Released Jan. 29, 2010

Contact:
Margo O’Hara
312.427.3325 x 224
margo@activetrans.org

FUNDING, ADVOCACY PLAY MAJOR ROLE IN BIKING/WALKING SAFETY, REPORT FINDS

COLD CLIMATE DOESN’T INFLUENCE COMMUTERS’ DECISIONS TO WALK, BIKE

More balanced funding formulas would drastically improve the safety and convenience of biking and walking in Chicagoland, according to a report released this week by the Alliance for Walking and Biking. The report also identifies the role advocacy organizations play, and it dispels theories that a cold climate deters biking and walking

Bicycling and Walking in the United States 2010 Benchmarking Report, found that cities that invest more dollars per capita in biking and walking see higher levels of biking and walking, and they rank higher in bicycle/pedestrian safety. See the report here: http://www.PeoplePoweredMovement.org/benchmarking.

In Chicago, more than 30 percent of all traffic fatalities are bicyclists and pedestrians (28.5 percent are pedestrian and 3 percent are bicyclist). Yet, Illinois is spending just 1 percent of its transportation dollars on bicycling and pedestrian funding, the report found. That translates to only $.08 per capita.

Illinois as a whole doesn’t fare much better: 12.3 percent of all traffic fatalities are pedestrian, according to the report. Illinois Department of Transportation data reveals that more than 6,000 people are hit in crosswalks every year. That translates into more than 170 deaths and more than 1,000 serious injuries.

Only 1.2 percent of federal transportation dollars are spent on bicycling and walking. While 10 percent of trips in the United States are by bicycle or foot, bicyclists and pedestrians make up more than 13 percent of traffic fatalities, the report found.

The Active Transportation Alliance is urging leaders to correct the major funding gap.

“Cities flourish when more dollars are dedicated to biking and walking,” said Rob Sadowsky, Active Transportation Alliance’s executive director. “We continue to see the strong connection between funding and bicycle/pedestrian safety, and we call on our leaders to fix the disparity as quickly as possible.”

OTHER FINDINGS
· Weather is not a major influencer on whether people choose to walk or bike. One example is Minneapolis, which has higher rates of cycling than Chicago, but much colder annual temperatures. Minnesota spends twice what Illinois does, Minneapolis has more full-time advocacy staff than Chicago, and Minneapolis has installed 15,000 bicycle parking spaces- including spots at 100 percent of Minneapolis schools, public parks, and post offices.
· The report finds a positive correlation between advocacy organizations and walking and biking levels. Major walking and biking cities all have a significant advocacy capacity: Active Transportation Alliance in Chicago, Transportation Alternatives in New York City, Cascade Bicycling Club in Seattle and San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.
· Biking to work: From 1990-2007, levels increased 315 percent. That is only second to Portland, which increase by 348%. Chicago ranks 12 among major cities for levels of biking to work. That is up from 17 in 2007.
· 28.5 percent of all traffic fatalities in Chicago are pedestrian. That is higher than the average 25 percent
· 3 percent of all traffic fatalities in Chicago are bicyclists.
· 12.3 percent of all traffic fatalities in Illinois are pedestrian.

ABOUT THE ALLIANCE FOR BIKING AND WALKING
Alliance for Biking & Walking is the North American coalition of over 160 grassroots biking and walking advocacy organizations. The Alliance works to strengthen state and local organizations through research, sharing best practices, training, resources, and grants. For more information or to find a local organization visit www.PeoplePoweredMovement.org.

ABOUT THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE
The Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit, member-based advocacy organization that works to make bicycling, walking and public transit so safe, convenient and fun that we will achieve a significant shift from environmentally harmful, sedentary travel to clean, active travel. The organization builds a movement around active transportation, encourages physical activity, increases safety and builds a world-class transportation network. Formerly the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, the Active Transportation Alliance is North America’s largest transportation advocacy organization, supported by more than 6,000 members, 1,000 volunteers and 35 full-time staff. For more information on the Active Transportation Alliance, visit www.activetrans.org or call 312.427.3325.

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