Opinions

Simple way to make Anchorage better to work, live and play -- even in winter

Learning what new and innovative things cities like Minneapolis, San Francisco, Seattle and perennial leader Portland are doing to be more bike-friendly is interesting to anyone that bikes. But what is more interesting are the new tales and stories coming out of other cities across the U.S. One of the latest cities to jump into the mix is the Steel City and my hometown. The Steel City? That's right, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania -- a town that prides itself on being a hard-working, no-nonsense city.

As a Pittsburgher, born and raised, the 'burgh was where I learned to ride a bike in the 1970s. It was also a city that I would have bet the farm would never become a leader in becoming a bike-friendly city. I would have lost that bet. Pittsburgh has gone through a recent bike rejuvenation and Anchorage should take note, and follow. Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto sees new protected bike lanes as being part of a comprehensive approach to revitalizing Pittsburgh. "When you talk about bike infrastructure and the investment in capital dollars to build it out, you're really not talking about bike lanes," said Peduto. "What you're talking about is a multi-modal approach to building out your infrastructure." Not surprisingly, the approach is backed by Pittsburgh business leaders because it is leading to a more vibrant local economy.

Mayor Peduto takes a modern approach to the commuting needs of Pittsburgh residents. "It isn't the way it was in 1970," he said. "Not everyone's dream is to have their own car and use it to get to work." The mayor notes that Pittsburgh is committing to this vision despite what many see as significant obstacles: hilly topography, narrow streets and several bridges. "We have all of the detriments to creating a bike system that people could argue," he says. "But we're still doing it, and we're going to beat every other city." Perhaps the most impressive and amazing thing about what Pittsburgh has done is how quickly it has changed the streetscape. One example is the recent placement of protected bike lanes in the city. Protected bike lanes are more desirable for casual bicyclists because they separate bicyclists from vehicle traffic. Pittsburgh announced, planned and built protected bike lanes in the span of four months. Such rapid movement is unheard of in Anchorage, where we have waited years to simply see the municipality and Department of Transportation paint bike lanes on roads already wide enough to provide for the bike lane.

In a recent Alaska Public Media story, Anchorage Traffic Engineer Stephanie Mormilo said city code now requires all new road projects to include facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists, like sidewalks and bike lanes. She says the municipality is becoming more aware of different needs, mostly in response to community demand. "I guess there's a shift in the dynamic, I think," she stated. "And a lot of people are really recognizing that roads are not just for vehicles. They are not. They are transportation corridors that provide for all users." That is a great start. Now is the time to take that sentiment and put it into action.

Anchorage is changing. And it's time we caught up with cities like Pittsburgh. If we want to continue to attract employers and employees who value a livable city, we need to roll up our sleeves, and get to work. I'd like to think we are just as no-nonsense and hardworking as Pittsburghers, and that we can outdo my old hometown, creating bike infrastructure that will promote a healthy lifestyle, decrease traffic congestion and make Anchorage an attractive place for young and old to live, work and play. And we can do so in short order if we recognize the value and importance of making our city more livable.

Bike Anchorage is leading the way toward a more bike-friendly Anchorage. With year-round education programs, encouragement activities and active participation in the implementation of the Anchorage Bike Plan, Bike Anchorage is striving to make biking fun, safe and accessible to more people in all four seasons -- especially a winter like this year.

Soon, Bike Anchorage is hosting the 6th Annual Winter Bike Fest. Winter Bike Fest is about celebrating everything bike and getting together with others to create a strong bicycle community. It includes a monthlong series of fun and entertaining bike events -- from slideshows on biking in Namibia and Tanzania, to fun rides around town to First Friday art, free tater tots at the Spenard Roadhouse and the Second Annual Winter Bike To Work Day. It all starts with a kickoff party on Jan. 29 at Anchorage Community Works. A full schedule and more details are online at: http://www.bikeanchorage.org/.

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We hope to see you at one or all of the events, and we look forward to 2015 being a fun and safe year to Bike Anchorage.

Brian Litmans is president of Bike Anchorage.

The views expressed here are the writer's own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)alaskadispatch.com.

Brian Litmans

Brian Litmans is president of Bike Anchorage.

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