Reno Kicking Off Bike Month, Emphasizing Bike Safety

Reno NV

30 April, 2022

12:36 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Reno: April 28, 2022 May is National Bike Month, and Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve, the Reno Police Department, Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance (TMBA), Safe Routes to School, City of Reno staff, and community partners are excited to kick off the month-long celebration with a proclamation reading and important bike safety reminders on Friday, April 29, 2022 at 10 a.m. at City Plaza. Members of the media and the public are invited to attend. "Spring is here in the Truckee Meadows, which means ideal conditions for getting outside and riding a bike," said Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve. "It's extremely important for our drivers to be on the lookout for cyclists, especially as we see more bikes on the road, and for our cyclists to follow best safety practices. Each of us plays a critical role in keeping our cycling community safe this Bike Month and throughout the year." Representatives from the Reno Police Department and Safe Routes to School will be at the event to provide safety tips and reminders for cyclists and drivers. The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) is providing free helmets and reflectors and the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Washoe County is providing lighted armbands and heel straps while supplies last. Other ways to get involved this Bike Month Experience the joys and health benefits of cycling or riding to work, school and other community events. Visit bikewashoe.org for the Bike Month calendar. Participate in RTC's Commuter Challenge for a fun way to promote teamwork within your business, create a healthier workplace and get people excited about bicycling. Sign up to participate here.Share your feedback by taking the Safe Mobility for All Survey to help improve micromobility safety throughout the region.Ride and log your miles for a chance to win a red 500 watt Pedego Element from Pedego Reno. See more details here. 2022 Safe Mobility for All Survey (SMAS) Mayor Schieve requested the first micromodal safety survey in Reno. The Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance found that 92 percent of respondents want to use alternative transportation more often and 85 percent of respondents say safety is the biggest barrier. Key facts from the Survey 82 percent say roadway safety is the most important aspect of new bike facilities.Nearly half (48 percent) of all respondents feel most safe on protected and separated bike lanes where traffic is 30 mph and up.76 percent say they only feel safe enough to ride with a child on a separated or protected lane. "The number one thing is safety. If someone thinks they may die using a bike just to get from A to B, they're not going to use it," said Ky Plaskon of the Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance, which conducted the SMAS. "Nobody feels too unsafe to take their kids on transit or in their car. If we want sustainable transportation we need to invest in micro-mobility facilities that make people feel safe too. That means following federal guidance: building protected facilities on roads where traffic speeds are above 30 mph." This press release was produced by the City of Reno. The views expressed here are the author's own.