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:
Kristin Gilkerson, Program Specialist, Public Works/Transportation, 360.753.2731
Presenter(s):
Kristin Gilkerson, Program Specialist
Duncan Green, Bicycle Commuter Challenge Coordinator, Intercity Transit
Background and Analysis:
Each year, the City of Olympia proclaims May as Olympia Bicycle Month to coincide with the annual Thurston County Bicycle Commuter Challenge (BCC). This is the 34th year Intercity Transit has run the BCC and they have adapted the program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While bicycle commuting may not be an option for people working from home during the pandemic, it is an important way for people to get exercise and experience the outdoors, while practicing appropriate social distancing.
Last year, 832 people in Thurston County took part in the BCC. They biked a total of 84,415 miles to run errands, commute to work, or explore their neighborhood. Among those people were 51 City employees and family members, who rode a total of 4,147 miles.
The City continues to improve our streets for bicycling. The Legion Way project, which was finished last fall, included a raised intersection at Washington Street, which helps calm the traffic next to the bike lane. We also extended the bike facilities on Legion Way to Water Street, which included adding the region's first bike box at the intersection with Capitol Way. The bike box allows cyclists to wait in front of traffic at a red light.
The City also extended the bike lanes on East Bay Drive to Olympia Avenue. We added buffers and green pavement markings to the bike lanes to help reduce conflicts between people walking, biking, and driving.
In February, the City Council adopted Olympia's ...
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