Title
Special Recognition - Proclamation Recognizing Olympia Bicycle Month
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Proclaim May as Olympia Bicycle Month.
Report
Issue:
Whether to proclaim May as Olympia Bicycle Month.
Staff Contact:
Michelle Swanson, AICP, Associate Planner, Public Works/Transportation, 360.753.8575
Presenter(s):
Michelle Swanson, AICP, Associate Planner
Duncan Green, Bicycle Community Challenge Coordinator, Intercity Transit
Background and Analysis:
In 2020, Intercity Transit adapted the Thurston County Bicycle Commuter Challenge (BCC) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were encouraged to include all bicycle trips in this annual contest, instead of just commuter trips. This change supported bicycling as an important way for people to get exercise and experience the outdoors, even while practicing social distancing or working from home.
This year, they will make the ‘All Rides Count’ philosophy permanent and update the name to reflect that change. Thurston County residents are invited to participate in the 35th Annual Bicycle Community Challenge this May.
Last year, 681 people in Thurston County took part in the BCC. They biked a total of 68,986 miles to run errands, commute to work, or explore their neighborhood. Among those people were 53 City employees and family members, who rode a total of 5,678 miles.
Also last year, the City Council adopted Olympia’s first Transportation Master Plan (TMP). This plan includes projects to make it easier for people to get around on a bicycle, and it will help advance the City’s vision for a multimodal transportation system. This year, we will improve the intersection of State Avenue and East Bay Drive to make it safer for bicycling.
In Thurston County, the transportation sector is the second largest producer of greenhouse gas emissions. Making it easier to bike is an important strategy for reaching our emissions reduction goals.
Attachments:
Proclamation