FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 04/14/2015
Contact: Kelley Yemen, Public Works: 612-596-0243 Kayla Bromelkamp, Communications: 612-348-8536
News release
Hennepin County and
Three Rivers Park District worked together to update a county-wide bicycle plan
that reflects current and growing use of cycling in the region. The plan,
called the Hennepin County 2040 Bicycle Transportation Plan, will guide the
county’s work to expand the bikeway system, improve safety for people who
bicycle, walk or drive, increase bicycling for transportation, and improve the
health of county residents.
This plan, replaces
the 1997 plan. Since 1997, the county has made great progress in enhancing its
bicycle transportation network. It has built and funded more than 136 miles of
new bikeways and closed 59 gaps in the bicycle network. Bicycle commuting has
doubled in Hennepin County since 2000 from 0.8 percent to 1.6 percent of trips
to work.
The plan includes 45
strategies and more than 170 action items that address infrastructure,
education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation. The plan also recommends
the continuation of current county practices that contribute to the goals of
the Hennepin County Pedestrian Plan and the Transportation System Plan.
Bicycle usage and
interest continue to grow in Hennepin County. Transportation costs have
increased and there is greater public concern about the environmental impacts
of transportation. There is also a greater emphasis on active living and the
public health benefits of bicycling.
Goals of the county bike plan
- Quadruple the number
of bicycle commuters from 2012’s 12,000 people to 48,000 people by 2040
- Complete an average of
20 miles of the bikeway system each year.
- Close an average of
five bikeway gaps each year
- Achieve an access
level where 90 percent of homes in Hennepin County are within one-half mile of
a bikeway or within a mile of the enhanced bikeway network by 2040
- Move toward zero
bicycle deaths
- Halve bicycle crashes
per capita from 2010 levels by 2040
Development and implementation
Hennepin County will
lead implementation of the plan, but also partner with other agencies and cities. This plan is a guide for
supporting the vision of increasing bicycling within Hennepin County.
Implementation of the plan requires additional action by the county board
through the annual capital appropriations and cooperative funding agreements.
Development of the
plan began in spring 2013, with community engagement activities throughout the
plan drafting process. The plan was available for public comment in fall 2014
and winter 2015. It has been revised based on comments received.
For more information
or to view the full plan, visit www.hennepin.us/bike.
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Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at www.hennepin.us/news.
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