City leaders brainstorm on how to become a "Bicycle Friendly Community"

Today, Mayor Julian Castro, members of the City Council and staff, and community and corporate leaders took part in a workshop hosted by the City's Office of Environmental Policy (OEP) to discuss how to make San Antonio a "Bicycle Friendly Community."
 
The workshop was led by Bill Nesper, Director of The League of American Bicyclists "Bicycle Friendly America Program." During the workshop, attendees discussed the conditions of bicycling within the community. They assessed the issues affecting bicycle safety and use, learned about the successes of other communities as well as initiatives being pursued in San Antonio, and brainstormed about obstacles and opportunities. After the meeting, attendees took part in an afternoon bike ride from Main Plaza to the Mission Trail. Local experienced "ride leaders" were recruited to help out.

As part of OEP's mission to increase the bicycle community within San Antonio, they have established a program called "San Antonio Bikes." The mission of the program is to focus on making the bicycle network accessible, direct, and continuous thereby raising the visibility of cycling as an alternative mode of transportation within the San Antonio community. Raising bicycle ridership for daily use and ensuring bicycle safety are the fundamental goals of the program.

For more information on the program, contact Julia Diana at (210) 207-6321.