Source: http://www.marinij.com/marin/ci_7893849

A county study shows more people are rolling around on bikes these days. As part of Marin’s $25 million federal pilot bike plan, the county took a count of local bicycle and pedestrian trips to create a baseline from which to judge the program.

Overall, there has been a 66 percent increase in weekday commute-hour bicycle traffic and a 33 percent rise in weekend riding, when compared with a similar count conducted in 1999.

“These are encouraging statistics,” Supervisor Steve Kinsey said. “They indicate that our priority focus and associated investments are improving biking and walking in our county.”

“This upsurge in biking and walking shows that giving people safe alternatives to the car can work in reducing auto trips and congestion,” Supervisor Charles McGlashan said. “The automobile is not always the trip of choice when people see safe and readily available alternatives.”

Very encouraging results from the pilot program Marin is currently running from their grant award of the Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program passed by Congress in ‘05