Mayor Bill Haslam helped unveil a sign announcing that Knoxville is a "Bicycle Friendly Community" and officially accepted that designation from the League of American Bicyclists during a Tuesday morning ceremony in Tyson Park.

Haslam joined Mike Nix, a member of the League's Board of Directors, and Kelley Segars, with the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization, to unveil the sign from the bicycling group that that will be posted in the city. The city will install at least one additional sign and perhaps more than that at locations across Knoxville.

The 300,000-member League of American Bicyclists recognized the city as one of its "Bike Friendly Communities" last month. Knoxville, which along with Baltimore, made the list on its third try, received a Bronze designation from the bicycle group. Segars and the TPO led the city's effort to earn the hard-to-get recognition.

Cities earn the designation by taking steps - in areas ranging from engineering and education to enforcement, encouragement and evaluation - to welcome cyclists by providing a safe environment for riders and encouraging people to bike for transportation and recreation.

Knoxville bronze designation places it in a category that includes cities ranging from Santa Monica to Tulsa to New York City.

Haslam said Knoxville has made significant efforts to encourage people to ride and to increase bicycling opportunities in recent years and is committed to continuing those efforts in the future.

You can learn more about the Bike Friendly Community program at www.bikeleague.org.