The League of American Bicyclists recognized the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) with a Silver Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) award, joining more than 1,100 visionary businesses from across the country. With the announcement of 73 new and renewing BFBs today, MTD joins a cutting-edge group of 1,132 local businesses, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies in 49 states and Washington, D.C., that are transforming the American workplace.
“The business community’s investment in bicycling is playing a central role in making the country a safer, happier, and more sustainable place to live and work,” said Amelia Neptune, League Bicycle Friendly Business program manager. “We applaud this new round of businesses, including MTD, for leading the charge in creating a bicycle-friendly America for everyone.”
Being bicycle friendly saves local businesses and communities money as research shows that people who bicycle save money not only on transportation but also in health care costs. MTD encourages bicycling as an easy option for transportation and provides amenities such as bicycle racks on all its buses and bicycle parking at major transit hubs, and has been a leader in supporting bicycling as a mode of transportation. MTD’s efforts to create a bicycle friendly community helped secure the $16.7 million dollar TIGER grant for the MCORE project that is rebuilding core transit routes to improve safety for all roadway users, including bicyclists.
"I welcome the news that the League of American Bicyclists is recognizing MTD as a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Business,” says Jeff Yockey, executive director of Champaign County Bikes. "This award recognizes MTD not for their work in the community, but their work and commitment to their employees! MTD practices what it encourages: an active transportation lifestyle.”
Moving forward, MTD will have access to a variety of tools and technical assistance from the League to become even more bicycle-friendly.
