A section of New Ulm’s Bike Circle Route located between S. 7th and S. 8th Street. New Ulm recently renewed its Bicycle Friendly Community designation. Photo by Clay Schuldt

NEW ULM — New Ulm has been designated a bronze‒level Bicycle Friendly Community for the second time, the Parks and Recreation Commission learned Monday. 

The recognition comes from the League of American Bicyclists and reflects ongoing efforts to improve safety, infrastructure and education for cyclists and pedestrians.

Parks and Recreation Director Joey Schugel said the designation is awarded on a five‒year cycle and credited the New Ulm Bicycle Club for leading the application process. 

New Ulm Bicycle Club representatives Bob Beck and Alice Johnson presented an overview of the work that contributed to the renewal.

Beck said the group’s main goal is to make New Ulm a safe and friendly place for bicyclists and pedestrians to walk. The club sponsors rides, educational events and policy discussions with city staff. 

Beck said recent street projects already show the impact of the city’s Complete Streets policy.

Johnson said the group has focused on safety and community participation. 

She highlighted the importance of speed‒limit reductions in school zones.

“Reducing the speed limit from 30 to 25 reduces the mortality rate from 90 percent to twenty percent,” Johnson said.

Th club also hopes to increase the number of bicycle‒friendly businesses downtown and expand opportunities for residents to use bicycles for transportation as well as recreation. 

“You don’t have to be a big town to have bicycle‒friendly businesses,” Johnson said.

The application process required extensive data collection, including demographics, engineering details and information from city departments, schools and regional partners. 

Beck said New Ulm is one of 33 Minnesota communities to receive at least a bronze designation. He said that the club meets weekly and maintains a public ride schedule.

“Pretty much anybody can join us,” Johnson said. “If you can’t find our events, let us know.”

Commissioners thanked the representatives for their work and asked what steps would be needed to reach a silver designation. 

Johnson said the biggest challenge is collecting consistent usage data, such as trail counts and commuting numbers, because equipment has been stolen or removed in the past. 

She said ongoing evaluation of Complete Streets implementation would also be necessary.

The Commission voted unanimously to receive and file the Bicycle Friendly Community report and the designation renewal.