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2002 Knoxville Regional Bicycle Plan
Outreach and Promotion
Public Information
Well-designed and distributed public information can vastly increase the community’s awareness and use of bicycling. It can also help modify behavior of motorists and bicyclists, and galvanize public interest in bicycling issues and trends.
The volunteer Bicycle Hotline (675-BIKE) has information on bike rides and other events sponsored by various bike clubs around the area. Most bike clubs and bike shops have Websites with information on various events.
Action Steps:
- Promote bicycling for transportation as well as recreation, particularly for trips to school, work, shopping and special events.
- Increase awareness of the benefits of bicycling, and the rights and responsibilities of bicyclists and motorists.
- Develop a public information and education campaign to encourage bicycling and improve the behavior of both motorists and bicyclists.
- Develop a bicycle map of downtown, UT and surrounding neighborhoods showing existing conditions on roadways to highlight the best ways to travel by bicycle.
- Establish, maintain and publicize a Webpage and telephone hotline with information and links to other agencies/organizations/Websites.
- Develop a Guide to Bicycle Resources with information on bike clubs, shops, events and other useful information.
- Develop a Bike to Work Guide for Knoxville, with information for employers and employees on benefits, safety and available resources.
Programs/Special Events
Programs and special events can increase public awareness of bicycling in a positive light. Programs such as bike rides can also introduce people to bicycling in a fun and easy way, making it more likely that they will try bicycling again. Bike Week events can be diverse enough to capture a wide audience, including children, college students and adults. The City of Chicago Mayor’s Office has a Bicycling Ambassadors Program, which sends Ambassadors to festivals, parks, libraries, community meetings and other public places to promote bicycling safety and encourage bicycling. The Ambassadors offer many services, including bicycle safety checks, demonstrations of bike racks on buses, teaching people how to ride to work/school and instruction on the use of bike lanes. Chicago also has a Safe Routes to School program, coordinated by the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation and sponsored by the Chicago Department of Transportation. Schools can receive help from transportation and bicycle safety experts to develop a safe way for children to ride to school.
Knoxville had a Bike to Work Day in 2001, with over 100 participants. In 2002, Knoxville’s first Bike Week was held from April 227 to May 4. There were more than 15 different events throughout the week.
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Action Steps:
- Continue to increase the number of special events and programs that encourage bicycling, including bicycle rides, bike giveaways and Bike Week events.
- Develop a Safe Routes to School program in conjunction with Bike to School Day during Bike Week, but to be used year-round.
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Community Services
Many communities have strong, diverse volunteer efforts to support bicycling services. Some are educational efforts, while others are repair and maintenance-oriented. Bike clubs or bike shops can offer repair classes for free or a nominal fee. Police departments and hospitals often sponsor bicycle light and helmet giveaways. Some communities have free public bikes for people to use; others have checkout bike programs.
Portland has a Create A Commuter Program, sponsored by the Community Cycling Center in partnership with many social service agencies, and with funding from the federal Job Access program. The program equips low-income participants with commuter bicycles with lights, rack, fender, helmet, maps and raingear. Participants attend a workshop teaching them the basics of urban bicycle commuting, safety, basic maintenance and roadside repair. Currently, the Center has funding for 100 participants a year.
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Action Steps:
- Coordinate and continue bike light, helmet and bike giveaway efforts by various agencies and groups.
- Develop a bicycle checkout program focused at the University of Tennessee and downtown.
- Increase and publicize the number of free repair classes offered throughout the community.
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www.pedbikeimages.org/Dan Burden |
Workshops
Most planners and engineers have had no training in bicycle issues. Workshops, including on-the-bike sessions, can help expose these professionals to the needs and rights of bicyclists, and the proper design of bicycle facilities. The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation’s Streets for Cycling program takes city traffic planners and engineers out on bike tours to show them that bike lanes are used, and to get them to think about bike lanes in their design work.
Action Steps:
- Provide regular workshops and other training opportunities for local planners, engineers, representatives from enforcement and emergency response, and other professionals on bicycle transportation and facility design issues.
- Develop a presentation for interested groups, such as Leadership Knoxville and Leadership Blount.
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