30 Days of Biking, Day 10: Snohomish

Whitehorse Trail in Arlington, WA–I need to borrow a mountain bike for this one but I’ll get there.

I’m hatching plans to go ride my bike in Snohomish County. It’s important.

First, the back story. The Centennial Trail has been on my list for a while. In more ways than one, you might say: Once upon a time my advocacy efforts were dedicated to the North Idaho Centennial Trail Committee, back when I lived in Post Falls, as a companion and connection to the Spokane River Centennial Trail in Spokane County.

So I rode the North Idaho Centennial Trail, then the Spokane side.

Then I moved to western Washington and discovered the existence of yet another one: the Centennial Trail in Snohomish County.

It’s been on my list for quite a while because of the many recommendations I’ve heard. And then the terrible mudslide hit along Highway 530. Both yesterday and today increased my determination to get my bike up to Snohomish and ride.

Yesterday morning at the first meeting of the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Parks and Outdoor Recreation, Gov. Jay Inslee opened by asking us, in addition to the charge laid before the task force, to consider how we might give special attention to Snohomish County. It offers tremendous recreational opportunities and tourism is the third largest sector of the local economy.

This morning in the Transportation Policy Board meeting at Puget Sound Regional Council, we considered a proposal to direct federal funds to Snohomish County. Snohomish County Council members Ken Klein and Terry Ryan and Arlington City Council member Debora Nelson all spoke movingly about the way Arlington, Oso, and Darrington are working together in the finest tradition of American community spirit to recover.

I shared the governor’s remarks along with our efforts at Washington Bikes to share information with bike travelers looking for great places to ride. I pledged our commitment to highlight Snohomish County as a destination, said I’m planning bike trips there, and asked everyone in the room to consider a trip to Snohomish County to spend money in the local economy as an immediate way of helping them recover.

I invite you to join me in planning your own trip to Snohomish County and then sharing your riding experiences with us. We’ll feature your pictures, video, blog post, maps, reviews of restaurants and places to stay–anything you can do to help attract others.

If you’d like to participate, either by telling us about your ride or by receiving updates from us when we have bike travel information to share, fill out the contact information below. You’ll be making a difference for Snohomish County, and thus for all of Washington.

Your Turn

• If you’ve already ridden in Snohomish County, give us your recommendations in the comments below.
• If you haven’t, will you start planning a trip now?

Blog Posts to Inspire Your Snohomish County Bicycle Trip

• Will Bike for Pie
• Celebrate the Past and Present of Snohomish County’s Centennial Trail
• Explore Snohomish County on McClinchy Mile Bike Ride
• Tacoma, Snohomish Join the Ranks of Bicycle-Friendly Communities

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