A couple lock their bikes to commercial bike racks near a facility. Developers can earn LEED credits for adding bicycle parking racks to their apartment or office buildings

Did you know that you can earn LEED credits for  providing commercial bike racks at your facility?

LEED is a highly recognized third-party verification program for green buildings—it stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Its innovations are changing the way people think about planning and constructing buildings. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, an incredible 1.85 million square feet of space is certified daily.

Property managers, homeowners, CEOs of businesses, and all kinds of people are interested in earning LEED credits with a

 

The trend continues - more cities are creating bicycle master plans, investing in bike infrastructure and requiring bike rooms in new buildings

There's no doubt about it - bicycling infrastructure continues to grow in America as we see more bicycle master plans,  bike lanes, bike-share programs, bicycle racks, bike rooms and bike laws.

According to the Census Bureau, 43 of the 70 largest cities in the US saw an increase in 2015 in bike

As urban populations grow, bicycle planning in cities is more critical than ever

By Gerald Dlubula

"Contrary to belief, our cities are alive and well, and we ought to be designing them as such, with walking, biking, and transportation modes that offer better and easier access."

So says Andy Clarke, Director of Strategy at Toole Design Group, one of the nation's leading planning, engineering, and landscape architectural firms specializing in bicycle and pedestrian transportation.

"The perceived importance of bike and pedestrian planning in developments

Entrance to Delray Beac

What does it take for a small town to overcome obstacles thrown in its path and eventually turn itself into an award-winning city?

Delray Beach is one prime example. The transition this municipality made from a village by the sea faced with several challenges to one of the most successful small towns in Florida is a noteworthy study in how to get the right things done.

All along residents believed they lived in a special place, and they passed on that belief from one generation to another. That mindset became the driving force to take some bold steps to revitalize the town and a philosophy to keep innovating and never stop making improvements.

Some residents will point to one particular period in the town's history as an example of how this

Cristan Hassan Acosta Villafane teaches woman to ride a bike provided by Bikes for the World (Source: All photographs supplied courtesy of BikesfortheWorld.org)

Bicycling for most Americans is a leisure activity. Something we do on weekends or evenings.  We often take bicycles for granted.

But in Third World countries, a bicycle can be a game-changer - a tool for earning a living, attending school, or saving a life.  Farmers can carry their produce to market.  Tradesmen can carry their tools over a wider service area and earn more.

Students living at a distance from school can get there quicker, on time, and with more energy to learn.   Health workers serving low-income communities can move from household to household faster, carrying more medications and serving more patients.

That's where Bikes for