As a resident of Chico, I use my bicycle for most of my basic transportation within our city. Like many others, I often cycle to Downtown Chico for shopping or dining. However, the current lack of safe bicycle infrastructure has been a deterrent to this otherwise enjoyable and traffic-reducing activity. It's not just me - over 90% of our fellow residents live within a 3-mile radius from Downtown, a bike ride that lasts no more than 20 minutes.

The proposed Downtown Chico Complete Streets Improvement Project, presented by the Public Works Director-Engineering at the March 5, 2024 City Council meeting, promises to address these concerns. This project aims at making our streets safer and more accessible for all users - pedestrians, users of mobility devices, cyclists, and motorists alike.

If implemented as proposed, it will not only encourage more people like me to walk or cycle downtown but will also revitalize our business district by increasing footfall and freeing up parking spaces for those who prefer driving. Dozens of studies in cities nationwide have demonstrated that protected bicycle lanes, such as those proposed in the project, are often correlated with increased sales for adjacent businesses (and are rarely if ever correlated with decreased sales). See, for example, this recent article in Business Insider.

We need your support in urging the Chico City Council to approve all aspects of this crucial project. Let's make our city safer and greener while boosting local businesses! Please sign this petition today!