GULF SHORES — As Gulf Shores declared National Bike Month, City Planner Andy Bauer gave a presentation on the city's bicycle-friendly infrastructure. And a status that only Gulf Shores has attained among cities in Alabama.

City council met April 27 in a regular session and unanimously agreed to the declaration.

"Gulf Shores is a silver-level bicycle-friendly community as designated by the League of American Bicyclists," Bauer told council. "We are the highest rated bicycle-friendly city with the only silver designation."

Bauer said the month will include several events, including:

• National Ride a Bike Day – May 3

• Bike to School Day – May 6
• Bike to Work Week – May 11-17
• Bike to Work Day – May 15

"You don't have to have a kid in school to participate," Bauer said of Bike to School Day. "It's fun to get out there and ride your bike with 50 to 100 of the elementary students."

Recent and ongoing projects that will benefit bicyclists and pedestrians include:

• The completion of a 7-foot-wide sidewalk on East First Street from East 15th Avenue to East 20th Avenue.
• Streetscaping on East Second Street in the area of the under-construction pedestrian bridge, which will also add 38 parking spaces and wider sidewalks.
• New "share-the-road" signs on Cotton Creek Drive and Coastal Gateway Boulevard.
• A crosswalk at West 12th Street across State Route 59 to the east side of the road for access to restaurants and the Backcountry Trail.
• West First Avenue streetscape behind the new Embassy Suites Hotel is nearing completion and will add 37 parking spaces as well as 10- and 14-foot sidewalks.

More improvements are likely in the future, Bauer said.

"We recently hired a firm to complete a comprehensive plan, and within the plan will be a multi-modal transportation section which will address vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian and other forms of transportation," Bauer said. "There will be many public meetings, so I encourage our citizens to come out to those meetings once they are announced. It's your opportunity to participate in the comprehensive plan."