Bicycle Friendly Community

Bellingham, WA | Silver Level

Community Highlights: Through the TravelSmart individualized marketing program pilot, the targeted area of Bellingham reduced drive-alone trips by eight percent and increased bicycle, walking and bus trips by an equal amount. The detailed data generated by the project demonstrated to the city council and the public the importance of bicycling (and walking and bus trips) in preserving quality of life. Bellingham partnered with the Whatcom Council of Governments on an innovative community trip reduction project that includes comprehensive bicycle education and outreach to adults and children.

Bellingham recently amended its Transportation Concurrency Management Ordinance, changing it from an autocentric focus to one that is multimodal. This will provide new incentives and opportunities for constructing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and assist the City in meeting its goals of increasing mode shares of bicycle, pedestrian and transit trips. Currently, Bellingham has a 5 percent bicycle mode share.

Most Compelling Community Statistic: In 2008, 3,050 children participated in bike rodeos and 700 received bicycle education through school assemblies. Bellingham had 7,500 Bike to Work and School Day participants.