HomeMy WebLinkAboutLeague of American Bicyclists i m• PORT NGELES
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Public Works & Utilities Department
December 22, 2014
Nicole Wynands, Program Manager
Bicycle Friendly Communities
League of American Bicyclists
1612 K Street NW, Suite 308
Washington, D.C. 20006
Dear Ms. Wynands:
The Port Angeles City Council and residents of the City fully support the grass roots efforts to
attain designation as a"Bicycle Friendly Community" (BFC) in a joint application from both the
City of Port Angeles and Clallam County. Significant efforts have been made over the last
several years to make this area a bicycling destination on the Olympic Peninsula. Receiving a
BFC designation would be a fitting tribute to these past and planned efforts,reflecting significant
accomplishments for all involved.
The grass roots efforts by Port Angeles Likes Bikes (PALB), Olympic Peninsula Likes Bikes
(OPLB),the Alternative Transportation Advocacy of Port Angeles (ATAPA), and the Peninsula
Trails Coalition(PTC)have brought the benefits of biking to the forefront of City and County
residents. In support of this effort, the City and County governments have been working to
include bike friendly accommodations in all municipal construction projects to enhance bike
utilization by all citizens. Some recently completed City and County projects include:
- Construction of a bike friendly Lauridsen Blvd Bridge
- Construction of a bike/pedestrian bridge across Peabody Creek
- Extending/paving the Olympic Discovery Trail (ODT)through the Rayonier industrial site
- Deer Park Road grade separation of State highway 101 (including bicycle lanes) and
associated rest stop
- Paving 14 miles of the historic Spruce RR Grade segment of the Olympic Discovery Trail.
A bike friendly community designation will further ingrain the benefits of biking throughout the
community. City youth will learn that biking is a fun way to get around, while adults will realize
that biking is a great way to maintain health and proper weight, which is now a serious problem in
the U.S. The large retirement community will take advantage of the many biking opportunities to
maintain an active and productive life style. Local events have been conducted this year such as
hosting the first annual City Bike Parade in support of Bike to Work week, and hosting'an
elementary school Bike Rodeo to promote bike safety and handling skills. For the 2014 National
Phone: 360-417-4800/ Fax: 360-417-4542
Website: www.cityofpa.us/ Email: publicworks @cityofpa.us
321 East Fifth Street - P.O. Box 1150/ Port Angeles, WA 98362-0217
Bike Challenge; Port Angeles topped the list for Washington State communities with 5,000 to .
49,999 residents, calculating mileage-points per 1,000 residents.
Finally,the BFC designation will further the-Olympic Peninsula's efforts to extend the Olympic
Discovery Trail, from Port Townsend on the east,to La Push on the west,for an unbroken paved
bikeway of over 130 miles, when completed. Of the 106 miles of this trail within`Clallam
County, 54 miles has been completed. Our partner in this application(Clalla,m County)has
programmed, in their 6-year transportation improvement plan,the completion of an additional
five major trail segments totaling 30.1 miles at a total cost of$11.3 million. We wholeheartedly
support this-further expansion of the ODT, connecting all bike friendly communities on the North
Olympic Peninsula.
Sjinoerely,
Da LLD' iibbGtlTiio t
Mayor