For 7th straight year, Washington named most bike-friendly state – UPDATED

Despite very little improvement over 2013, Washington State was able to hang on to the top spot on the League of American Bicyclists’ annual list of bike-friendly states. The state scored 66.8 out of 100 points, effectively unchanged from 2013’s 66.2 score.

UPDATE: Governor Jay Inslee hailed the news in a press release announcing his proclamation of May as Bike Month.

“As a bike rider I get to see firsthand all that Washington has done to make bicycling part of a sustainable transportation system,” said Gov. Inslee. “Bicycling helps make healthy communities, healthy people and a rich quality of life.  There’s always more to do, but being named the most bike friendly state shows we are moving on the right path.”

See full press release at the bottom of this post.

The state’s marks for “infrastructure and funding” was already Washington’s lowest point, but the 2014 rank found that the state is now doing even worse. It now gets only 2 points out of 5 in that category.

But Washington gets very strong marks for education, legislation and policies, and those scores are enough to keep it at the top of the nation’s list.

But perhaps not for too long. Minnesota is now giving Washington a run for its money, scoring 62 points compared to 56.6 last year. And since the bar is so low, they might not have to try very hard to take the lead next year if Washington does not step up its game.

According to the Alliance for Biking & Walking’s 2014 Benchmarking Report, Washington State’s annual budget dedicates only $4.19 per resident to walking and biking projects combined. Of the Federal transportation funds Washington receives, only 3.2 percent goes to biking and walking projects. That figure includes bike/walk elements of other roads projects.

If the state is able to pass a transportation funding package that includes strong support for biking and walking, Washington will likely secure its top spot for years to come.

Below is the state-to-state ranking list:

UPDATE: Here’s a statement from the Governor’s Office:

For the seventh consecutive year, Washington has been named the nation’s No. 1 “Bicycle-Friendly State” by the League of American Bicyclists.

Meanwhile, Washington state will officially celebrate Bike Month in May with a signed proclamation by Governor Jay Inslee describing the many benefits of bicycling.

“As a bike rider I get to see firsthand all that Washington has done to make bicycling part of a sustainable transportation system,” said Gov. Inslee. “Bicycling helps make healthy communities, healthy people and a rich quality of life.  There’s always more to do, but being named the most bike friendly state shows we are moving on the right path.”

Strong partnerships among the state’s cities, counties, advocacy organizations, state agencies and transportation providers form the foundation of Washington’s success in improving conditions for bicycling and walking.

“Being an avid bicyclist, I’ve had an opportunity to explore Washington’s urban and rural roadways this past year,” said Washington Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson. “We’ll continue to work with our local partners to identify and fund bicycle needs in their areas, especially on highways that also function as main streets in our communities.”

The Washington State Department of Transportation supports bicycling through its Bicycle and Pedestrian programs and provides transportation design guidance, grant programs and technical support.

“We’re pleased and proud that Washington has remained the number one bicycle-friendly state,” said Barb Chamberlain, Washington Bikes executive director. “The work that goes into growing bicycling statewide every year is important for everyday people bicycling to work, school or errands. It’s equally important for Washington’s reputation as an incredible place to experience the great outdoors through bike travel and tourism. What a great way to kick off Bike Month!”

The League of American Bicyclists annually ranks all 50 states on how “bikeable” they are. The League evaluates each state’s cycling success in several categories: legislation and enforcement; policies and programs; infrastructure and funding; education and encouragement; and evaluation and planning.