Ambitious bicycle plan wins City Council OK

One of the nation's most ambitious plans to increase bicycle use was passed this afternoon by the Seattle City Council, on a unanimous vote.

The 10-year Bicycle Master Plan aims to triple the number of people who ride in the city, Mayor Greg Nickels has said.

Highlights include new trails in Ballard, Beacon Hill and possibly Northgate, Wallingford and the south Duwamish areas if enough money can be found.

The city has earmarked $27 million for cycling improvements out of last year's Bridging the Gap transportation levy, but the wish list is about $240 million.

Already, some of the easier projects in the plan are under way, including new pavement markings, or "sharrows,"to remind motorists to share the streets with riders.

An estimated 25 miles of sharrows and bike lanes have been added this year, said David Hiller, advocacy director for the Cascade Bicycle Club.

In many ways, the plan forges a partnership between the city and the bike club, which worked together to write the plan.

Soon, a $300,000 public-education campaign, along with police enforcement, will start in Seattle neighborhoods, Hiller said.

Census figures show 2 percent of city residents bicycled to work in 2000, while Hiller estimates the figure at about 2 ½ percent. Thousands of other people ride for fitness, recreation or errands.

Seattle is attempting to catch Portland, which has seen rapid cycling growth in the last few years.

Mike Lindblom: 206-515-5628