Metro's Bike There! Program was recognized as the 2010 Transportation Demand Management Program of the Year by the Transportation Options Group of Oregon at the annual Oregon Transit Association Conference on Wednesday, Oct. 27.
The award is given to outstanding programs that provide Oregonians with creative, innovative ways to drive less. Helping people bike or walk instead of drive reduces greenhouse gas emission, which keeps our air clean and creates vibrant, healthy communities.
Metro has created the area's only regional map for more than 25 years. The latest edition of the Bike There! map is significant because it features more routes than any of Metro’s bike maps to date, covering more of the region and showing popular recreational cycling destinations.
Metro also made improvements to the map's legend and route ratings that were based on feedback from user and retailer focus groups. These changes have made the map easier to use and provided critical information to help people safely bike around the region. More than 6,550 copies of the new Bike There! map have been sold since April 2010.
The Bike There! map is just one element to the program Metro was recognized for with the To Go award. Metro conducted the following public outreach activities to promote biking and bike safety in the community:
Metro hosted brown bag presentations to share information with the community and a free biking celebration open to the public during National Bike Month.
Metro sponsored the popular Sunday Parkways events during the summer, where the agency hosted a Bike There! photo station. Participants had their free souvenir photos taken while learning about travel options. They also received free maps and safety lights.
Metro developed a “Quick Guide for Better Biking” brochure featuring safety information and resources. This handy resource as well as other Quick Guides featuring bike maps for Wilsonville, Oregon City, Happy Valley, Gresham, Beaverton, Hillsboro and Forest Grove, can be downloaded for free from Metro’s website.
Currently, Metro provides free, paper copies to low-income community groups and youth organizations.