Mission

– generate safe, accessible, multi-modal transportation infrastructure for users of all ages, abilities and incomes

– promote the reduction of obesity, diabetes, and other preventable diseases while increasing the well-being of residents

– improve walkability and the overall quality of life in communities

– enhance local and state economies by using existing resources to create multi-day hiking and cycling destinations

Allow for most people to be able to walk or ride a bike to work, school, to run errands or just for better health

Active Transportation=Better Economy

• West Virginia is on the bottom of Gallup’s annual wellbeing index. Colorado is on the top. And Colorado is recruiting businesses from other places, as this National Public Radio story shows: http://www.npr.org/2013/04/10/176752793/businesses-seek-out-areas-with-culture-of-health

• The research leaves no doubt: Fitness is a great sing its high fitness ratings and healthy workforce to try to steal community economic development tool. In 2013, the Summersville Convention and Economic Development director said that, after the city started featuring fitness and outdoor adventure in its advertising, traffic on the city’s Web site went up 40 percent

Studies show that pedestrians and cyclists spend more than motorists in city centers.

Active Transportation=Better Health

Annual cost associated with physical inactivity was $1,309,544,068 ($1,060,383,138 in lost worker productivity; $254,631,484 in medical care; $3,528,446 in workers’ compensation). Increasing physical activity in adults by just 5%, annual costs would be reduced by $108,048,190 (that’s an 8% reduction)!

POLICY

• Better facilities for ped/cycling at local, state and federal levels

• Traffic education for public, public safety, cyclists

• Dedicated bike/ped person at large companies

Plan

The State of Cycling and Walking in WV

• Lewisburg – Jim Justice hosts the annual MS bike ride; even provides free lunch!!

• Hinton – This [TE funding] is the best bricks and mortar grant program available to our area. Hinton’s efforts to build a tourism industry would be stalled severely without this program.” Mayor Blankenship

Cities, towns and rural communities

• “We need a transportation plan not just for cars but for bike paths, walkways and street scapes that allow for safe, healthy use of our roads and pathways that will encourage wellness and add to our quality of life.” Kelly Merritt (now the editor of the Charleston Mail Gazette)

Cities, towns and rural communities

• http://www.traillink.com/city/matewan-wv-trails.aspx

• Beckley to Summersville• Fayetteville Loop • Parkersburg Bike Board

Morgantown

Charleston’s Bike to Work Day, 2015

Tour de PATH – Huntington

ACE Event

Secretary Foxx’s Initiative

“Safety is our [US DOT] highest priority and that commitment is the same regardless of which form of transportation people choose, including walking and biking.”

Across the country

• Bike Sharing • Rolling Stop Legislation• Open Streets• Mandatory sidewalks and bike lanes with any

new construction• Ballot measures

Atlanta Cycling Festival

Surfside, Florida

Closer to home

• GAP• Bike Tour Virginia • GOBA and TOSRV

Vision• Change in perception • Consistent, dedicated funding• Regional Trail Plans (state take ownership of

abandoned rail lines) – Beckley to Summersville – North central – South western

• Comprehensive Cycling/Pedestrian Plan for WV (intra-agency)