Bicycle Friendly Communities

Tacoma, WA | Bronze Level

Recent bicycling investment: The City of Tacoma dedicated $500,000 of its Energy Efficienty and Conservation Block Grant money for bike improvements in a project called "Going for the Bronze" and an additional $500,000 in bond funds for capital improvements.

Bicycling highlights: The City is following the dozens of action items in the Comprehensive Plan's Transportation Element to build the foundation for safe and comfortable bicycle facilities across all neighborhoods and reaching all destinations in Tacoma. The City has also designated its first Mobility Coordinator to oversee bicycle and pedestrian policies, programs and issues.
The Council adopted the Green Transportation Hierarchy in 2010 that prioritizes pedestrians, then bicycles, then transit and places single occupancy vehicles at the bottom of the list. The Green Transportation Hierarchy is the guiding symbol for the city's infrastructure improvements.
Tacoma has also made considerable advancements in education for city public works staff regarding bicycle facilities and complete streets design.

Percentage of arterial streets with dedicated bicycle facilities: 3%

Bicycling education in 5% elementary schools

Signature cycling events: Tacoma-Pierce County Bike Swap, Daffodil Ride, Tacoma Criterion, Tacoma Wheelmen's Bicycle Club rides, Bike to a Better Tacoma, ZeitBike at the Tacoma Art Museum, Women's Bike Ride Across the Narrows.

Some coming bicycling improvements: In 2011, the City of Tacoma built 13 miles of bikeways in an arc east/west and north/south across Tacoma that are routed through numerous diverse neighborhoods. This will include wayfinding signage, intersection enhancements, traffic calming elements and a brand new bike boulevard symbol that may be the first female cyclist symbol in the U.S. The 13 miles will be the foundation of Tacoma's bicycling network and will connect with schools, parks, trails, points of interest and downtown Tacoma.