Ok, it’s more substantial than that. In the government world, apparently, plans are more important than one would think for many reasons, not the least of which is because they bring money. The Reno Sparks Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan was just released in draft form and once approved, will become part of the Regional Transportation Commission’s (RTC) Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). The Bike/Ped plan was initiated by the RTC Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee to augment the RTP with bike/ped specifics and will have the additional result of compiling the necessary information for an official “Bike Friendly Community” application. This plan goes in-depth into the regional infrastructure and takes inventory of existing facilities, regulations and ordinances and recommends facilities wherever necessary to fulfill its vision.
Vision: “To support walking and bicycling, the Region will have an integrated system of safe, convenient and comfortable bicycle, pedestrian and other non-motorized facilities that provide access to schools, jobs, shopping, neighborhoods, community facilities, parks and regional trails.”
When asked what stops them from riding their bikes more often, most people responded that safety concerns were top on their list. This is not a new revelation. Statistically, cyclist traffic fatalities account for a small, 2.5 percent of traffic fatalities in Nevada. But as anyone who commutes by bike can attest, there is a lot more to it than that. Aggressive, belligerent and ignorant motorists can make a delightful morning commute hair-raising, to say the least. There are a number of responses, ranging from spitting on their hood to reporting their license plate and driver description to Reno Direct, some being more appropriate than others. But I think it’s time to address this problem head on, starting with more bike lanes.
Statistics can’t capture the full scope of the danger of cycling, nor can lengthy blog posts or well-meaning government agencies adequately convey the sheer joy and freedom of peddling a bike. With this plan we have the opportunity to mold Reno into a unique, healthy city. Reno is Reno, and we love it. Constantly changing, growing and evolving, Reno is ready to become the healthy, thriving home we all know it can be. After 3 years of sitting on RTC’s Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee, I am very excited to see Katy Cole’s draft of the Reno Sparks Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan.
If you’re like me, reading government documents like this is mind numbing. The only silver lining is that it’s all about cycling and walking, it is very well organized and easy to read. Please take a look and connect with the Plan on Facebook to give your feedback. For once someone is asking for our opinion, let’s not disappoint.
Please contact Carrie Henderson Busha via [email protected]
