City of LeawoodCity of Leawood

Bicycle Friendly Community The Year in Review

What are traits of a Bicycle What are traits of a Bicycle Friendly Community?Friendly Community?

Welcome cyclists by providing well-Welcome cyclists by providing well-engineered bicycle facilities.engineered bicycle facilities.

Creates new places to ride.Creates new places to ride. Educates motorists and cyclists on the Educates motorists and cyclists on the

rules of the road. rules of the road. Encourages people to bike for Encourages people to bike for

transportation and recreation.transportation and recreation.

How did BFC start in Leawood?How did BFC start in Leawood?

A Goal of the Green Initiative Task Force is to A Goal of the Green Initiative Task Force is to improve green mobility.improve green mobility.

GITF presented the idea of becoming a Bicycle GITF presented the idea of becoming a Bicycle Friendly Community to the Park Advisory Friendly Community to the Park Advisory Board.Board.

Park Advisory Board recommended the city Park Advisory Board recommended the city apply for the award to the City Council.apply for the award to the City Council.

The City Council directed staff to apply for The City Council directed staff to apply for recognition.recognition.

The Bicycle Friendly The Bicycle Friendly Community ProgramCommunity Program

is administered by the League of is administered by the League of American Bicyclists.American Bicyclists.

Has four different levels of recognition: Has four different levels of recognition: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

Applications are reviewed by national Applications are reviewed by national experts and local cyclists to determine experts and local cyclists to determine recognition and provide feedback.recognition and provide feedback.

HOWHOW do you become Bicycle do you become Bicycle Friendly?Friendly?

(The 5 (The 5 “E’s“E’s”)”)

Communities are judged in 5 categoriesCommunities are judged in 5 categories::1. Engineering

2. Education

3. Encouragement

4. Enforcement

5. Evaluation & Planning

BFC Feedback…BFC Feedback…

Our Strengths: Our Strengths:

1.1. Over 200 children were provided bike safety Over 200 children were provided bike safety instruction through rodeos.instruction through rodeos.

2.2. Bike officers are Safety Ambassadors and Bike officers are Safety Ambassadors and active in Share the Road Safety Task Force active in Share the Road Safety Task Force with MARC.with MARC.

3.3. The City has improved intersections with The City has improved intersections with traffic signals capable of detecting cyclists.traffic signals capable of detecting cyclists.

BFC Feedback…BFC Feedback…

Two Most Important Items to do:Two Most Important Items to do:1.1. Adopt a complete streets policy that would Adopt a complete streets policy that would

ensure that new or major reconstructed ensure that new or major reconstructed roads accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, roads accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, and motorist alike.and motorist alike.

2.2. Increase bicycle education opportunities for Increase bicycle education opportunities for adults. Find ways to deliver education to adults. Find ways to deliver education to motorists. Set annual education participation motorists. Set annual education participation goals with an eye to increase participation goals with an eye to increase participation each year.each year.

WHY WHY should Leawood should Leawood become a BFC?become a BFC?

For Our Health For Our Community For Our Future

For our Health

1 out of every 5 children are considered 1 out of every 5 children are considered obese.obese.

The average person loses 13 lbs. the first The average person loses 13 lbs. the first year of commuting by bike.year of commuting by bike.

Three hours of cycling per week can Three hours of cycling per week can reduce risk of heart attack or stroke by reduce risk of heart attack or stroke by 50%.50%.

For Our Community

25% of all trips are made within a mile of 25% of all trips are made within a mile of the home.the home.

40% of all trips are made within two miles 40% of all trips are made within two miles of the home.of the home.

50% of the working population commutes 50% of the working population commutes 5 miles or less to work.5 miles or less to work.

It takes the average cyclist 15 minutes to It takes the average cyclist 15 minutes to travel 3 miles.travel 3 miles.

For our Future

Bicycle Friendly Communities have a high Bicycle Friendly Communities have a high quality of life that translates to sustainable quality of life that translates to sustainable development, business growth, and even development, business growth, and even increased property values.increased property values.

Notification of Grants and Funding.Notification of Grants and Funding. Recognition and Promotion. Only 2 Kansas Recognition and Promotion. Only 2 Kansas

Cities have been awarded Bicycle Friendly Cities have been awarded Bicycle Friendly Community status.Community status.

WHATWHAT have we done? have we done?

Bike lane on 123rd street-State Line to Mission Road trail entrance. (Engineering)

Facilitate a Bicycle Rodeo (Education)

Provide multi-use trails (Engineering)

Provide Bicycle Officers (Enforcement)

Provide bicycle helmets at cost for resale to the public. (Encouragement)

Establish a Bicycle Friendly Citizen Committee. (Encouragement)

Goals Goals for the future to improve for the future to improve Bicycle Friendliness:Bicycle Friendliness:

Encourage employers to become Bicycle Friendly by providing secure bike parking and showers for employees. (Encouragement)

Provide bike racks at all businesses and public facilities for customers and visitors. (Encouragement)

Provide classes to first time riders to teach safe riding in traffic. (Education)

Provide Safe Routes to Schools program at all schools. (Encouragement)

Review our Bicycle Master Plan Map annually. (Evaluation)

Adopt a Complete Streets Policy. (Engineering)

Let’s go for the Let’s go for the GOLDGOLD……

as we continue to “Grow with Distinction.”

Leawood, KansasLeawood, Kansas

1948-20101948-2010