BICYCLE FRIENDLY AMERICA - League of American Bicyclists

PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA
Since: 2003 Popula�on: 56,862 Square Miles: 23.69
Contact Informa�on: Kathy Durham 650. 329.2568
kathy.durham@cityofpaloalto.org
For more info: www.bikeleague.org
BFC
GOLD
Community Highlights: Palo Alto’s BFC status is not just about past
efforts but is an integral part of the city’s vision for a more sustainable
transporta�on future where residents choose alterna�ves to
driving. Recent engineering improvements include their second
bicycle boulevard, a 0.75 mile route that serves three schools and
provides be�er connec�vity to transit and major employment
districts, and a third boulevard is scheduled for 2010 – enhancing
links, safety and signage along the last unimproved segment. The
city also partners with the Palo Alto Unified School District and
the Palo Alto Council of PTAs to provide an in-class traffic safety
educa�on program that starts with kindergarten through second
grade pedestrian safety, followed by third through sixth grade bike
safety educa�on. Parent educa�on is facilitated by PTA traffic safety
representa�ves in each school.
Most Compelling Community Sta�s�c: In fall 2009, counts showed
that 1,175 middle school students were bicycling to school – 45
percent of the total enrollment – and a combined count for the
two high schools was 1,215 – more than a third of the student
body!
Posi�ve Outcome from Receiving a BFC Designa�on: Last year the
mayor launched Palo Alto Walks and Rolls – a coali�on to encourage
more people to walk and bike more o�en, linking healthy commute
choices to a less congested and greener community.
“The idea is to encourage
more people to use
alternative modes of
transportation more often.
It makes a difference.”
- Palo Alto Mayor
Peter Drekmeier
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Since: 2006 Popula�on: 739,426 Square Miles: 47
Contact Informa�on: Damon Cur�s 415.701.4674
damon.cur�s@sfmta.com
BFC
GOLD
Community Highlights: The 2008 American Communites Survey
tracked a 37 percent rise in bicycle commu�ng since 2000, and the
2000 Census showed that San Francisco has the highest percentage
of residents who commute to work by bicycle among ci�es with a
popula�on of 500,000 or above in the U.S. The Golden Gate Bridge
has a path that is available for cyclists 24 hours a day, and the Bay
Bridge will have a 15.5-foot-wide bicycle and pedestrian path that
will run along the eastbound deck of the two-mile long structure.
Bicycles are allowed on BART commuter rail, CALTRAIN commuter
heavy rail, and on all ferries and bike-rack-equipped buses.
There is a bike shu�le across the Bay Bridge during rush hour.
San Francisco promotes Bike Month, with as many as 35,000
people riding into San Francisco on Bike to Work Day. The San Francisco
Police Department works with cyclists, from safety to bicycle
the� to injury collision repor�ng. The city has an excellent partnership
with the San Francisco Bicycle Coali�on (SFBC). One excellent
program being undertaken is SFBC’s educa�on for various kinds of
professional drivers including taxi, USPS, and other delivery drivers.
Most Compelling Community Sta�s�c: San Francisco’s benchmarking
report State of Cycling in San Francisco was released on Bike
to Work Day 2009. The report has data that includes more than 60
percent of bike trips are for u�litarian purposes rather than leisure
or fitness rides. Na�onally, this figure is 5 percent.
American Bicyclist — Bicycle Friendly America 2010 17