ABOVE: BIKE FRIENDLINESS. Eau Claire recently
received a bronze “Bike Friendly Community”
rating from the League of American
Bicyclists, a non-profit organization and
one of the largest bike advocacy groups
in the country.

The City of Eau Claire is now among the top cycling friendly cities, according to the League of American Bicyclists.

Eau Claire recently received a bronze “Bike Friendly Community” rating from the League, a non-profit organization and one of the largest bike advocacy groups in the country. Though it’s the lowest medal honor they have – hey, man, at least we medaled. And that shows we’re on the right path to being a sweet bike city.

“This is an exciting step forward that will speak to visitors to Eau Claire as well as to the citizens that we are creating a great place to ride bikes,” says Bob Eierman, member of the city’s Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Commission. “It becomes a marketing piece, it becomes an identity piece for the city. A bronze designation means you’ve got a pretty good start.”

Eau Claire became the fourth city in the state to earn a certification from the group, joining Madison, Milwaukee, and La Crosse. The community has been working to develop a solid transportation and trail system for some time, Eierman said. We currently have 13 miles of stellar trails in the city, and Parks & Rec has plans laid out for much more in the future.

Said trails connect to destinations that highlight the area’s natural beauty and common gathering spots near the city center. Also featuring picnic areas and historical markers, the trails are a good mix for hardcore cyclists as well as leisurely pedalers.

This medal is a major benefit for Eau Claire, as we will now have the reputation of a “bicyclist friendly” city. But that’s not to say we don’t have work ahead of us. “We need to help people realize that bikes are a form of transportation for commuting and shopping just like cars are,” Eierman said.

With gas prices hovering around $4 a gallon and the sunshine showing, it’s a great time to hop on a bike and take a trip around one of the friendliest bicyclist cities in the state.