LAB Announces Bicycle Friendly State Program - Can Iowa Make the Grade?

The League of American Bicyclists have announced their new Bicycle Friendly State program.

From the LAB website: A Bicycle Friendly State promotes cycling through legislation, policies, programs, and by creating new places to ride, educating motorists and cyclists, and encouraging people to bike for transportation and recreation.

First of all, let me say, there is a lot of check marks in the YES column. The Iowa DOT has been very proactive on multi-modalism and bicycles are a big function. Secondly, Iowa is naturally good for bicycling, with abundant paved roads and a culture of hospitality.

Can we do better? Yes, more public lands and better policies will make a difference. I don't think the BFS program is a catalyst for bicycling changes in Iowa, but it help focus our goals into a cohesive vision.