In what was one of her last public appearances as Gainesville’s mayor, Pegeen Hanrahan celebrated May as Gainesville Bike Month Monday afternoon at city hall.
During the press conference, non-profit organization Bike Florida designated Gainesville as a 2010 bicycle-friendly community.
“I’m not surprised we are ranked so high,” said Kelci Dennison, a wildlife ecology senior. “Gainesville is pretty conducive to biking with all of the bike lanes around and natural trails as well.”
Dennison, who has been biking for a year, said she enjoys many of Gainesville’s biking trails like those in Paynes Prairie.
Hope Howland-Cook, executive director of Bike Florida, presented Gainesville with the award. The recognition comes not long after Bicycling Magazine ranked Gainesville the 16th-best bicycle community in the U.S.
Also at the conference, representatives from the City of Gainesville announced that the city will create several miles of new biking trails and paths.
“Our biggest goal is to raise awareness and to make it known how easy and safe cycling really is,” Howland-Cook said.
The City of Gainesville Public Works Bicycle/Pedestrian Program is working to increase bicycle-transit safety and residents’ desire to use bikes as their main form of transportation.
The board plans to improve bicycling routes between northwest Gainesville and UF, said William Baruch, the chair of sub-committee for the Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Board.
Heavy rain did not prevent Baruch from riding his bike to the event. He simply used a plastic bag to keep his bike seat dry.
“It’s one thing to get your shoulders wet, “ Baruch said. “But not your rear end.”
Gainesville Commissioner-elect Randy Wells, the previous Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Board chairman, said projects like these will help build Gainesville’s identity.
“Making Gainesville bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly ties in with the kind of development we want to see in our city,” Wells said.
