{"id":13158,"date":"2014-02-10t11:07:53","date_gmt":"2014-02-10t11:07:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dpetrov.2create.studio\/planet\/wordpress\/take-the-greener-route\/"},"modified":"2014-02-10t11:07:53","modified_gmt":"2014-02-10t11:07:53","slug":"take-the-greener-route","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.getitdoneaz.com\/story\/take-the-greener-route\/","title":{"rendered":"take the greener route"},"content":{"rendered":"
the dc ddot has partnered with the washington area bicyclist association<\/a> to provide bicycle and pedestrian safety training in dc elementary schools.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n biking is a healthy, convenient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly way to get around and commute to work each day. in our nation\u2019s capital, there are over 100 miles<\/a> of bike trails and bike lanes making traveling by bike simpler and safer<\/a>.<\/p>\n a $45.8 million dc bicycle master plan<\/a> is also underway and nearly complete. the plan includes many improvements to the biking infrastructure<\/a> and programs about biking safety and awareness for dc residents, especially children.<\/p>\n of the 51 largest u.s. cities, the district tops the list<\/a> for highest per-capita funding for cycle and pedestrian facilities and education spending approximately $9.82 per resident<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201c<\/em><\/strong>i have made it clear i want the district of columbia to be the most sustainable, walkable city in the nation, <\/em>said mayor vincent c. gray<\/em><\/a>.<\/em>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n biking is also an integral part of the 20 year sustainable dc plan<\/a>. the plan calls for an increase in the \u201cuse of public transit, biking, and walking to 75% of all commuter trips<\/a>\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n while producing the video, julia and i found many people were very knowledgeable about the environmental importance of biking. we met an environmental lawyer, a man who taught sustainability awareness in africa and was testing out an 18 mile bike commute, and a father showing his son the importance of biking who had served on various regional boards dealing with the new transportation plans.<\/p>\n most people, however, were not very aware of any plan but noticed an increase in biking lanes and acceptance of bikes on the roads.<\/p>\n there has been an upward trend<\/a> in commuting by bicycle (3.2% in 2011 to 4.1% in 2012) in dc and most surrounding regions and the future looks bright with smart investments in biking and high awareness by local residents.<\/p>\n however, the numbers still have a long way to go until they can compete with nations like the netherlands where approximately 30% of all short trips<\/a> are by bicycle. <\/p>\n john perrino is a senior majoring in political communication at the george washington university. julia blakely is a senior majoring in journalism at the george washington university.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" cheaper, convenient, more sustainable, & owning penn ave – just a few of the reasons to bike in dc. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9127,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4895],"tags":[524,3360,662],"storyfest_categories":[],"class_list":["post-13158","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-transportation","tag-emissions","tag-sustainable-living","tag-transportation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n