The City of Davis broke away from a pack of cities to be named Friday as the new home of the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame.
"I'm ecstatic," said City Councilman Stephen Souza, echoing comments from others in the bike-crazy city of 64,000 residents.
Canton has the Football Hall of Fame, Cooperstown hosts baseball's immortals.
And now, Davis, often called the "bicycle capital of the United States," will have its own artifact-filled museum where star cyclists will be inducted each year.
Davis beat out Greensboro, N.C., to capture the bicycling hall, which for two decades has been in Somerville, N.J.
Bill Brunner, who chaired the hall of fame search committee, said Davis was chosen because it embraces the bicycle like no other U.S. city.
Davis has more than 100 miles of bike paths and bike lanes. Davis Mayor Ruth Asmundson noted that the bike hall's relocation is logical given that the town was recognized as the first "platinum level" bicycle friendly city by the League of American Bicyclists.
The hall asked communities to submit proposals in light of redevelopment planned for the current location in Somerville. About 50 communities were interested and 11 submitted proposals. Greensboro and Davis were visited by selection team members.
"The distinguishing difference between Greensboro and Davis was that Davis was so bicycling friendly," said Brunner. "All those bike lanes and the sheer number of people who use the bicycle as a method of transportation or recreation or sport."
The hall's museum is filled with artifacts such as trophies, jerseys and bicycles from greats such as Major Taylor and Greg Lemond. The museum also inducts bicycling stars every year into the hall.
"When we started this home search process, our intent was to be the Cooperstown of Cycling," said Brunner.
Bicycling is being embraced by people during a time of high gas prices, concern about health and the green movement, he said.
Councilman Souza said there are several possible temporary locations being discussed, including one city-owned site downtown that now houses a teen center, at Third and B streets.
A permanent location could be on the block at Third, Fourth, E and F, said Souza. He said the hall could be in temporary digs by the end of the year.
The news of the big move to Davis, this year's host of Stage 1 of the Amgen Tour of California, was also noted by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger:
"No other state embraces the fitness and environmentally responsible lifestyle of cycling more than the Golden State," Schwarzenegger said in a press release.
Call The Bee's Bill Lindelof, (916) 321-1079.
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