Caltrans Director Leads Bicycle Tour Through Downtown Sacramento to Promote Active Transportation

“May is Bike Month” is well underway, and to underscore Caltrans’ support for active transportation, Director Malcolm Dougherty set out on his annual bike ride through downtown Sacramento and West Sacramento on May 16.

“Caltrans is committed to continue fully integrating biking and walking into California’s transportation system,” said Dougherty. “We will continue our work to support and provide safe, well-designed bike and pedestrian paths that encourage people to get out of their cars and walk or ride their bicycle.”

During today’s ride, Dougherty departed from Caltrans’ Headquarters joined by Jim Brown, executive director of Sacramento Area Bike Advocates; Chris Dougherty, Transportation Program Specialist for the City of West Sacramento; and Sam Shelton, Project Manager for the Sacramento Regional Bike Share project from Sacramento Area Council of Governments. Along the ride, each highlighted examples of well-designed bicycle facilities and areas where new active transportation projects are being built.

Caltrans may traditionally be known for highways, but it is making significant moves to embrace and promote biking, walking and people-friendly streets. Among them is the drafting of the first-ever California State Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, which will guide Caltrans’ efforts to include bicycle and pedestrian considerations in all department policies, programs and projects. The plan will lead to improved connections between the state’s bicycle and pedestrians paths and the network of local and regional roads, public transit, and intercity and passenger rail.

Caltrans also continues to significantly invest in nonmotorized transportation. In the past 20 years, Caltrans has directed more than $1 billion in state and federal funds toward bicycle and pedestrian projects in California. The Active Transportation Program, now in its second year, has $720 million in bicycle and pedestrian projects programmed through fiscal year 2018-19. Over the next ten years, more than $1.25 billion in additional ATP funds will be distributed for biking and walking projects in California.

Traditionally, Caltrans is a major sponsor of Bike Month events in Sacramento and its employees will also participate in Sacramento’s Bike to Work Day on May 20 which coincides with National Bike to Work Day.