College Park Designated Bronze-Level Bicycle Friendly Community for First Time

College Park has been designated a Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists, the first time the city has received that recognition. City officials say the award highlights years of work to expand trail connections, improve crossings and strengthen bike routes across College Park.

The City announced the designation on February 5, 2026. The League of American Bicyclists awards Bicycle Friendly Community status to municipalities that take meaningful steps to support safer and more accessible bicycling through policy, infrastructure, programs and community support. Mayor Fazlul Kabir framed the designation as a milestone for local transportation planning and outreach: “The City has been working to make College Park a more bicycle friendly community with designated bike lanes, miles of interconnected hiker-biker trails, and bicycle friendly events like Bike to Work Day” said Fazlul Kabir, Mayor of College Park, “We look forward to building this momentum and continuing work toward a safer, more connected transportation network for all.”

College Park joins Rockville, Annapolis, Frederick, Ocean City and Salisbury as Maryland communities that have earned Bronze-level status. The designation gives residents and planners a concrete benchmark as the city and the University of Maryland explore deeper coordination on bike policy and programs. Thomas Worth, bicycle program manager at the University of Maryland College Park, has noted that completing application processes can serve as an evaluation tool and a spur for new offerings: “Completing this application provides an excellent reflection and evaluation tool. We see our strengths and growth and opportunities for improvement. In the coming semesters, we would like to develop and promote more robust toolkits for free or discounted biking resources for vulnerable and marginalized campus populations.”

Nationally, communities participate in the League’s Bicycle Friendly America programs alongside businesses and universities. One external snapshot lists 460 Bicycle Friendly Communities, 1,192 Bicycle Friendly Businesses and 209 Bicycle Friendly Universities as part of that network. Other campuses and cities have used the League’s feedback to upgrade programs; Jay Price, sustainability manager at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, described how feedback and an Honorable Mention helped elevate a campus effort into a priority: “After receiving our Honorable Mention and feedback, our university moved a Bicycle Friendly University designation to a priority. We have since followed guidance to create a stronger program, committing to bicycling on campus and working hard to engage as many stakeholders as possible.”

For residents, the Bronze-level designation should translate into more visible commitments from city hall and potential new projects to improve safety for people who bike. The League of American Bicyclists is a national 501(c)3 based in Washington, DC, at 1612 K Street NW, Suite 1102; its phone number is 202-822-1333. Looking ahead, College Park leaders and University of Maryland partners can use the League’s feedback to prioritize crossings, trail connections and outreach so the city’s next application builds on this first-time recognition and aims for stronger standing in future review cycles.