Dec. 17—OLYMPIA — There isn’t a state extra supportive of people that journey by bike than Washington, in accordance with an announcement from the Washington State Division of Transportation.
Washington leads U.S. states in fostering bicycling and methods that help it, incomes it the highest spot within the League of American Bicyclists’s Bicycle Pleasant State rankings for 2024, in accordance with the announcement. The aggressive rating program evaluates states primarily based on their commitments to bicycling throughout 5 classes: infrastructure and funding, schooling and encouragement, site visitors legal guidelines and practices, insurance policies and packages, and analysis and planning.
“Making it simpler for extra folks to cycle safely to work, college or for enjoyable has been an essential a part of our transportation planning,” Gov. Jay Inslee wrote within the announcement. “Many of those efforts are supported by our Local weather Dedication Act which is paving the way in which for extra riders and likewise educating them to allow them to journey confidently. I admire the work of our Bicycle Pleasant communities, companies and universities which have all contributed to constructing lively, wholesome transportation choices.”
Washington acquired high ranks because of the state’s complete consideration to the problems confronted by cyclists in addition to its longstanding and continued management that strikes bicycling ahead, in accordance with the announcement. The advocacy group highlighted Washington’s Statewide Faculty-Based mostly Bicycle Training Program as a nationwide mannequin for what state authorities, native companies and bicycle-education organizations can accomplish collectively. It additionally pointed to the state’s planning work that gives secure bicycle infrastructure and design steerage and coaching that helps these plans.
Washington has an in depth historical past of help for cyclists, the DOT wrote. The state has taken this system’s high spot for all however one 12 months because it launched in 2008. Washington was rated third within the nation in 2022, ending the state’s 14-year run on the high the rankings. Rankings weren’t awarded in 2023.
“It is nice to as soon as once more lead the nation in recognizing that bicycling is a crucial a part of a multimodal transportation system,” Washington Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar wrote within the announcement. “We’re dedicated to offering transportation selections for all customers of the system — together with individuals who bike, stroll and roll. Now we have extra work to do, however this rating affirms that we’re on the appropriate path.”