The Anchorage Bicycle Plan

The purpose of the Bicycle Plan is to increase bicycle facilities and the use of bicycles for transportation.  Attached is a map of existing bicycle facilities in Anchorage.

A public draft version of the plan was circulated for comments in March 2009.  Over 200 comments were received.   Attached is an Issues Response Summary describing how the drafters responded to and utilized these comments.

A Public Hearing Draft , August 2009 was heard at the Planning and Zoning Commission and approved in November.  The Commission conducted a public hearing to obtain additional comments, and provide recommendations.  A resolution approving the Draft Plan, and noting recommended changes to the Plan is here.

The Anchorage Assembly will conduct a public hearing on March 23rd, 2010 as part of the process to adopt the plan.  Please come out and show your support for the Bike Plan and a bicycle-friendly Anchorage.

After review and recommendation from the Assembly, AMATS will make the final approval.

Bike Plan Talking Points

Health

• Forty-two (42%) of Alaskan adults do not meet recommended levels of physical activity, and 20% are completely sedentary because they don’t feel safe walking/biking in their neighborhood. The Anchorage Bike Plan makes walking and bicycling possible to those who are uncomfortable going to the gym, or exercising in general. When people see others out having fun on the trail, they want to join the fun.

• The Bike Plan will encourage safe exercise close to their home for the two-thirds (66%) of Alaskan adults who are overweight and 36% of K-12th grade students in the Anchorage School District who are overweight or obese. Many of these individuals are or will suffer obesity-related health issues, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and high blood pressure.

• By providing safe access to trails, Anchorage can help reduce the cost of obesity. Obesity costs Alaskans $477 million per year in direct medical costs, including $46 million in Medicare/Medicaid costs, and $9-10 million in costs for State of Alaska employees.

• Health care reform will not produce healthier people unless we can make exercise cheap, easy, safe and convenient for our communities.  Walking and bicycling is the least expensive, most convenient and easiest, efficient way for people to meet their 45-60 minutes of recommended exercise. The Bike Plan will make these two exercise options safe and convenient for all citizens of Anchorage.

Safety

The Bike Plan inherently makes us safer, as its primary goal is to double the amount of utility biking, while reducing crashes by one third. Due to recent improvements in Anchorage’s bike infrastructure, trends are already heading in that direction, as rider-ship has continued to increase the last few years, and crashes have also decreased. This is evidence that continued improvements will further reduce crashes.

• The Anchorage Bike Plan makes us safer because it gives us bike lanes.
  a) Cyclists are 20 times more likely to get hit while riding on a sidewalk than in a bike lane, and twice as likely to get hit while riding on a multi-use path as in a bike lane.
  b) The eight Anchorage roadways where cyclists are most likely to get hit don’t have any bike lanes. Some of these roadways have no shoulders. Northern Lights is probably the worst one, as the sidewalk is very narrow and full of obstructions to visibility such as large light poles and signs.
• The Anchorage Bike Plan makes us safer because it joins up gaps in our existing bike infrastructure.
  a) The best example of disjointed bike trails, is where the multi-use path terminates at the Seward Highway. Cyclists must then cross a very busy and fast moving highway, or travel over a mile out of their way to the next crossing point, or hike under the highway.

• The Anchorage Bike Plan makes us safer because it includes support for education programs.
  a) This is crucial because both cyclists and drivers need to be educated about how to safely share the road. The Anchorage Bike Plan has an exhaustive list of educational materials and programs.

• The Anchorage Bike Plan makes us safer through improved signage.
  a) Some sidewalks are marked as bike paths.
  b) Some bike paths are not marked at all.
• The Anchorage Bike Plan makes us safer by supporting bike friendly legislation and enforcement. It recommends the following:
  a) Title 9 be updated to reflect utility cycling.

b) Enforcement of bicycle related infractions.
c) Public awareness campaigns to encourage drivers to be more aware of the presence of cyclists.
d) APD monitor and ticket drivers at intersections, and more strictly enforce window tinting regulations.

• The Anchorage Bike Plan makes us safer through improving the maintenance of existing infrastructure.
  a) Recommendations are made regarding snow removal in the winter, and also regarding gravel removal in the summer.
  c) Recommendations are made to repair cracks and other hazards in the multi-use paths.

Economics

• The bicycle plan is a 20 year project with much less expensive chores, like painting bike lanes and signage the first priority; therefore doubling the number of miles of bicycle riding.
• A four lane road costs on average $20-80 million PER MILE, the entire bike plan is offering 508 miles of trails for only $109 million spread out over 20 years.
• Funding is coming from a number of sources, such as grants, bonds, matching funds, federal transportation funds and stimulus funds. A plan in place is necessary before eligibility for funds is determined. The bicycle plan provides a plan and makes Anchorage eligible for funds.
• The Bicycle Plan will be integrated into various other MOA development plans and future transportation projects.