Palo Alto is committed to promoting and encouraging bicycling as a safe, healthy, economical, environmentally friendly mode of transportation that is a viable and convenient alternative to the automobile. The 2000 Census reported that 5.6% of Palo Alto residents commute to work by bicycle. The City continues to work to significantly increase its proportion of travel by bicycle by providing facilities, services, and programs that promote bicycling.
In May 2003, Palo Alto was designated a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. This three-year designation ranks Palo Alto with only three other "Gold Level" communities (Portland OR, Corvallis, OR and Boulder, CO). The award is only presented to communities with remarkable commitments to bicycling. The League cited Palo Alto's strong commitment to education efforts and model policies in their commendation.
Palo Alto has been a leader in the development of innovative bicycle projects and programs for over three decades. The basic grid of the City's bikeways system, now totals over 30 miles of bike lanes and 7.5 miles of off-road bike paths and 11 bicycle bridges. Over the years, the network has been enhanced by unique and highly successful projects such as the Bryant Street Bicycle Boulevard (the nation's first such facility), Adobe Creek Trail under Highway 101, regional Bay Trail, new bicycle bridges to adjacent communities, and installation of bicycle sensitive detection at signalized intersections.
Palo Alto was a proponent of bicycle commuting beginning in the 1970s, installing bicycle lockers at the City's two Caltrain stations and adopting Zoning Ordinance requirements new development projects to provide on-site bicycle racks and bike lockers. In 1999, Palo Alto opened the first Bikestation on the Caltrain line at the Palo Alto Caltrain station, with free, valet bicycle parking, bicycle servicing and amenities.
With the City's bicycle infrastructure so fully developed, the emphasis is now shifted to expanding bicycle safety education for elementary, middle and high school students and a Street Skills for Cyclists adult bicycle education program.
