Commute by Biking and Walking

A real surge in biking to work would correspond with a corresponding trend to urban living. Biking commuter routes would need to be more prominent to have any impact on
Spokane real estate

clipped from www.spokesmanreview.com Group hopes to get Spokane walking and pedaling Mike Prager Staff writer October 19, 2008 When the SpokeFest organization held its first community bicycle ride in September, 1,255 people showed up. That apparent two-wheel zeal has a group called SmartRoutes angling for a share of a potential $5-billion federal fund to boost non-motorized transportation - otherwise known as walking and bicycling - for Spokane. SmartRoutes' partners, which include the Spokane Regional Health District, business interests, activists and public officials, believe that promoting walking and biking can help reduce congestion and energy consumption, while shrinking waistlines. They'll hold a rally Monday in downtown Spokane to build enthusiasm for bicycle and pedestrian routes. "I would say we are having a bike boom locally," said City Councilman Richard Rush, who commutes by bike and recently won funding for a new bike/pedestrian coordinator to expand the use of non-motorized transportation.