Table of Contents:
Introduction
Potential Louisiana Bicycle City Locations
Alternative Energy Organizations & Companies in Louisiana
Louisiana Animal & Wildlife Groups
Louisiana Business Organizations & Resources
Louisiana Education Organizations & Resources
Louisiana Environmental Groups
Louisiana International Organizations
Louisiana Government
Other Useful Links
Conclusion
Known for its unique culture and landscapes", Louisiana would be a prime site for a potential Bicycle City, LA. The state is covered with lakes, bayous and rivers headlined by the end of the mighty Mississippi River, as well as ocean shoreline," according to Netstate.com http://www.netstate.com/states/geography/la_geography.htm. Louisian’s climate is semitropical and creates the lush green plant life found all over the state", notes City-Data.com," http://www.city-data.com/states/Louisiana-Climate.html.
There are five national parks across the state filled with history and natural preserves", states the National Park Service," http://home.nps.gov/applications/parksearch/state.cfm?st=la", which offer many outdoor activities that could be enjoyed by potential Bicycle City, La., community members, business employees or tourists.
A forward-thinking plan by the state’s agriculture community would find support and augmentation from planned sustainable agriculture goals of a prospective Bicycle City, La. The state is Louisiana is looking for a long-term change in its farming options," and is seeking and implementing methods to increase its organic farming potential as well as organic products consumption by its residents according to the Sustainable Farming Connection http://www.ibiblio.org/farming-connection/localcon/groups/loa.htm.
The environmental-consciousness of the state is boosting an established focus on alternative energy use in the state. Several options exist from the natural resources in the state for resources like biomass and solar energy", according to the U.S. Department of Energy," http://www.eere.energy.gov/states/alternatives/resources_la.cfm.
The best sites for Bicycle City", LA, development appear to be about 50 miles outside these cities and towns:
Alexandria, LA
Population: 46,342
Average Annual Rainfall: 61.44 inches
Average Monthly High Temperatures: Jan 58; Feb 63; Mar 70; Apr 77; May 84; Jun 90; Jul 93; Aug 93; Sep 88; Oct 80; Nov 69; Dec 61
Water: Philip Bayou, Dry Bayou, Sandy Bayou, Bayou Rapides
Adjacent public land: Kitsatchie National Forest
Zip Codes: 71301,71302,71303, 71306 71307,71309, 71315
Other highlights: Alexandria Zoo, Genealogical Library," numerous city parks
Baton Rouge", LA
Population: 227,818
Average Annual Rainfall: 63.08 inches
Average Monthly High Temperatures: Jan 60; Feb 64; Mar 71; Apr 77; May 84; Jun 89; Jul 91; Aug 91; Sep 87; Oct 80; Nov 70; Dec 63
Water: Capitol Lake, College Lake, Campus Lake, City Park Lake, Lake Crest, University Lake, Bayou Duplanier, Elbow Bayou, Lively Bayou
Adjacent public land: Leeward Park, Longfellow Park
Zip Codes: 70801-70827
Other highlights: Louisiana Art and Science Museum, Baton Rouge Zoo
Houma, LA
Population: 32,393
Average Annual Rainfall: 63.67 inches
Average Monthly High Temperatures: Jan 63; Feb 66; Mar 72; Apr 78; May 84; Jun 89; Jul 91; Aug 91; Sep 87; Oct 80; Nov 72; Dec 66
Water: Little Bayou Black
Adjacent Public Land: Harmond Park, Legion Park
Zip Codes: 70360,70361,70363, 70364
Other Highlights: Terrebonne Park, Garner’s Getaway
Lafayette, LA
Population: 110,257
Average Annual Rainfall: 62.17 inches
Average Monthly High Temperatures: Jan 62; Feb 75; Mar 72; Apr 78; May 85; Jun 89; Jul 91; Aug 91; Sep 88; Oct 81; Nov 72; Dec 64
Water: Francois Coulee, Bayou Saint Clair, Coulee Mine, Coulee des Poches
Adjacent Public Land: Scott Park," Girard Park
Zip Codes: 70501-70509
Other Highlights: Lafayette Natural History Museum
Lake Charles", LA
Population: 71,757
Average Annual Rainfall: 57.19 inches
Average Monthly High Temperatures: Jan 61; Feb 65; Mar 71; Apr 77; May 84; Jun 89; Jul 91; Aug 91; Sep 88; Oct 80; Nov 71; Dec 63
Water: Lake Charles, English Bayou, Bayou Contraband
Adjacent Public Land: Prien Lake Park, Huber Park
Zip Codes: 70601-70616
Other Highlights: Imperial Calcasieu Museum, Contraband Days
Metairie, LA
Population: 146,136
Average Annual Rainfall: 64.16 inches
Average Monthly High Temperatures: Jan 62; Feb 65; Mar 72; Apr 78; May 85; Jun 89; Jul 91; Aug 91; Sep 87; Oct 80; Nov 71; Dec 65
Water: Lake Ponchartrain
Adjacent Public Land: Lafreniere Park
Zip Codes: 70001-70011
Other Highlights: Jeff Fest annual music festival
Monroe, LA
Population: 53,107
Average Annual Rainfall: 53.34 inches
Average Monthly High Temperatures: Jan 56; Feb 62; Mar 70; Apr 78; May 85; Jun 92; Jul 94; Aug 94; Sep 89; Oct 80; Nov 68; Dec 59
Water: East Bayou Lake, Prong Youngs Bayou
Adjacent public land: Black Bayou National Wildlife Refuge
Zip Codes: 71201-71213
Other Highlights: Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo
Natchitoches, LA
Population: 17,865
Average Annual Rainfall: 54.93 inches
Average Monthly High Temperatures: Jan 57; Feb 62; Mar 70; Apr 77; May 84; Jun 90; Jul 93; Aug 93; Sep 88; Oct 79; Nov 68; Dec 59
Water: Chaplin Lake, Breda Lake, Cane River
Adjacent Public Land: Highland Park
Zip Codes: 71457,71458, 71497
Other Highlights: Cane River National Heritage Area, Court House Museum
Shreveport, LA
Population: 200,145
Average Annual Rainfall: 51.3 inches
Average Monthly High Temperatures: Jan 56; Feb 62; Mar 70; Apr 77;
May 83; Jun 90; Jul 93; Aug 93; Sep 88; Oct 78; Nov 67; Dec 59
Water: Cross Lake, Twelvemile Bayou, Red River
Adjacent Public Land: Arthur Ray Teague Park, Cypress-Black Bayou Rec. Area
Zip Codes: 71101-71109, 71148-71154
Other Highlights: Spring Street Historical Museum, Pujari Watercolor Gallery
Slidell, LA
Population: 25,695
Average Annual Rainfall: 62.66 inches
Average Monthly High Temperatures: Jan 61; Feb 64; Mar 71; Apr 77;
May 84; Jun 89; Jul 91; Aug 91; Sep 88; Oct 80; Nov 71; Dec 64
Water: Bayou Patassat, Bayou Vincent. Lake Ponchartrain
Adjacent Public Land: Bogue Falaya Park, Fairview-Riverside State Park
Zip Codes: 70458-70461
Other Highlights: Fort Pike, Slidell Museum," White Kitchen Boardwalk
Potential Locations Source List
US Census Bureau http://factfinder.census.gov
The Weather Channel http://www.weather.com
United States Postal Service http://www.usps.com/
City Data http://www.city-data.com
City of Alexandria http://cityofalexandriala.com/home.asp
Official Baton Rouge Government Website http://brgov.com
Parks in Lafayette Parish http://www.lafayettela.gov/ParksAndRecreation/dpt600ParksList.asp
Metairie.com http://www.metairie.com
City of Monroe http://www.monroela.us
Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau http://www.shreveport-bossier.org/
Slidell"," LA http://www.go2slidell.com/
Zip Code Finder- Addresses.com http://zipcodes.addresses.com/zip_code_lookup.php
Your Bicycle City Louisiana Trail to More Information
Alliance for Affordable Energy", New Orleans," LA http://www.all4energy.org/renewable.html
Emo Energy Solutions", New Orleans," LA http://www.emoenergy.com/
LSU Center for Energy Studies", Baton Rouge," LA http://www.enrg.lsu.edu/
Louisiana Solar Energy Society", Baton Rouge," LA http://www.lses.org/
Renewables Council of Louisiana", New Orleans," LA http://www.renewla.com/
Southeastern Regional Biomass Partnership", Baton Rouge," LA http://www.serbep.org/
Acadiana Humane Society", Sunset," LA http://www.acadianahumane.org/
All Creatures Rescue", Lake Charles," LA http://www.allcreaturesrescue.com/
Capital Area Animal Welfare Society", Baton Rouge," LA http://www.caaws.org/
Louisiana Audubon Council", Baton Rouge," LA http://www.louisianaaudubon.org/
Louisiana Wildlife Federation", Baton Rouge," LA http://www.lawildlifefed.org/articles_detail.cfm?id=56
Baton Rouge Area Chamber", Baton Rouge," LA http://www.brac.org/site.php
Lafayette Economic Development Authority", Lafayette," LA http://www.lafayette.org/site.php?pageID=1
Louisiana Business Network International (BNI)"," Marietta GA http://www.louisianabni.com/
Louisiana Department of Labor http://www.ldol.state.la.us/
Southern United States Trade Association", New Orleans," LA http://www.susta.org/
World Trade Center of New Orleans", New Orleans," LA http://www.wtc-no.org/
Louisiana Department of Education http://www.doe.state.la.us/lde/index.html
Louisiana State University", Loyola University, Southern University, Tulane University, University of Louisiana," Xavier University. Click here for a full list of Louisiana College/universities. http://www.regents.state.la.us/school.htm
CCA Louisiana: Coastal Conservation Association", Baton Rouge," LA http://www.ccalouisiana.org/cca/
Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana", Baton Rouge," LA http://www.crcl.org/
Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation", Metairie," LA http://www.saveourlake.org/
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality", Baton Rouge," LA http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/
Louisiana Department of Natural Resources", Baton Rouge," LA http://dnr.louisiana.gov/
Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN)", Baton Rouge," LA http://leanweb.org/
Louisiana Environmental Research Center", Lake Charles," LA http://www.mcneese.edu/lerc/
Alliance Francaise de New Orleans http://www.af-neworleans.org/
Asian Pacific American Society", New Orleans," LA http://www.apasneworleans.com/welcome/apas.html?CFID=45392017&CFTOKEN=63104757
Caledonian Society of Baton Rouge http://www.csbr.org/
Celtic Society of Louisiana", Baton Rouge," LA http://www.celts1.com/
Daughters of the British Empire (DBE) in Louisiana http://www.dbeinla.org/
Deutsches Haus", New Orleans," LA http://www.deutscheshaus.org/
Official Web Site of the State of Louisiana http://www.state.la.us/wps/wcm/connect/Louisiana.gov/Home/
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development http://www.dotd.state.la.us/
Louisiana Secretary of State http://www.sec.state.la.us/
Louisiana State Legislature http://www.legis.state.la.us/
Office of the Governor http://www.gov.state.la.us/
State Library of Louisiana http://www.state.lib.la.us/
Louisiana Office of State Parks http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/
Louisiana Sea Grant http://www.laseagrant.org/
The Urban Conservancy http://urbanconservancy.org/
A lush backdrop and unique cultural setting as well as the ongoing need to rebuild many communities in the wake of the disastrous Hurricane Katrina could create a solid location and support for a prospective Bicycle City", Louisiana. As the state moves towards more green options with alternative energy resources and increased emphasis on organic farming, this environmentally-friendly potential could be strengthened by the example and support of a possible Bicycle City, La.
