Jacksonville wins bicycle friendly award

[Lucasjj]

...the League of American Bicyclists awarding Jacksonville an honorable mention in its list of 2009 Bicycle Friendly Communities.

Meghan Cahill,  spokeswoman for the League of American Bicyclists, said the award does not imply that bicycling is good in Jacksonville.

“An honorable mention means that a city has potential and is putting out an effort to be more bike-friendly,” Cahill said. “It’s our way of telling them to keep up the good work.”

Phil Foreman, co-owner of Champion Cycling, which has stores in Arlington, Mandarin and Jacksonville Beach, said the honorable mention puzzled him.

“It’s certainly true that it’s gotten better in the last few years,” he said. “But compared to other communities, we are still way behind.”

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-11-17/story/jacksonville_wins_bicycle_friendly_award_%E2%80%94_to_the_surprise_of_many_area_

[ac]

Isn't there a way to recognize progress without sending the message to TPTB that what they're doing is adequate?  Call me cynical, but how long before this recognition is cited to "prove" the city is doing enough?

This reeks of touchy-feely "everyone gets a trophy" mentality.

[Ocklawaha]

Don't sweat the small stuff guys, the award is from the "American Bicyclist award printing and pizza," over in Brooklyn. The back door to the place is where we print the awards from the "American Excellence in Transit" and our "Great City" awards.

NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER SURRENDER!

OCKLAWAHA

[Reaper man]

wait, WHAT?!

As a bicyclist (since you know, I don't have a car or anything) I've noticed quite a few places where there aren't any bike lanes and/or sidewalks where you can safely ride.  On top of that, a few of the bridges have no sidewalks either (hart and matthew bridges come to mind)

This is a joke, really.