FCC Certified as Silver Bike Friendly Business #bikedc #fcc #bfb

Today the League of American Bicyclists announced that the Federal Communications Commission (aka the Federal Cyclists Commission) has been certified as a Silver Level Bike Friendly Business. This achievement came about as a result of a marvelously committed management that works closely with staff to create a positive environment for bike commuters.  This came about as a result of an agency dedicated to fulfilling Executive Order 13514, Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance (calling for the reduction of greenhouse gases). The FCC has excellent secure bike parking, available fitness center showers, bicycle pumps and repair facilities.  The FCC is a Silver Partner with Capital Bikeshare (and we are looking forward to one day having a CABI station in the 12th and D SW neighborhood). The FCC celebrates bike to work day and month, has internal educational classes and promotes excellent WABA classes, and regularly participates in cycling challenges. Some of the top staff at the FCC are cyclists and bike to work.

Thank you League of American Bicyclists for your fabulous Bike Friendly America program.  This is one of those instances where the journey is more important than the destination.  I am thrilled that the FCC has been certified as a Silver Level BFB; but I am particularly thrilled about how important the BFA program has been to getting there.

Let me put it this way.  In the communications industry, we have best practices.  There are best practices for keeping power in the network.  There are best practices for keeping the network secure.  There are best practices that remind people to run their backup generators regularly.

And the BFA program is exactly that:  it is a list of best practices that promote cycling.  It is a list of best practices that sets out how to have excellent bicycle parking, that it should be secure, and that it should be at least as convenient (if not more convenient) as car parking.  It is a list of best practices for showers, for education, for having a bike coordinator, and much more.  The BFA program is a professional, expert list of best practices that I, as bike coordinator, can take to an wonderful management, partner together, and produce great results.

Thank you League of American Bicyclists for your excellent work.

And thank you FCC!  The best part of my day is my commute; biking along the Potomac River while watching the sun rise over the U.S. Capitol. I love my commute.