Cieslewicz Kicks Off Bike to Work Week,

Promotes Initiative to Make Madison the Best Bicycling City in America

Madison - Mayor Dave Cieslewicz joined the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin today to launch the annual Bike to Work Week. At the State Street press conference, the mayor discussed plans to make Madison the best city in the country for bicycling. "All of the great cities for bicycling - such as Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Boulder, Portland, and Davis - have become great cities for bicycling because of the visionary actions of citizens and government," said Mayor Cieslewicz. "The time is ripe for Madison to become the best city in America for bicycling." The Mayor formed the Platinum Biking City Planning Committee last fall with two primary goals: • Achieve the "Platinum" designation level through the League of American Bicyclists Bicycle Friendly Communities program (Davis, CA is the only city in the nation to currently hold this designation). Madison currently holds a "Gold" designation; and • Put forward a roadmap - or bike path - for Madison to become the best city in the country for bicycling. Madison has long been one of the best places to bicycle in America. The work of the Platinum Biking Committee will propose improvements to conditions for bicyclists in the City that would make Madison a national model. The Platinum Biking Committee's work is focused on: 1. Transportation Choice 2. Safe Routes to School 3. Complete Streets 4. Recreational Opportunities 5. Inter- and Intra-Governmental Cooperation 6. Partnerships with the Private Sector 7. Innovation The committee will be meeting throughout the summer to gather public input, with a final report expected this fall. That report, in combination with similar reports on commuter rail, streetcars and the Madison Metro bus system, and an ongoing evaluation of street construction and improvement needs, will form the blueprint for a comprehensive transportation vision for the City of Madison.