The City of Hoboken and Bike Hoboken today announced that the League of American Bicyclists named the City a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community in honor of the City’s efforts to build a stronger bicycle network. The silver-level rating is the highest in New Jersey and is a distinction shared only with Princeton, NJ. Hoboken joins over 400 communities recognized across the country for their commitment to creating cycling resources that benefit residents while encouraging healthier and more sustainable transportation options.
“As both Mayor and a regular cyclist, I’m proud that our community has earned a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community award,” said Mayor Emily B. Jabbour. “Choosing eco-friendly and efficient ways to get around reflects our commitment to a healthier and more connected city. Our goal has always been to make Hoboken safer and more accessible for everyone, and this recognition shows that we are on the right path. We will keep working with our residents and partners like Bike Hoboken to improve our bike network and aim to reach even higher in the Bicycle Friendly Community rankings in the years ahead.”
“Earning a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community designation is a tremendous honor that reflects Hoboken's commitment to making our streets safer and more accessible for people of all ages and abilities,” said Executive Director of Bike Hoboken Andrew Wilson. “This recognition validates the hard work of city officials, advocates, and residents who have championed protected bike lanes, traffic calming measures, and bicycle infrastructure investments. We're excited to build on this achievement and continue our work to make Hoboken even safer in the years ahead.”
The Silver-level designation marks an improvement for the City which was previously ranked a Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community in 2016. Since then, the City and Hudson County have used grants, roadway resurfacing and maintenance projects, utility projects, and other public improvement projects to install bike lanes on almost half of Hoboken’s streets. In 2021, Citi Bike expanded to Hoboken, and since then, the bike share service has enabled more than 2 million bicycle rides throughout the city.
During the past year, the City has continued to support cycling by approving a new contract with Citi Bike, piloting a protected bike lane on Grand Street, and requiring the maintenance of safe bicycle connectivity during major construction projects along Sinatra Drive, Observer Highway, and Newark Street. Officers with the Hoboken Police Department also support the monthly Community Bike Ride, organized by Bike Hoboken, to ensure a safe ride.
Over 900 communities applied for recognition by the Bicycle Friendly Community program, which provides a roadmap to making biking better for communities of various sizes. This round of awards includes 79 new and renewing awardees, joining a total of 444 current Bicycle Friendly Communities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The BFC award also recognizes Hoboken’s commitment to improving conditions for all people who bike through investments in bike education programs, regular bike events that promote and encourage people to choose biking, pro-bike policies, in addition to its bike infrastructure.
“Building better places to bike is a shared effort,” said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. “The communities recognized here are part of a growing national movement, taking practical steps to support bicycling as a safe, accessible, and valuable part of everyday life.”
While the award process considers very visible elements such as bike infrastructure, other essential elements include efforts around adult and youth bike education, encouragement through events like Bike to Work Day, evaluation mechanisms, and enforcement all through the lens of equity. The rigorous application process is an educational tool in itself and includes an opportunity for local bicyclists and active transportation advocates to provide input on their experiences and perceptions of bicycling in their community.
The League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly America program sets the standard for how communities build and benchmark progress toward making biking better. The League strives to provide continual updates to the application as part of our commitment to help communities raise their standards for safety, equity, and accessibility.
To learn more about the BFC program, visit bikeleague.org/community.
About the League of American Bicyclists
The League of American Bicyclists leads the national movement to create a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. With a history dating to 1880, the League is committed to engaging diverse communities and building a powerful, unified voice for change around protecting and promoting bicyclists’ rights. Learn more at www.bikeleague.org.
