{"id":13554,"date":"2015-06-18T13:21:06","date_gmt":"2015-06-18T20:21:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wabikes.org\/?p=13554"},"modified":"2016-01-15T11:09:08","modified_gmt":"2016-01-15T19:09:08","slug":"makes-bicycle-friendly-community-washington-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wabikes.org\/index.php\/2015\/06\/18\/makes-bicycle-friendly-community-washington-state\/","title":{"rendered":"What Makes a Bicycle Friendly Community in Washington State?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last week brought news that 4 new Bicycle Friendly Communities were designated in Washington state. Now with 18 cities (2 expired), Washington state is tied for having the third most bicycle friendly communities in the nation. What makes a Bicycle Friendly Community and how do we get more?<\/h3>\n

Last week\u00a0The League of American Bicyclists<\/a> (LAB) announced its 2015 round of new and renewing Bicycle Friendly Communities<\/a>. \u00a0Ellensburg\u00a0joined the ranks at the Silver level, while\u00a0Bellevue,\u00a0Port Angeles\/Clallam County\u00a0and\u00a0Jamestown S\u2019Klallam Tribe\u00a0entered as Bronze level communities.\u00a0Tacoma, already a Bicycle Friendly Community, retained its Bronze status.<\/p>\n

So what does this mean for growing bicycling statewide and how do we get more?<\/p>\n

Washington State’s Current List of Bicycle Friendly Communities<\/h3>\n

Communities have multiple opportunities each year to apply and a Bicycle Friendly Community ranking lasts four years. Consequently, Washington state has 14 other previously-designated communities, but two are expired and need to renew. Here’s the active list of 16:<\/p>\n

\"Bicycle<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

Gold<\/strong><\/h4>\n
    \n
  • Seattle<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    \u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n

    Silver<\/strong><\/h4>\n
      \n
    • Bellingham<\/li>\n
    • Ellensburg (new)<\/li>\n
    • Port Townsend<\/li>\n
    • Redmond<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Bronze<\/strong><\/h4>\n
    \n
  • Anacortes<\/li>\n
  • Bellevue (new)<\/li>\n
  • Greater Wenatchee MPO<\/li>\n
  • Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe (new)<\/li>\n
  • Liberty Lake<\/li>\n
  • Port Angeles-Callam County (new)<\/li>\n
  • Sequim<\/li>\n
  • Snohomish<\/li>\n
  • Spokane<\/li>\n
  • Tacoma<\/li>\n
  • Vancouver<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    The two communities that saw their designation expire as a Bicycle Friendly Community have great cycling advocates and a higher-than-average commute mode share, so hopefully they can work to renew in the August 2015 review cycle<\/a>:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Bainbridge Island<\/strong>\u00a0(Bronze – last applied in 2008 and designation\u00a0expired in 2012)<\/li>\n
    • Olympia<\/strong> (Silver – last applied in 2008 and designation expired in 2012)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      What does this mean again?<\/h3>\n

      Frustration about being named a Bicycle Friendly Community is also expected as it’s a little surprising to be a Bicycle Friendly Community and not always feel like the town or city provides safe and accessible connections for all ages and abilities.<\/p>\n

      \n

      Just biked from Overlake to Main & 148th. @BikeLeague<\/a> how did @bellevuewa<\/a> get bronze BFC? Anyone who fills out applications gets bronze?<\/p>\n

      \u2014 Glen Buhlmann (@GlenBikes) June 11, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      For those that are frustrated, it’s important to put this program in perspective: the Bicycle Friendly Communities Program provides a roadmap for what to do to make bicycling better in your community. Consider it not an end, but a beginning.<\/p>\n

      \n

      @GlenBikes<\/a> Remember, Bronze is step one of five for @BikeLeague<\/a>. I’m glad @bellevuewa<\/a> is taking the time to apply (and learn).<\/p>\n

      \u2014 Evan Manvel (@evanmanvel) June 11, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n