The Bicycle Friendly Community program was launched by Share the Road Cycling Coalition in Canada in August 2010 in partnership with the Washington based League of American Bicyclists. 

The program helps municipalities become better places for people to ride bikes, by providing incentives, hands-on assistance, and award recognition for communities that actively support bicycling.

Thanks to the program, communities can measure their bicycle friendly efforts against an established set of criteria which clearly identifies the type of programs, projects, policies, and plans that contribute to a strong and safe cycling community.

The online application form is divided in five key themes that are vital to creating a strong culture of cycling: Engineering, Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, Evaluation & Planning (also called the 5 Es). Every municipality that applies receives an action-oriented feedback report and municipalities that qualify are recognized with awards of Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond.

Since BFC launched the program in Ontario in 2010, Share the Road has engaged directly with over 100 municipalities and recognized 42 municipalities as Bronze, Silver or Gold. Ontario does not have a Platinum or Diamond community yet.

The other major goal of the program is strengthening connections with municipalities.
“We have watched this program grow in Ontario and are thrilled to be taking it national,” said Ian Jack, CAA spokesperson. “Cities and their politicians compete to get higher awards, giving them another incentive to implement better bike programs, to the benefit of all road users.”

The first application round for municipalities outside of Ontario will open in the Fall of 2019.