New artistic look for Anchorage bus promotes pedal power, cleaner air

One People Mover bus has a new look promoting year-round biking for cleaner air.

The new design, created by an Alaskan artist, features arctic animals on bikes during the four seasons with the phrase "bike year-round for clean-air" visible from all sides of the bus.

People Mover was awarded a portion of funds from a Clean Air grant.

"The Air Quality program encourages people to take actions for cleaner air, including biking to work, riding the bus, carpooling, and installing engine block heaters to reduce vehicle emissions," Shannon Kuhn, Public Information Officer with the Anchorage Health Department said.

The wrap even pays tribute to Anchorage's Spenard community showcasing the iconic windmill. Spenard recently underwent a bike friendly face-lift.

"The Spenard road project was a redesign, it's referred to as a complete street so it has bike lanes as well as sidewalks and it's designed with bikers in mind," Kuhn said.

A spokesperson for People Mover said the bus is likely to be seen throughout the city since the department does not typically assign a single bus to one particular route. While it is currently in the shop for maintenance updates, the newly wrapped bus could be on the streets as early as next week.

Equipped with bike racks up front, the racks are not made for fat tire bikes, yet. Bart Rudolph, Planning and Communications Manager for the MOA Public Transportation Department, said the company manufacturing the racks has recently developed a fat tire version and People Mover would like to add those in the future.

On Friday, Anchorage commuters are encouraged to trade in vehicles for bikes with the winter bike to work day. "Bike Anchorage, along with some awesome local businesses, will be hosting treat stations the morning of Friday, February 8th from 7-9am to encourage and support winter riders," the Bike Anchorage website states.

For a map of burn barrels and treat stations, click