Best of Bike Delaware 2015: "Top 8 Reasons Delaware Is Now the #3 Most Bicycle Friendly State in America" - Bike Delaware

Best of Bike Delaware 2015: “Top 8 Reasons Delaware Is Now the #3 Most Bicycle Friendly State in America”

Staff December 27, 2015 Most Popular 1

Looking Back at 2015: This article was originally published on May 13, 2015. It was the 5th most viewed Bike Delaware article of 2015.

The League of American Bicyclists recently announced its new Bicycle Friendly State rankings. For the 4th year in a row, Delaware advanced in the national rankings. We are now ranked #3 in the United States!

The big question is, how did that happen? Check out the slide show below for the 8 most important reasons that Delaware is now ranked as the most bicycle friendly state east of the Mississippi River:

Delaware is now ranked the #3 (!) most Bicycle Friendly State in America, behind only Washington and Minnesota. The question is "Why?" After being ranked in the 30s among states just a few years ago, how did Delaware rocket all the way up to #3 in just a few years?
REASON #8: CYCLISTS. We're united. We're smart. And we know what we want. Being organized is the first requirement for any community to be effective. And in Delaware, cyclists are. (Click on slide to join Bike Delaware. And get a super-cool jersey!)
REASON #7: THE BIG TENT. In Delaware cycling is a big tent. Making strong partnerships is the second requirement for any community to be effective.
REASON #6: THE WALKABLE BIKEABLE DELAWARE SUMMIT. This annual gathering brings together everyone and anyone interested in improving cycling (and walking) in Delaware. It has helped set Delaware's cycling agenda since 2012. The 2017 Summit is May 4. (Click on slide to register.)
REASON #5: POLICY. In 2011, the Delaware General Assembly passed an innovative pro-cycling policy, known as "Walkable Bikeable Delaware". The prime sponsors of this legislation were former Senator Venables, Senator Cloutier, Representative Hudson and Representative Wilson. (Click on slide to read more.)
REASON #4: THE FIRST STATE TRAILS AND PATHWAYS INITIATIVE. "A Bold Challenge: Create a world-class statewide network of pathways and trails for Delaware’s citizens and visitors, to promote biking, hiking, walking and active living." How awesome is that? (Click on slide to read more.)
REASON #3: THE BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM. Since the passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution #13, Delaware has had dedicated state funding for cycling (and walking) in each of its annual capital budgets. In particular, DelDOT established a new - and critically important - Bike and Pedestrian Improvements program. In our Bicycle Friendly Report Card, the League of American Bicyclists highlights this program. (Click on slide to read our Report Card.)
REASON #2: DELDOT. Yep: DelDOT. A lot of the changes are invisible to the public. But from its commitment to major projects like the Castle Trail and the Wilmington-New Castle Greenway to its sophisticated engagement with the issue of traffic control devices for cyclists to its recognition by the League as a Bicycle Friendly Organization to its more recent engagement with a new project to create Delaware's first protected bike lane, DelDOT is a different agency than it was in 2010. (Click on slide to read more about DelDOT.)
REASON #1: THE MOST BICYCLE FRIENDLY GOVERNOR IN AMERICA said "we are going to help make Delaware the most bicycle friendly state in America." And he has. (Click on slide to read more about Jack Markell's pro-cycling record.)

Link to Slide Show: http://www.bikede.org/2015/05/13/top-8-reasons/

RELATED:

• 2015 Bicycle Friendly State Ranking

• Delaware’s 2015 Bicycle Friendly State “Report Card”

• The Fourth Most Bicycle Friendly State in America (Ranking from 2014)

• Senate Concurrent Resolution #13 (aka “Walkable Bikeable Delaware”)

• Delaware General Assembly Votes $6.3 Million for Cycling

• See the World-Class Statewide Network of Pathways and Trails DelDOT and DNREC Propose to Build

• Wilmington – New Castle Greenway

• Michael Castle Trail Opened

• DelDOT Is Delaware’s 2nd Bicycle Friendly Business

• Markell and Denn: “We are going to help make Delaware the most bicycle friendly state in America.”

One Response

Neighborhoods near the planned Lewes-Georgetown bike path - Active Adults Delaware Blog says:

January 5, 2016 at 9:15 am

[…] For more on Biking in Delaware, visit http://www.bikede.org/2015/12/27/best-of-2015-number-5/ […]

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