Bicycle Friendly Community

Reno-Sparks Washoe County, NV | Bronze Level

Community Highlights: The Reno Sparks Washoe County region is home to a vibrant, grass-roots, bicycling culture. Bicycling events occur throughout the year and attract thousands of attendees. Such events include the Bike Swap, Bikes and Brews, Hot August Bikes, and the We HeArt Bikes Fundraising Show. Bike Month, Bike to Work Week, and Bike to Work Day are very popular in Reno and have grown to include community support such as free coffee from coffee shops and the Bike to Work Day Pancake Feed. The region also has several signature cycling events that are well supported and attended by members of the community. In addition, the Reno Sparks Washoe County region encourages and educates riders of all ages, especially children, to ride bikes. The Washoe County School District Safe Routes to School program is one of the most successful programs in the country. Each year, bike rodeos teach over 2,000 local kids bicycling safety and how much fun it is to bike. Through the Reno Sparks Kiwanis Bike Program, over 1,000 kids of various income levels receive a bike each year. The agencies in the region promote active lifestyles and bicycling as an important mode of transportation. The Reno Sparks Washoe County region also has an impressive network of bike paths, bike lanes, and bike routes and is committed to expanding the bikeways network. The Truckee River Trail is a world-class bike path that runs through downtown Reno along the beautiful Truckee River. The region has 149 miles of existing bike lanes many of which have been built in the past few years. Long-time residents have noticed significant change in the popularity of utilitarian and recreational bicycling over the years as a result of improved infrastructure.

Most Significant Recent Accomplishment: In 2010, the City of Reno, the City of Sparks, and Washoe County added 28.7 miles of bikeways to their network in the form of sharrows, bicycle lanes, widened shoulders, shared-use paths, and cycletracks. In 2009, the region added 13.2 miles of bikeways to their network for a combined total of 41.9 new bikeway miles over the past two years. The region also invested over $250,000 in the Reno Sparks Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, which sets forth a blueprint for a system of bikeways and bicycling programs in the Reno, Sparks Washoe County area.

Most Significant Recent Accomplishment: As a fundraiser, the Reno Sparks Kiwanis Bike Program offers Burning Man Bikes for sale before Burning Man in September each year. Bikes cost $30-$50. Many Burning Man attendees keep their bikes after the festival. All funds from sales go back into the Kiwanis Program to offer bikes and bike education in the community.