Bicycle Friendly Business District

What is a Bicycle Friendly Business District? 
Bicycle Friendly Business Districts (BFBDs) promote, encourage, and incentivize residents and visitors to make local trips by bike, on foot, or via transit. These districts enhance services and amenities for cyclists, walkers, and transit riders within business districts and commercial corridors by developing partnerships that include local governments, businesses, residents, and community groups.  

For businesses, a BFBD can mean more customers, increased sales, happier employees, and more parking options for visitors. For residents, BFBDs help create healthier, safer, and more attractive neighborhoods. For local governments, they can help reduce congestion, improve public health, and help spur economic activity.

LA Metro Pilot Program

In 2017 and 2018 Metro worked with Estelano-Lesar Advisors and Active San Gabriel Valley (ActiveSGV) to implement pilot Bike Friendly Business Districts in the San Gabriel Valley cities of Glendora and South Pasadena. In each pilot district, there were a series of recurring community events to highlight bicycle-friendly businesses (e.g., designated days when discounts would be offered; free bike valet at farmers markets; organized bike rides featuring a local business, etc.), emphasize bicycle safety (e.g., free bike safety classes), and promote access to public transit and other forms of active transportation. The project also included the installation of bicycle racks.

Through the work on the pilot BFBDs, Metro developed a BFBD Implementation Manual to help local governments, communities, and businesses build and sustain successful BFBD programs. The Manual includes guidance on: developing partnerships; selecting geographic boundaries; developing the program; marketing and promoting the program; considering complementary programs; and conducting program evaluation. It provides resources and program suggestions for local governments, community members, and business groups.

Although the pilot has officially come to a close, ActiveSGV has committed to carrying on the program and supporting businesses in the project area that wish to continue being recognized as "Bicycle Friendly Businesses." You can view a list of participating businesses by clicking on the link below.  

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