Title
Special Recognition - Bicycle Commuter Month Proclamation
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to proclaim May as Bicycle Commuter Month
Report
Issue:
Whether to proclaim May as Bicycle Commuter Month
Staff Contact:
Michelle Swanson, AICP, Senior Program Specialist, Public Works | Transportation, 360.753.8575.
Presenter(s):
Duncan Green, Intercity Transit, Bicycle Commuter Contest Coordinator
Background and Analysis:
The 29th Annual Thurston County Bicycle Commuter Contest happens in May. Duncan Green from Intercity Transit, which runs the contest, will be on hand to receive the proclamation.
Last year, over 1,000 people in Thurston County took part in the contest. They biked a total of 106,998 miles to places like stores, work, or school. This prevented about 55 tons of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere.
Among those people were 30 City employees, who rode a total of 2,210 miles and prevented about 1,720 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.
This year, the City is building a Bike Corridor pilot project, a new type of bicycle infrastructure that is designed to be inviting to a wide range of people. The Bike Corridor pilot project connects the eastside neighborhood to downtown, from Lions Park to 7th & Cherry right now, with the last section leading to Sylvester Park due to open this summer. Staff worked hard to ensure as much of the Corridor as possible would be open in time for the Bicycle Commuter Contest. We are hearing a lot of positive feedback on the project.
The Bike Corridor pilot project is in addition to the 32 miles of bicycle lanes and ten miles of urban trails within City limits. Public input gathered during the update of the Olympia Comprehensive Plan indicated that building a more bicycle-friendly community is a high priority in this community. City infrastructure investments and events like this contest move us in the right di...
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