Now 11th least “bike-friendly” state in the Union
Fresh on the heals of the first ever, Pennsylvania Bike Summit, the League of American Bicyclists released their second annual Bicycle Friendly State Rankings. Set to coincide with National Bike Month, the rankings score states based on a 75-item questionnaire that evaluates a state’s commitment to cycling, and covers six key categories: legislation, policies and programs, infrastructure, education, evaluation, and enforcement. This year, Pennsylvania dropped from 38th place to the 11th worst state in 40th place. The itemized ranking shows that we fared the worst in education and policies/programs.
Fortunately for Pennsylvania cyclists, a new organization has been started to help raise the state’s commitment to cycling. PA Walks and Bikes jumped onto the scene with their first public event, the Pennsylvania Bike Summit, mentioned earlier. The organization, of which Bike Pittsburgh is a part of, began as part of the Livable Streets Network. Cyclists from across the Commonwealth converged in Harrisburg for a ride and rally on the Capitol steps, where we were met by speeches from Representatives and Senators who are trying to make Pennsylvania a better place to ride.
Afterwards, advocates went into the Capitol to meet with our local legislators to talk to them about how they can help the state of cycling in PA. There were two main items on the agenda, enacting a “safe-passing legislation,” and releasing federal Safe Routes to School money, which we have the distinction of being last in the nation to do so. According to League President, Andy Clarke, “several states dramatically improved their ranking by updating their traffic codes, increasing the level of funding for bicycle improvements, implementing education programs aimed at cyclists and motorists, getting organized and hosting their first statewide bicycling conferences and events.”
Let’s make Pennsylvania one of them.
How you can help:
Contact your State Representatives and Senators!
Both of those action alerts have sample letters and talking points that you can use when you write to your legislators. At the Summit, we were told over and over again from Senators and Reps that they need to hear from their constituents about issues that are important to them. If they don’t hear from us, these issues fall the wayside into the mix of the myriad other things that they have to deal with.
Here’s the 2009 State rankings (there’s a lot of scrolling to find Pennsylvania):
1. Washington – Silver*
2. Wisconsin – Silver*
3. Maine
4. Oregon
5. Minnesota – Bronze*
6. Iowa
7. Arizona – Bronze*
8. New Hampshire
9. Delaware
10. New Jersey
11. Wyoming
12. Illinois
13. Colorado
14. California
15. Michigan
16. Maryland
17. Missouri
18. Utah
19. Massachusetts
20. North Carolina
21. Vermont
22. Hawaii
23. Virginia
24. Mississippi
25. Nevada
26. South Carolina
27. Kentucky
28. South Dakota
29. Indiana
30. Louisiana
31. Georgia
32. Florida
33. Kansas
34. Idaho
35. Rhode Island
36. Texas
37. Nebraska
38. Arkansas
39. Ohio
40. Pennsylvania
41. New York
42. West Virginia
43. Tennessee
44. Connecticut
45. North Dakota
46. New Mexico
47. Alaska
48. Oklahoma
49. Montana
50. Alabama
* States which have recieved recognition through the BFS award program.
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