Neighborhood
CITY EMBARKS ON A 26-MILE EXPANSION OF ITS URBAN BIKE NETWORK
Contact: Chris Zull or Thomas Tilma, see phone numbers in pitch
Pitch:
City staff has announced a concerted effort to expand Grand Rapids’ urban bike network by 26
miles over the next 9 months. This aggressive bike facility expansion project is due to citizen
demand for more bike-friendly streets. Work will be completed in two phases; the first phase
will begin later this week and include approximately 16 miles of new bike facilities. The second
phase will include another 10 miles to be implemented in the spring. Additional resources to
expedite expansion of the network are currently being sought to leverage the funds
appropriated in the FY2013 Fiscal Plan for this effort.
After two bike summits, bronze designation as a “Bicycle Friendly Community” by the League
of American Bicyclists, creating 7-miles of on-street bike facilities, regular consideration of all
modes of travel in street design, and priority placement in Grand Rapids’ Sustainability Plan,
community leaders say that exciting progress is being made to establish a more robust biking
culture.
Grand Rapids is working in conjunction with the Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition, a
non-profit advocacy organization created during the City’s Green Grand Rapids Master Plan
process, to design and implement new bike facilities. The City is responding to the group’s
campaign: 100 by 2014: Bike Lanes Now!--to promote a vision of 100 miles of on-street bicycle
facilities throughout metro Grand Rapids by the end of 2014.
"The City of Grand Rapids is taking a big leap forward by installing bike lanes on 26 miles of
streets. Grand Rapids is fast becoming a leader among Midwest cities that are building bicycle
transportation networks. These new bike lanes will expand daily cycling and increase benefits
to the economy, public health, and the environment" said Tom Tilma, Interim Director of the
Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition.
Contacts:
Chris Zull Thomas J Tilma AICP
Traffic Safety Manager GGRBC Interim Director
616-456-3065 616-560-5705
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