Published April 28 2015
The city has joined a nationwide Mayor's Challenge to improve safety for bicycle riders and pedestrians of all ages and abilities over the next year.
The City Council recently committed to the U.S. Department of Transportation Mayor's Challenge, and progress already is being made to fill gaps in Bellevue's pedestrian and bicycle network.
"Walking and bicycling enlivens our streets and neighborhoods, strengthens local businesses, provides access to jobs, and leads to a healthier community. Bellevue is committed to following through on the USDOT Challenge," said Mayor Claudia Balducci. "Improving pedestrian and bicycle safety across the city is already a high priority. This Challenge gives us another way to build support and momentum so we can finish what we started."
The Mayor's Challenge, which runs through March 2016, contains several key strategies to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety, including:
- Adopt a "complete streets" planning approach that considers walking and bicycling as equal with other transportation modes;
- Identify and address mobility barriers to make streets safe and convenient for people of all ages and abilities;
- Gather biking and walking data to track trends and prioritize investments;
- Improve laws and regulations to protect pedestrians and bicyclists; and
- Educate the public and enforce proper road use behavior.
In February 2015, the council launched a Pedestrian and Bicycle Implementation Initiative that aims to advance projects and programs identified in the city's 2009 Pedestrian and Bicycle Transportation Plan. Examples include pedestrian and bicycle improvement projects along Northup Way and on 116th Avenue Northeast, but additional improvements also are planned.
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