Simsbury Public Library Awarded Bicycle-Friendly Designation

SIMSBURY, CT — The Simsbury Public Library has been recognized for its efforts to become more bike-friendly, officials announced this week.

The League of American Bicyclists gave the library a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) designation, and Library Director Lisa Karim said it is the first library in Connecticut to be recognized with that distinction.

To become more bike-friendly, over the last decade the Simsbury Public Library has implemented 64-hour-a-week access to water bottle refiling stations, outdoor solar charging stations, multiple bike racks and a bicycle repair station, officials said.

Bikers can even borrow repair tools for their bike through the library's Library of Things.

"We've worked strategically for many years to support bicycling for all ages in our community," Karim said in a statement. "We're grateful for the collaborative relationship we've created and maintained with the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee. This award would not have been possible without their support."

Now that the library has BFB designation, the League will provide it with more tools and technical assistance to become even more welcoming to bikers, officials said.

"Library Director Lisa Karim and the entire staff do an amazing job keeping our library ahead of the curve both on the trails and technologically," First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis said in a statement. "Earning the Silver Bicycle Friendly Business designation gels nicely with the roll out of our new book bike, which allows the library to provide outreach activities throughout the community."