The capital city of Washington State, Olympia has a population of over 43,000 residents, and a median income of about $40,000. The demographics of this 16.7-square mile city mirror many municipalities in New Jersey, making Olympia a good model for a more bikeable New Jersey. Through several efforts Olympia has been rated on numerous “best places to live” lists and has also become one of the most bikeable cities in the country. Olympia promotes bicycling for transportation and recreation and is working to become a community where biking is safe and inviting. To this end, Olympia:
Between 1990 and 2000 the number of residents in the Olympia metro region who commuted by bicycle doubled, which local transit officials attribute to the above services. Within the past five years, greater emphasis has been placed on widening existing bike routes and lanes and expanding the bike trail network.
Olympia has gone a step further to encourage its residents to bike. Intercity Transit, the local transit agency, hosts an annual Thurston County Bicycle Commuter Contest. These types of kick-off events can be very helpful for gaining momentum for biking. Another example is a bike rodeo for children; for more information, see the youth section of this Toolbox. The Thursdaton County contest began in 1988 as a small event with only 30 participants. By 2004, the contest attracted more than 900 cyclists throughout the entire region. The event encourages people to bicycle to and from work and school or to run errands by bike. Its goals are to:
The event is held each year during the month of May. Holding the event over an entire month is crucial to make bicycling a habit. The longer duration gives participants a true feel for commuting by bike and the time to get used to it while being supported by contest organizers. First-time riders make up the bulk of the contestants and seasoned riders provide support, guidance and feedback. Intercity Transit provides participants with a mileage log to track their progress over the course of the month. Prizes are awarded in several categories: youth, senior, men, women, beginner and expert. A team category allows participants to bike as a group and support each other. Winners are those who travel the furthest on bike over the course of the month. Miles earned are not solely from the commute, but also can be gained by running errands or by traveling to and from school by bike. Distance is not the only way a participant can win a prize. In fact, anyone who rides is offered some sort of reward. Anyone who returns a completed mileage log, even if they ride only once, wins coupons and prizes donated by area businesses. Anyone who rides 10 days or more, regardless of their mileage, wins additional “challenge” prizes.
Throughout the month, rallies and other events are organized to further encourage participation. Some of these include:
Event organizers emphasize the importance of the “Wrenchers Ball,” the pre-event tune up and gear fair, which draws people who might not otherwise participate. Coupled with a pre-event bike safety check, this event helps ensure participant safety and supports the larger goal of encouraging bicycle use as daily transportation.
There are 13 steps outlined in the guide to help develop an event: (Full descriptions of each step are included in the guide.)
Results
Due to its numerous initiatives, Olympia has been designated a “Bicycle Friendly Community” by the League of American Bicyclists. This award has been bestowed on only 38 communities across the country. To receive this honor, a community must “provide safe accommodation for cycling and encourage its residents to bike for transportation and recreation.” The recognition was given to Olympia for several reasons including:
Lessons Learned
Follow up is key to evaluating the success of the program. Gathering feedback from participants will guide future events and also help the municipality learn where improvements can be made in the local infrastructure. Over the years, they have prepared several reports based on the information obtained from the participants. These reports in several cases have produced changes; Olympia’s infrastructure amenities, along with the commuter challenge, have proved successful in getting residents onto their bicycles.
Strengths
Developing a system of paths and facilities has been essential for each of these communities to develop a more bikeable environment. In the case of Chicago, use of the bike station was immediate — indicating a strong need for the construction of such facilities. In New Jersey, transit management associations and transit outlets have recognized the need to team up to promote biking as a convenient part of the commute. Residents in Olympia have ample opportunity to bike. Growing participation in the commuter challenge indicates that people increasingly want to get out and travel by bike.
Innovative Ideas
Resources
www.bike2015plan.org
The Bike 2015 Plan is the City of Chicago’s vision to make bicycling an integral part of daily life in Chicago. The plan recommends projects, programs and policies for the next 10 years to encourage use of this practical, non-polluting and affordable mode of transportation
www.biketraffic.org
Chicagoland Bicycle Federation has a mission to improve the bicycling environment and thereby the quality of life in the region
www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org
The Bicycle Friendly Community Campaign is an awards program that recognizes municipalities that actively support bicycling
www.bicyclinginfo.org
The Pedestrian and Bicycling Information Center is a clearinghouse for information about health and safety, engineering, advocacy, education, enforcement and access and mobility
