As part of a $200 million initiative to expand bike infrastructure and make riding a bike a transportation choice for everyday trips, SANDAG is launching GO by BIKE, a public outreach and marketing program aimed at expanding awareness, appreciation and acceptance of biking as a practical and reasonable choice for getting around and to encourage people to use Regional Bike Network projects as the means to travel throughout San Diego.
One of the projects is the Rose Creek Bikeway. The project will improve an important connection between points to the north, such as Sorrento Valley, University City, and UCSD, and points to the south, such as Mission Bay, Pacific Beach, Mission Valley, and downtown San Diego.
The GO by BIKE brandmark – which features a bike graphic with wheels in the shape of the letters “G” and “O” – will be applied to bike racks, bike parking facilities and signage for existing and future bikeways as well as a wide range of promotional materials, including print and radio advertising, websites, and billboards.
The program applies unique branding to the Regional Bike Network as well as other bike infrastructure and resources, including GObyBIKEsd.com and a hashtag, #GObyBIKEsd.
Visitors to GObyBIKEsd.com will find information on the Regional Bike Plan, SANDAG bike projects, events, classes, riding tips, and other resources that will enable them to get involved and get active, including a link to the interactive Regional Bike Map to plan their next bike trip. The landing page has a streamlined design, making it easy for users to quickly find what they need.
“We want San Diegans of all ages and abilities to feel comfortable and encouraged to ride their bikes for everyday trips, whether it’s to the beach, the store, school, or work,” SANDAG chair and Santee Councilmember Jack Dale said. “Biking as a viable form of transportation is gaining momentum throughout the country. It’s not just good for our health, it’s good for the environment and the economy.”
In September 2013, the SANDAG board of directors approved the Regional Bike Plan Early Action Program (EAP), committing $200 million from the region’s voter-approved TransNet half-cent sales tax to expand the bike network and finish high-priority projects within a decade. The approval of the Bike EAP represents the single largest investment in bike projects and programs in the history of the San Diego region, and is regarded by some as unprecedented in the state and this country.
The Bike EAP aims to complete 42 projects totaling about 77 miles of new bikeways. These projects are spread throughout the county, from San Ysidro and Imperial Beach to Vista and Oceanside, from inland urban cores to scenic coastal communities. Currently, about 18 miles of bikeways are in final design and engineering. Another 32 miles are in the preliminary engineering and environmental phases of development.