Kane County Receives Honorable Mention in National Bicycle Friendly Communities Program

Kane County has earned an Honorable Mention from the League of American Bicyclists as part of its nationally recognized Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC) program, marking the first time the county has applied for the distinction.

The recognition comes as communities across the country work to meet growing demand for places that are easier and safer to navigate by biking, walking, and rolling. This year, the League acknowledged 79 new and renewing communities for their efforts to build environments that support bicycling through coordinated local and regional action.

Award recipients join a network of 444 communities nationwide that have been recognized for advancing policies, programs and infrastructure that make biking more accessible. The program encourages long-term progress by emphasizing planning, partnerships and investments that help raise standards over time.

Communities are evaluated using five key criteria: Engineering, Education, Encouragement, Evaluation & Planning, and Equity & Accessibility. Reviewers consider the entire community — including municipalities, schools, local organizations and residents — when determining how well an area supports people who bike.

As part of the process, Kane County​ received a detailed report card​ that includes feedback from League reviewers and survey responses from community members.

County officials said they plan to work with the League and regional partners to review the recommendations and identify next steps that could strengthen bicycling support throughout the county, with the goal of reapplying for a higher award level in the future.

In addition to the county’s recognition, the cities of Batavia and Aurora both renewed their Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community status during the current award cycle. 

For more on Kane County's efforts along with a bike map, click here. ​