Posted Wednesday, January 7, 2009 --- 11:30 a.m.

From the Mayor's Office:

Madison – In an effort to further enhance and encourage bicycling throughout the Madison community, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz today launched new Platinum Bike initiatives, unveiling the GO·GO promotional campaign and AT&T Bike Guide.

“Madison has long been one of the best places to bicycle in America,” Mayor Cieslewicz said. “I am committed to building on that success and earning national recognition as a Platinum Bike City.”

In 2007, the mayor created the Platinum Bike Committee to put forward a plan for Madison to become the best city in the country for bicycling. The committee continues to make visionary improvements to biking conditions in Madison, now partnering with Waldbillig & Besteman to launch a new marketing campaign to make sure residents know about all the resources the city provides to bicyclists.

"Biking is a big and growing part of our economy," Cieslewicz said. "Major bike manufacturers and bike accessory companies are located here providing jobs and income. In addition, we know that cities that are known as bicycle friendly communities enjoy a positive national image that can help keep and recruit businesses and employees. So, when we do things like this we aren't just recognizing the importance of biking to the local economy; we're expanding and building on that importance."

The GO•GO campaign was developed to reflect the committee’s inclusive and positive vision for biking in Madison. Waldbillig & Besteman designed a logo and other promotional elements using a grassroots, community-driven approach.

"Bicycling is a healthy activity for not only individuals, but entire cities – reducing pollution, energy use and congestion,” Mayor Cieslewicz said. “Thanks to the work of the Platinum Bike Committee, the new GO•GO campaign will be another step to make Madison truly one of the best cities in the nation for cycling.”

Mayor Cieslewicz was joined by Scott T. VanderSanden, president of AT&T Wisconsin, to unveil the new AT&T Bike Guide. The guide will be part of the AT&T Real Yellow Pages for Madison/Dane County, which will be distributed to more than 650,000 homes and businesses from mid-January through February.

“We’re proud to be part of this community-wide effort,” VanderSanden said. “Developing and distributing the Bike Guide is a great opportunity to serve and support Madison in its work to connect residents to some of the best urban bike trails in the country."

The Platinum Bike Committee was formed by Mayor Cieslewicz in 2007 to help Madison achieve Platinum ranking as a Bicycle Friendly Community from The League of American Bicyclists and to make Madison the best city in the country for bicycling.

The GO•GO campaign materials and AT&T bike guide are available at http://www.cityofmadison.com/mayor/documents/GOGOlogos.pdf.