Jefferson City officials are asking the public to fill out an online survey regarding cycling as part of the city's bicycle-friendly community designation application process.
An application for a national bicycle-friendly community designation was made in August by a group containing members and employees from the city, the Bureau of Community Health and Wellness, the Jefferson City Police Department and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.
The BFC designation is through the League of American Bicyclists, an organization promotin bicycle-friendliness in communities. The LAB asked the city to submit online surveys from the community to "gain a better understanding of local bicyclists' experiences," according to a news release.
Area residents can take the survey at surveymonkey.com/r/BFC_FA17_JeffersonCityMO. It will be available until Sept. 30.
BFC awards will be announced in November.
If awarded, the designation would mean Jefferson City welcomes the bicycling community, Environmental Quality Commission Vice Chair Ashley Varner said.
Shortly before submitting the application, the city's Environmental Quality Commission resurrected its bicycle subcommittee, which will be headed by Varner, who is also healthy communities coordinator and wellness navigator at Capital Region Medical Center.
To receive the BFC designation, a city has to earn a certain number of points, awarded for different things the city does to promote cycling, such as creating bike lanes, installing bike racks and hosting cycling events.
The points translate into ranks: bronze, silver, gold, platinum and diamond. The designations are for four years.
The BFC designation focuses on the five Es: engineering, evaluation and planning, education, encouragement and enforcement.
Missouri communities that currently have BFC designations are Clayton, Columbia, Ferguson, Kansas City, Lee's Summit, Springfield and St. Louis.