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HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and other state agencies have launched a new interactive mapping tool for BicyclePA routes.

PennDOT, along with the Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, Health and Labor & Industry and other state and local officials made the announcement to kick off Bike to Work Week May 16-20.

“With the many benefits of bicycling, I encourage Pennsylvanians to bike to work wherever possible,” PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards said in an emailed news release. “Interest in biking continues to grow across Pennsylvania as more people recognize the benefits of incorporating active transportation, biking and walking into their lives. Our message today is that PennDOT and the commonwealth are committed to being truly multi-modal.”

The Bike Route Map uses layers to provide the user with detailed bike routes, traffic volumes and speed limits and includes DCNR Trails, state parks and state forests. The new interactive Bike Route Map can be found on the “Ride A Bike” page under “Travel In PA” at www.penndot.gov.

Officials noted the importance of ensuring continuing development of safe options for riders.

“The Department of Labor & Industry makes worker safety a priority every day and a safe commute is part of that,” said L&I Deputy Secretary for Administration Chris Dwyer in the release. “By providing safe and expansive bike trails, workers are able to get to and from work safely while getting some terrific exercise.”

Pennsylvania’s robust natural resources were noted as a prime opportunity for cycling.

DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said, “We are blessed with more than 11,000 miles of trails, 121 state parks and more than 2.2 million acres of state forestland, all offering unlimited biking terrain and opportunities. Biking is one of the best activities to see what our very special outdoor places have to offer.”

Dunn noted that DCNR is a partner in Get Outdoors PA, which offers a calendar of guided outings and includes tech support and riding tips to encourage riders to strike out on bikes regardless of location.

PennDOT encourages riders to wear reflective clothing in order to be more visible to drivers.

For more information on bicycle safety, visit www.JustDrivePA.com. A series of bicycle-safety videos covering state bicycle laws and safety measures is viewable on the department’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/pennsylvaniaDOT.

Richards
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