Delray Beach’s bright green bike paths have earned national safety recognition. Photo via Palm Beach Post
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Cyclists might find numerous areas throughout South Florida where their two-wheeled mode of transportation is welcomed. However, Delray Beach – a coastal municipality nested in the heart of Palm Beach County – has received national recognition for its’ cyclist-conducive streets.
Riddled with green bike paths that have sparked invigorating conversation amongst locals, Delray Beach’s Del Ida Historic District neighborhood has been crowned one of the top-45 safest cities for cyclists and pedestrians in the country.
Smart Growth America, a nonprofit research firm whose mission is “improving lives by improving communities”, graded cities across the United States, providing a score for each in their annual Best Complete Streets Policies report.
Each locale was evaluated on a scale of 0 to 100 based on predetermined criteria. These policies are in place to help increase and emphasize pedestrian and bicycle safety when it comes to street planning.
In their report, Delray beach scored a 92.8 – the most notable mark of any Florida city and top-45 in the entire country.
The study conducted by Smart Growth America analyzed over 500 cities throughout the U.S.
Delray’s policy focuses on safer roads for cyclists and pedestrians while also increasing driver awareness. Derived from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s direct recommendation to city officials, the recently-renovated roadways in Del-Ida’s Historic District were designed, specifically, to stimulate driver awareness while providing a welcoming thoroughfare for those utilizing alternative means of transportation.
While the bright green pathways previously may not have been a favorite of select residents, earning the title of safest community in Florida is nothing at which to scoff.
Concerns had been raised that bright colors were not symbiotic with the historic district but national safety recognition will silence even the harshest aesthetic critics.
With the new safety recognition, it seems that Delray Beach’s bright green bike paths are here to stay.
Smart Growth America’s Best Complete Streets Policies full analysis can be viewed here.
Other cities earning national safety recognition include:
City, State (Score)
- 1. Brockton, Massachussets (100.0)
- 1. Missoula, Montana (100.0)
- 1. Wenatchee, Washington (100.0)
- 2. Hull, Massachussets (98.4)
- 2. Mansfield, Massachussets (98.4)
- 2. Sherborn, Massachussets (98.4)
- 3. Bridgewater, Massachussets (96.8)
- 3. Brookline, Massachussets (96.8)
- 4. Chester, Massachussets (96.0)
- 4. Muskogee, Oklahoma (96.0)
- 5. Ayer, Massachussets (95.2)
- 5. Wales, Massachussets (95.2)
- 5. Binghamton Metropolitan Transportation Study, New York (95.2)
