Bike Rankings: #1 for WA, Bronze Level For Tacoma

Here’s some fun news just in time for the first day of Bike Month: Washington was named the number one most bicycle-friendly state in the U.S. by the League of American Bicyclists.

The annual rankings of bike-friendliness are based on a number of factors, including infrastructure and funding to provide bicycle facilities, education and encouragement programs to promote cycling, and passage and enforcement of bike-friendly laws to make it safe and comfortable for people of all ages to ride. The state scored a five out of five in the “legislation and enforcement” and “education and encouragement” categories, and four out of five for its “policies and programs.”

When the League released its rankings of bike-friendly communities last year Tacoma was awarded bronze level ranking, meaning we’ve got some things to be proud of, but also plenty of room for improvement. Among the supporting factors listed with Tacoma’s bike-friendly ranking are recent bicycling investments and signature biking events.

 

• The City of Tacoma dedicated $500,000 of its Energy Efficienty and Conservation Block Grant money for bike improvements in a project called “Going for the Bronze,” and an additional $500,000 in bond funds for capital improvements.

 

• Dozens of action items in the Comprehensive Plan’s Transportation Element to build the foundation for safe and comfortable bicycle facilities across all neighborhoods and reaching all destinations in Tacoma.

 

• Designated Mobility Coordinator to oversee bicycle and pedestrian policies, programs and issues.

 

• Council adopted Green Transportation Hierarchy in 2010 that prioritizes pedestrians, then bicycles, then transit, placing single occupancy vehicles at the bottom of the list. The Green Transportation Hierarchy is the guiding symbol for the city’s infrastructure improvements.

 

• Advancements in education for city public works staff regarding bicycle facilities and complete streets design.

 

• Events including Tacoma-Pierce County Bike Swap, Daffodil Ride, Tacoma Criterion, Tacoma Wheelmen’s Bicycle Club rides, Bike to a Better Tacoma, ZeitBike at the Tacoma Art Museum, and Women’s Bike Ride Across the Narrows.

The ranking also lists some coming bicycling improvements for Tacoma, focusing on the 13 miles of bikeway the city is in the process of completing. The bikeway will connect south Tacoma with northwest Tacoma, and will include wayfinding signage, intersection enhancements, traffic calming elements, and a new bike boulevard symbol that may be the first female cyclist symbol in the U.S. The 13 miles will be the foundation of Tacoma’s bicycling network and will connect with schools, parks, trails, points of interest and downtown Tacoma.

There’s always room for improvement, especially in planning and infrastructure, and according to the general press release, Colorado, the number two-ranked state, has its sights set on Washington’s number one spot. So while we celebrate with a sunny bike ride, what other improvements could we make around here to keep that first place slot?

Read more from the Washington press release.