California 3rd Most Bike-Friendly State In US
SACRAMENTO (CBSLA) — Is car-centric California becoming more friendly to bicycles?
The answer is yes according to an annual list released by the League of American Bicyclists. California moved up to third most bike-friendly state in the nation.
The report card attributes the jump from 19th place in 2013 to the state's first-ever Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and additional funding for active transportation projects.
Take a look at @BikeLeague's 2017 #BicycleFriendly State Ranking. What's your #BikeStateRank?https://t.co/315oIOjjky pic.twitter.com/09qQAGipfF
— League of American Bicyclists (@BikeLeague) October 25, 2017
"California has long led in many aspects of bicycle culture and has the highest number of bicycle commuters of any state," the report declared. "With a state DOT that is increasingly committed to ensuring the safety and comfort of people who bike rather than maintaining a status quo, the state seems on the verge of establishing new standards and practices that will be a model for other states, both through its size and its efforts. In particular, watch for California's actions on bicycle-related data including facilities, crashes, and counts to be potential models for other states."
The data analyzed for the state ranking was organized into five categories -- infrastructure and funding, education and encouragement, legislation and enforcement, policies and programs, and evaluation and planning.
Washington came in No. 1 in the 2017 rankings, followed by Minnesota.