Bicycle Friendly Communities

Bellingham, WA | Silver Level

Encouragement: Bellingham was selected as the first of four communities nationwide for the TravelSmart Individualized Marketing pilot project technical assistance grant from the Federal Transit Administration. Through Individualized Marketing, the targeted area of Bellingham reduced drive-alone trips by 8 percent and increased bicycle, walking, and bus trips by an equal amount. The detailed data generated by the project demonstrated to the Council and the public the importance of bicycling (and walking and bus trips) in preserving quality of life. Bellingham enthusiastically promotes Bike to Work and School Day and has seen a 70 percent increase in participation each year since 1998. More than 5,400 people participated in 2006.

Education: The City's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) hosts an annual transportation public presentation series to educate the public about non-car transportation, planning and land use issues, and bicycle safety. Bellingham is a member of the Whatcom Traffic Safety Coalition, a law-enforcement collaboration to increase safety education and share resources. Bellingham Parks and Recreation offers bicycle safety education courses for adults taught by League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructors. Bellingham helps fund Whatcom Smart Trips, an innovative trip reduction program started in 2006 that includes comprehensive bicycle education and outreach to adults and children.

Engineering: In 2004, Bellingham constructed a $1.74 million multi-use trail bridge over a four-lane arterial street to facilitate safe bicycle and pedestrian use of the 2.5 mile Railroad Trail. Bellingham was nominated for a state-wide award for taking the initiative to fund and construct this bridge. In 2005, Bellingham completed Taylor Street Dock, a $3 million over-water multi-use trail connection that is part of the 40-mile regional Coast Milennium Trail. Bellingham has constructed an extensive trail system as a result of funding from two successful Greenways Levys implemented from 1992 to the present. Nearly 20 miles of multi-use trails serve bicyclists for transportation and recreation. Bellingham has adopted a policy to include walking and bicycling facilities on all new, reconstructed, or retro-fitted arterial streets, where right-of-way allows.