SOUTH BEND – Mayor Stephen J. Luecke has announced that South Bend is the first community in northern Indiana to be designated a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists.

            South Bend is now one of 158 communities in 43 states that have provided safe accommodation for cycling and encouraging residents to bicycle for transportation and recreation. Other communities in Indiana receiving the designation are Bloomington, Carmel and Indianapolis.

            “This award is presented only to communities with remarkable commitments to bicycling,” said Bill Nesper, director of the Bicycle Friendly America Program for the League of American Bicyclists.

            Said Luecke, “We’re proud of this national recognition of the progress we’ve made in South Bend with the development of trails along the St. Joseph River and bike lanes in our city streets. We will continue to work with our partners in the bicycling community such as the Bike Michiana Coalition and Bike the Bend, to increase bicycling alternatives and make South Bend a more livable community.”

            Luecke said South Bend has 52.4 miles of bicycle routes in the city that include 12.7 miles of multipurpose trails, 15.8 miles of striped bicycle lanes and 23.9 miles of designated on-street routes. For more information, visit www.SouthBendIN.gov/bike.