SDOT staff and members of the bicycling community join Dale Sperling, Grace Crunican, Chuck Ayers, and Councilman Tom Rasmussen at bike count announcement
Today SDOT released the results of our 2009 comprehensive bicycle commute count and biking to work is on the upswing. Since 2007 we have seen a 15 percent increase in bike commuters. Our bike commute counts took place on September 16 from 6:30am to 9am. On that morning, just over 2,600 bicyclists commuted into downtown using many of the new bike amenities created through the Bicycle Master Plan. These counts help us measure the impact of improvements in bicycle infrastructure. They also let us know how close we are to reaching the goal of tripling the number of bicyclists by 2017.
Seattle’s Bicycle Master Plan has guided the expansion of the city’s bike facilities since it was released in 2007. Our city will find biking to be easier and safer and one way we can all help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At today’s announcement, SDOT’s Director Grace Crunican underscored the city’s commitment to bicyclists when she mentioned the department’s plan to accelerate the work of the Bicycle Master Plan in 2010. Specifically, SDOT plans to install 20 miles of new bike lanes and sharrows, more than 30 miles of signed routes, and several new trail segments. She was joined by Executive Director of the Cascade Bicycle Club Chuck Ayers and Downtown Seattle Association Board Member Dale Sperling, who also stressed the importance of mobility and livable communities.
A new bike trail sign is unveiled along the Elliott Bay Route
In the first three years of the plan, Seattle has created the following increases in bike facilities:
- More than 90 miles of bike lanes and sharrows
- Nearly 35 miles of signed routes
- Over 800 bike racks
- Nearly 5.5 miles of multi-use trails (including portions of the Chief Sealth and Burke-Gilman Trails)
We are looking forward to the increases in ridership 2010 is going to bring. If you want to learn more about the results of the 2009 Downtown Bicycle Counts here.