryland’s When Main Street is a State Highway

Education and Encouragement

• For information on League of American Bicyclists Bike Ed classes being offered in your state, as well as a listing of current League Certified Instructors (LCI’s) click here.
• For an example of a statewide “Share the Road” campaign click here.
• For an example of Safe Routes to School Curriculum click here and here.
• For an example of a state Bicycle Driver’s Manual click here.

• For an example of a statewide bicycle map, click here.
• For information about state and large city advocacy organizations, click here.
• For an example on bicycle tourism promotion, click here.
• To find number of people cycling to work according to the 200 Census Journey to Work study, click here and for the most recent American Community Survey (ACS) data click here.

• Building good Bicycle Advisory Committees

Evaluation and Planning

• For an example of bicycle usage rates listen within a State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), click here and here.
• For examples of statewide bicycle plans, click here.
• For uniform guidelines on bicycle safety for your state Highway Safety Plan click here.
• For an example of an active State Bicycle Advisory Committee, click here.

• For NHTSA cyclist fatality rates, click here.

• Click here for the American Community Survey rates of bike commuting by state.
• For examples of statewide Bicycle Summits, click here.