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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
21-42
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
April 14, 2015
To declare the month of May 2015, as “National Bike Month” in the District of Columbia to highlight the benefits of regularly commuting by bicycle, celebrate the success of the District’s Capital Bikeshare program, and advocate for an expansion of bike infrastructure to encourage greater cycling levels throughout the District of Columbia.
WHEREAS, regular cycling has been shown to reduce an individual’s annual health care costs, decrease absenteeism from work, and increase productivity during the day;
WHEREAS, since 2007, the number of everyday bike commuters in the District of Columbia has nearly doubled, totaling 3.5% of commuters;
WHEREAS, between February 2014 and January 2015, Capital Bikeshare saw significant increases in both annual and daily memberships; during that 12-month period, annual memberships increased by almost 10,000 — almost 25% — and daily memberships purchased each month increased from 106 to 738—almost 600%;
WHEREAS, in a 2012 survey of Capitol Bikeshare members, 58% of members use Capitol Bikeshare to go to or from work; of these members, 40% used Capitol Bikeshare “often” for this purpose;
WHEREAS, half of all surveyed Capitol Bikeshare members drove a car less often than they had before obtaining a membership;
WHEREAS, between 2004 and 2012, as the bike lane network increased in the District by 300%, the number of cyclists counted along prominent corridors during morning and evening rush hours increased by 175%;
WHEREAS, the District Department of Transportation will install 7 new miles of bikeways in 2015 to include cycle tracks, bike lanes, and climbing lanes across the District;
WHEREAS, 2014’s Bike to Work Day garnered 16,800 participants, a 10% increase from 2013; and
WHEREAS, 2015’s Bike to Work Day will be held on May 15.
IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that the Council of the District of Columbia declares the month of May 2015 as “National Bike Month” in the District of Columbia.
Sec. 2. This resolution may be cited as the “National Bike Month Recognition Resolution of 2015”.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.
