BICYCLE FRIENDLY AMERICA - League of American Bicyclists

photo credit: AboutTheShot
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO
Since: 2008 Popula�on: 360,890 Square Miles: 186
Contact Informa�on: Kris�n Benne� 719. 385.5622
KBenne�@springsgov.com
Community Highlights: Colorado Springs adopted a Complete
Streets ordinance three years ago, and now all road users, including
cyclists, are considered in all new roadway projects. To jump start
the effort the community invested in infrastructure such as new
surfacing and signage for the Flagship Pikes Peak Greenway, implemented
the na�onally recognized road diet project, and added 14
miles of bicycle lanes. Colorado Springs also added recrea�onal
cycling facili�es in their town to encourage younger riders, including
four BMX / skate parks and a fi�h planned 40,000 square foot
BMX / Skate Park in Memorial Park. Colorado Springs funds many
of these bicycling projects through a $4 Bicycle Tax that is added to
the sale of all new bikes. The purpose of the tax is to provide funding
for city bikeway improvements –
off-street bicycle paths and bikeway
improvements recommended by
the Bicycle Plan. These efforts, in
addi�on to events like Bike to Work
week which a�ract more than 7,500
par�cipants, make Colorado Springs
a great place to ride a bicycle.
Most Significant Recent
Accomplishment: Colorado Springs
has garnered na�onal a�en�on and
recogni�on on several ‘road diet’
projects. Addi�onally, Colorado
Springs has expanded their bike
network to include 54 miles of bike
lanes, with a 10 percent increase in 2007 alone, and an impressive
104 miles of concrete, asphalt, or groomed natural surface trails
within their urban trails system. The city also added 14 miles of bicycle
lanes and made substan�al resurfacing and signage improvements
to the Flagship Pikes Peak Greenway.
Most Compelling Community Sta�s�c: Colorado Springs voters
approved a 0.10 cent sales tax for trails, open space and parks. This
tax generates $6 million annually and has developed almost 50
miles of new trails and the acquisi�on of 5,700 acres of parks and
open space over the last 11 years.
For more info: www.bikeleague.org
BFC
SILVER
COLUMBIA, MISSOURI
Since: 2009 Popula�on: 96,093 Square Miles: 60
Contact Informa�on: Robert Johnson 573.442.7189 ext. 28
robert@pednet.org
NEW
Community Highlights: As part of the Federal Highway
Administra�on’s Non-Motorized Transporta�on Pilot program,
GetAbout Columbia was created in 2006 to help encourage bicycling.
The organiza�on distributes bicycle safety materials, offers
bicycle safety classes and organizes community bicycle events.
There is the Way To Go To Work program that concentrates on
outreach efforts to reward and educate cyclists; Errand Bike – a program
where bicycles are placed in different business loca�ons for
employees to experience the benefits of using a bicycle for short
trips; Cycle Recycle – a program where 200 bicycles are fixed per
year and re-distributed to those in need; Earn A Bike – a program
that mentors grades fi�h through eighth grades in bicycle mechanics
and rewards them with a bicycle; and Neighbors on the Go – a
program which educates residents to try alterna�ve transporta�on
modes.
Most Significant Recent Accomplishment: The GetAbout Columbia
project has a program called Bike Safe – a 30 minute presenta�on
given to kindergarten through third grades in most Columbia Public
Elementary Schools.
Most Compelling Community Sta�s�c: The city reported a 2.5
�mes gain in bicycle ridership from 2007 to 2008.
BFC
SILVER
American Bicyclist — Bicycle Friendly America 2010 23