May 5, 2009
Contact:
Michele Mixner DeWitt, (747)220-6120 or mdewitt@williamsburgva.gov
Kate Hoving, (757)220-6197 or khoving@williamsburgva.gov
The city of Williamsburg is promoting the use of
alternative transportation on National Bike to Work Day on May 15, from
7-9:30 am. The city’s “Roll or Stroll to Work Day” is designed to
encourage people working in the city of Williamsburg to ride a bike or
walk to work. For those who can’t bike or walk, the city encourages
carpooling or use of public transportation. Williamsburg Area Transport
has provided vouchers to ride their buses free that day.
City employee volunteers are staffing five Energizing Stations located
throughout the city (High Street; Williamsburg-James City County
Courthouse; Jamestown Road at The Cedars B&B; the corner of York and
Page Streets; and Merchants Square at College Corner). Bottled water
and granola bars will be available for all commuters between 7 and 9:30
a.m., and bicyclists/strollers can register for more than 35 prizes and
gift certificates from local merchants and restaurants.
A free lunch from 12-1 p.m. will be provided at the Williamsburg
Community Building (401 North Boundary Street) for participants who pick
up tickets at one of the Energizing Stations. The lunch is cosponsored
by the city and Sal’s by Victor restaurant.
A free “Fix-a-Flat” service will also be provided that morning by
BikeSmith and Bikes Unlimited.
The city has been actively working to improve bicycle and pedestrian
facilities for over 15 years, and has cooperated with James City County
and York County to develop a regional bikeway plan that has been
incorporated into the comprehensive plans for all three jurisdictions.
There have been over 48 miles of bicycle facilities built in the
Williamsburg area since 1992, including the Virginia Capital Trail. In
addition, the city has worked to fill in gaps in the sidewalk system
city wide, with major improvements being made over the years along
Richmond Road, South Henry Street, and Capitol Landing Road. The best
recent example of a “complete street” in the city is Treyburn Drive
between Monticello Avenue and Ironbound Road - this street has both
shoulder bike lanes and sidewalks, and provides a much needed connection
between the Longhill Road residential area and downtown, as well as
access to High Street.
According to the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, the 2000
Census reported that Williamsburg had 1.9% of its workers age 16+
commuting by bicycle and 15.1% via walking -- both highest among all
localities in Hampton Roads (HR as a whole was 0.3% bicycle and 2.7%
walk).
Maps, information, bus vouchers and a list of sponsors are posted on
the city’s website, www.williamsburgva.gov
(http://www.williamsburgva.gov/Index.aspx?page=736 ).
# # #
The city of Williamsburg, Virginia (www.williamsburgva.gov),
established in 1699, is home to two internationally renowned
institutions, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (www.cwf.org), who
operates the world’s largest outdoor living museum; and the College of
William and Mary (www.wm.edu), the second oldest college in the United
States.
Williamsburg, governed by an elected city council and administered by a
city manager, functions under its vision to “…become an evermore safe,
beautiful, livable city of historic and academic renown, served by a
city government-cohesively led, financially strong, always improving-in
full partnership with the people who live, work and visit here.”
Contact: Kate Hoving
Communications Specialist
City of Williamsburg
401 Lafayette St.
Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757)220.6197
khoving@williamsburgva.gov
