New version of the Pierce County Bike Map released | Pierce County

Bicyclists can now pick up the latest version of the Pierce County Bike Map at public libraries and most city halls and bike shops around the county.

Bicyclists can now pick up the latest version of the Pierce County Bike Map at public libraries and most city halls and bike shops around the county.

The free map shows paved trails open to non-motorized traffic, bike lanes that are striped and signed for bicycle use along the roadway, and other routes suggested by the bicycling community throughout Pierce County. It also features points of interest accessible by bicycle, such as museums and parks.

“Bicycling is a great way to experience Pierce County’s trails and parks, commute to work, and get exercise,” said Brian Ziegler, Pierce County Public Works director. “This map helps riders find a route that works for them – wherever their ride is taking them.”

A list of locations that carry the map, along with an online version, is available at http://piercecountywa.org/bike. The online version allows users to download and print sections of the map.

The redesigned seventh edition includes newly constructed trails in Sumner, Tacoma and Gig Harbor, new bike lanes in Tacoma and University Place, and additional points of interest. It also features a larger inset of downtown Tacoma, and a table that shows the mileage between access points on major trails.

The map also includes a list of bicycling resources, bike safety tips, and information on bike laws.

There are approximately 197 miles of bike lanes and 92 miles of paved trails in Pierce County. This map is one of the tools used in Pierce County’s Commute Trip Reduction program, which encourages the employees of participating organizations to use modes of transportation other than driving alone.

The map was produced by Pierce County Public Works using a $40,000 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Grant from the Federal Highway Administration.

Pierce County started producing the bike map in the early 1990s. It is updated every 3-4 years. The map was last updated in 2013. The online version is updated as new facilities are added.