Seattle experienced a 15% increase in bike commuting in the past two years, based on a count conducted in September.
Volunteers stationed at 30 locations around the city counted 2,609 bicyclists heading into the core downtown area the morning of Sept. 16.
Many of those commuters were using bike lanes, routes and paths that were created thanks to the city's Bike Master Plan, passed in 2007.
The ongoing improvements in the Bike Master Plan are aimed at tripling the number of people commuting by bicycle by 2017.
Bicycle infrastructure
“In the master plan’s first three years, Seattle has installed more than 90 miles of bike lanes and sharrows; nearly 35 miles of signed routes; over 800 bike racks; and roughly 5.5 miles of multi-use trails, including the first segment of the Chief Sealth Trail and the Burke-Gilman Trail extension from Golden Gardens Park to 60th Ave NW.
“In 2010, SDOT is committed to installing 20 miles of new bike lanes and sharrows, more than 30 miles of signed routes, and several new trail segments.”
More women
The counters also determined that — at least on that one morning — the percentage of bike commuters who were women increased from 21% in 2007 to 23% in 2009. It's been postulated that cities with a good bicycle infrastructure are likely to have higher rates of female cyclists.
Bicycling has been on the rise in Seattle for the entire decade.
The 2,200 bicycles who commuted into the city in 2007 represented a 30% increase from 2000.
Go to downtown bicycle counts to see a comparison of 1992, 1995, 2000, 2007 and 2009 at the same locations.
The five busiest locations for cyclists entering the city were:
Dexter Avenue North
Colman Dock
Elliott Bay Trail,
Alaskan Way Path
Pine Street
Photo above from 2008 bike to work day meet up at City Hall
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