On the playground of Bryant Elementary School in Long Beach today, Mayor Bob Foster received the Golden Bicycle Award from nationally recognized bicycling safety organization, Safe Moves. Mayor Foster was given the award for his outstanding support on bicycle safety and for being a role model for Long Beach youth by encouraging them to use their bicycle.

“I’m proud to receive the Golden Bicycle Award,” said Mayor Bob Foster. “I rediscovered biking three years ago and now I ride at least 100 miles a week. This recognition from Safe Moves is very special as it’s awarding me for something that I love to do.”

“Thirty years ago more than 66% of children walked or bicycled to school. Nationally only 13% walk or bike now, but in Long Beach the numbers of children walking and bicycling are growing every day. The reason for this is the leadership of the Mayor and the commitment from the City to promote bicycling.” said Pat Hines, founder of Safe Moves.

After receiving the award, Mayor Foster rode his own bicycle in a bike rodeo with the students of Mrs. Holmes’ 4th/5th grade class. The bike rodeo is part of a special, in-school instruction for elementary and middle school students in Long Beach on how to safely navigate city streets. The Safe Moves bike rodeos are provided by the City of Long Beach’s Safe Routes to School Program which is funded by a federal grant from Caltrans.

About Safe Moves

Safe Moves is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to educating children and their families on traffic safety. Since 1983 Safe Moves has served thousands of schools in California to decrease the number of traffic-related collisions among children under the age of 18. Safe Moves is considered one of the leading authorities on traffic safety and has won many national awards from the United States Department of Transportation, National Highway Administration, Department of Health Services, California Office of Traffic Safety and the Association of Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Professionals. For more information, please visit www.safemoves.org and www.bikelongbeach.org.

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Mayor Foser received the Golden Bicycle Award from Safe Moves

Top photo caption: Mayor Foster with Pat Hines (center), founder of Safe Moves and students of Bryant Elementary School.