CYCLING

Teton County’s excellent pathway system has it primed to take advantage of the e-bike revolution. E-bikes already make up a sizeable percentage of bikes on County pathways during summer months. These safe facilities that shield riders from auto traffic make summer travel fun, fast, and reliable. During afternoon peak travel, one can ride from Jackson to Wilson on an e-bike in a comparable time to driving. With the rise of affordable electric bikes, they have become a regular summer sight on the pathway system. But what would a true revolution in e-biking mean for Jackson Hole travel?

• Over half of daily trips in Jackson Hole are under 8 miles, a comfortable riding distance on an e-bike.

• If 10% of trips in the Highway 22 corridor were made by bike during summer afternoons, congestion could be reduced.

So what would it take to get there?

Making reliable e-bikes readily available to everyone who is able to ride would be cost less than building one lane mile of new highway.

• A Town/County subsidy for e-bike purchase with an agreement to ride and log 10 trips per week during the summer.

• A hotel/lodging program that uses lodging tax to pay for a fleet of e-bikes stationed at hotels and rental properties. The program could include mobile maintenance and charging support.

• Safe bike storage including cardaccessed cages with charging infrastructure at key park-and-rides, including Stilson, points of connection with transit, and local destinations.

• Increased funding for pathways, including expansion and improved controls for intersections and crossings.

Walkability

Few people will replace a Highway 22 auto trip with a walk, but the criticality of walkable neighborhoods cannot be overlooked. Capturing a 10% mode share on transit during peak periods will require that people feel safe and comfortable accessing the bus.

Increasing the percentage of new residential development that is constructed in compact, walkable neighborhoods where people can access goods and services by foot and bike is essential to reducing driving over the long-term