Abounding Volunteer Opportunities!

By baw_admin | Published August 18, 2010

Boy do we have a lot of pans in the fire these days — and that’s exciting. But we need you, our loyal bicycling supporters, to help us make all these things happen. Here’s how you can help.

One-Time

Ongoing

Reach Out to Bike Racers

Interested in bicycle racing, or are you a bike racer yourself? All racers benefit from the Bicycle Alliance’s efforts, but very few even know the Bicycle Alliance exists. Help us rectify this sad state of affairs. On August 29, we need 6 people (3-hour shifts of 2 people each, from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm) to help staff a Bicycle Alliance table at the Seward Park Season Ender race. Helpers will actively work the crowd, going out and engaging racers in conversation about the Bicycle Alliance, soliciting for memberships and additions to the email list, and passing out Bike Alliance literature (Share the Road license plate postcards, the newsletter, and brochures). Some volunteers will also help staff a booth for the Bicycle Alliance, doing all of the same activities above and giving out healthy snacks and freebies. If you’re interested or for more details, email volunteer [at] wabikes.org by August 20. Some training is required.

Say “Thank You” to RAPSody Finishers

We need help saying “Thank you” to all the bicyclists who participate in Ride Around Puget Sound (RAPSody), a two-day ride put on by 5 bike clubs to raise money for the Bicycle Alliance. We need one or two more people to help give out free ice cream and and educate riders on the Bicycle Alliance’s activities at the finish line at Tacoma Community College on August 29 from 2:15 pm to 4:30 pm. If you’re interested or for more details, email volunteer [at] wabikes.org by August 20. Some training is required.

Give and Get For the Bike Alliance

Interested in having a big impact in just a couple hours? Hand out cue sheets and solicit riders for donations and memberships at the start of the Perimeter Ride of Seattle (PROS), a Bicycle Alliance fundraiser put on by the Cyclists of Greater Seattle. The ride takes place on September 6, and the start line runs from 7:30 am to 9:30 am at the North parking lot in Discovery Park. If you’re interested or for more details, email volunteer [at] wabikes.org by August 27.

Feed Hungry Cyclists

Love to feed people? On September 6 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am, indulge yourself by helping run a rest stop to feed bicyclists at the Tukwila Community Center, 25 miles into the PROS ride. To volunteer for this opportunity, click here or email volunteer [at] wabikes.org by August 27.

Adopt Your Bike Shop

You love your bike shop and go there at least twice a month. You know all the employees’ names and sometimes stop by just to shoot the breeze. Bike shops benefit from the Bicycle Alliance’s work, which puts more bicyclists (bike shop patrons!) on the road. Consider adopting your local bike shop for the Bicycle Alliance. All you do is set up and maintain a little display of Bicycle Alliance literature, restocking it when materials get low. It’s just another excuse to stop by the shop. This is an ongoing opportunity that requires a little bit of training. Contact volunteer [at] wabikes.org or click here for details.

Apply for the Outreach Corps

If you perk up at opportunities like the Reach Out to Bike Racers, the Outreach Corps may be for you. This group of highly-trained volunteers speaks for the Bicycle Alliance at transportation fairs, bike rides and races (like RAPSody, PROS, and Cycle the Wave), and fun bike events (like Tour de Fat and Bike Expo). Outreach Corps members significantly increase the Bicycle Alliance’s effectiveness by increasing public awareness of our efforts and collecting donations and memberships. This is an ongoing opportunity that requires training. Contact volunteer [at] wabikes.org for details.

Posted in Volunteer | Comments Off

Obama’s words to me: Keep up the good work, bike advocate!

By Louise McGrody | Published August 18, 2010

President Obama made a whirlwind visit to Seattle on Tuesday and I managed to catch him for a quick powwow over a cup of java in Pioneer Square. What an opportunity! Here’s a synopsis of my conversation with the President of the United States (POTUS):

Me: Sir, we need a national Complete Streets mandate. Not only is traffic congestion contributing to global warming, but it’s ruining the livability of many of our communities. We can’t build our way out of this. We only make things worse when we try.

POTUS: Good point, Louise. May I call you Louise?

Me: Yes, sir. May I call you Mr President?

POTUS: Of course. What else is on your mind?

Me: Sir, I’m concerned about our national obesity epidemic and the health of our children. For a variety of reasons, our young people are leading more sedentary lives. We need to find ways to engage them in a more active lifestyle. Incorporating biking and walking into their daily lives is an affordable solution and Safe Routes to School helps us do this.

POTUS: Believe me, this is on my radar screen. Michelle is tackling this issue and she’s all over it. Anything else?

Me: One more thing, Mr. President. Your Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, he’s a keeper.

POTUS: Thanks. I like Ray too. I’ve gotta get moving. Patty Murray is waiting for me.

“Keep up the good work, bike advocate!”

And with that, President Obama hopped into his waiting vehicle and waved good-bye. “Keep up the good work, bike advocate!” he said as he was whisked away…..

What–you don’t believe me? Well, maybe it wasn’t quite like that, but I assure you it was close. I mean, I’m sure that’s how it would have been had the President and I actually met.

Ok, so I was walking to the coffee shop Tuesday morning when I noticed dozens of motorcycle cops and hundreds of onlookers lining the street. I walked over to check it out. Unimpeded, I stepped right up to the intersection just in time to see the President’s motorcade approach. A rousing cheer went up from the crowd as his vehicle rolled by and President Obama waved to the bystanders, including me!

And I swear I heard him say, “Keep up the good work, bike advocate!”

Posted in Advocacy, Complete Streets, Funding/Policy, Humor, Safe Routes to School, Transportation | Comments Off

RAPSody Deadline is This Friday

By baw_admin | Published August 17, 2010

If you’re planning to ride RAPSody: Ride Around Puget Sound but haven’t registered yet, make haste and sign up because the deadline is this Friday, August 20. The ride is on August 28-29.

RAPSody offers two days of bicycling the scenic back roads through five Washington counties. Starting and ending in Tacoma, riders pedal across the Narrrows Bridge for 170 miles of rolling hills and classic Northwest vistas. The ride is organized by five Puget Sound bike clubs: BIKES of Snohomish County, Capital Bicycling Club, Cyclists of Greater Seattle (COGS), Tacoma Wheelmen Bicycle Club and West Sound Cycling Club. All proceeds from RAPSody benefits Washington Bikes’s advocacy and education efforts.

RAPSody is a fabulous and well-supported bike ride, and features live music at the overnight stop in Shelton and at the finish line in Tacoma. But don’t just take my word for it. Eric Shalit has ridden RAPSody twice and is about to ride it a third time. Read Eric’s post about his RAPSody experience.

Check out this You Tube video of 2009 RAPSody.

Posted in Events, RAPSody | Comments Off

How to Lose 2,000 Pounds

By baw_admin | Published August 16, 2010

You probably already guessed how: Ditch your car.

Now, before you say, “That’s impossible” and start listing the reasons — you’re a real estate agent who has to drive clients around; you work 50 miles from home; you have to arrive at your destination clean and coiffed; you’re a contractor who has to haul 100 lbs of bulky tools — check out the following video.

These two normal guys in Arlington, VA, gave up their cars for 30 days in a Car-Free Diet challenge. It takes quite a few repetitions to develop a habit, but apparently a month is long enough. By the end of the month, both guys found that they could live perfectly happily 2,000 lbs lighter.

But what about all those good reasons people don’t want to give up their cars? There are so many options, it’s really hard to know where to start.

Xtracycle, Madsen, or similar cargo bikes. Equipped with a Stokemonkey, even fully-loaded you can tackle those humongous Seattle hills with ease. It’s fun and it’s doable, as you can see from these pictures:

If those pictures don’t convince you that a cargo bike — capable of carrying up to 200 lbs, including another person — could be a good option, check out the Tacoma Bike Ranch, which documents a Tacoma dad’s car-free ways. He moves his kids by Madsen and Xtracycle.
Electric-Assist Bikes. Already popular in Europe, e-assist bikes make living life by bike achievable for normal non-athletes. Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn rides an e-assist to City Hall (a number of other prominent Seattle politicians and Spokane City Council members also opt for two wheels over four). Many mainstream bicycle manufacturers have begun producing e-assist bicycles, along with quite a number of lesser-known manufacturers, as discussed here and there on the web. Electric Bikes Northwest offers a fairly comprehensive discussion of the beauty of e-assists.
Trailers. Coupled with an electric-assist, a cargo trailer can haul hundreds of pounds — or a double-bass — by bike easily. Burley, BOB, and innumerable other manufacturers offer cargo trailers for bicycles. Fortunately, Bikes at Work provides a handy-dandy bicycle trailer guide to help shoppers sort out the details. For specialized items, Haulin’ Colin in Seattle custom-builds legendary trailers.

This list is by no means a comprehensive discussion of car-alternatives. It doesn’t go into multimodal bus/bike options or give any serious how-to details, as numerous other websites (Way to Go Seattle, for example) already cover those details. Instead, I hope that this post will remind you to “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Advocacy helps, which is why we do advocacy. Education helps, so we educate motorists and bicyclists. But most of all, making the change in your life that you want to see in the world will move us from vision to reality.

Posted in Attitudes, Gear/Maintenance, Go By Bike, Sustainable Living | Comments Off

The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming! (And they’re riding bicycles!)

By baw_admin | Published August 12, 2010

Washington bicyclists may have to contend with poor infrastructure, aggressive motorists, an automobile-oriented transportation establishment and sometimes-unsympathetic elected officials. But things could be worse.

Take the state of Colorado, for instance, where the Denver Post reports that gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes has warned darkly that Denver’s efforts to boost bicycling in that City “are converting Denver into a United Nations Community.”

“This is all very well-disguised, but it will be exposed,” Maes said.

Maes told the Post that he once thought that the City’s efforts to promote cycling and other environmental issues were harmless but now realizes that “that’s exactly the attitude they want you to have.”

“This is bigger than it looks on the surface, and it could threaten our personal freedoms,” said Maes. He explained that Denver’s bicycling program and other environmental policies “…are very specific strategies that are dictated to us by the United Nations…”

In a later television interview Maes back-pedaled, so to speak, explaining that he had been trying to draw a contrast between himself and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, another candidate for governor. Maes said that the Post had taken his comments out of context. The bike program was fine, he said, but what concerned him was “what’s behind it all.”

One wag noted that perhaps the UN had traded its black helicopters for red bicycles, the color used in Denver’s bike-sharing program.

Posted in Attitudes, Funding/Policy, Transportation | Comments Off

How to Say “Kudos” on the Road

By baw_admin | Published August 11, 2010

As the green Toyota Prius passed me, the driver honked twice.

With a bicyclist’s instincts, I flinched, wondering what had I done wrong. I completed a quick mental rundown of my status: Riding a reasonable, safe distance from the right side of the road – check. Maintaining predictable line of travel – check. Following all applicable rules of the road – check. Clothes, bike, and panniers all behaving as expected – check. Sometimes people honk for no reason. I had just decided this was one of those cases when I noticed the driver’s friendly hand-wave. I waved back (extra friendliness never hurt anybody), then wondered who I had waved at. Did I know anybody who might drive down Lake Washington Boulevard at 8:00 on a Thursday morning?

Eventually I figured out that yes, I have a friend who works in Seattle, owns a green Prius, and would most likely take that route to work. A couple hours later, her email arrived in my inbox:

Subject: Hope I was not too startling

I assume it was you in a pink shirt with your streamers biking down Lake Wa Blvd that I honked at and waved at this AM on my way to work. I was hoping that didn’t make your teeth clench and raise your adrenaline not knowing what I was about.

One author I read pointed out that while cars and drivers have recognized ways of communicating disapproval to others on the road whether it be people, bicyclists or other cars, we don’t have a recognized means for communicating approval…

Chalk it up as one mystery solved before 10:00 am.

The larger mystery that my friend brought up, of how should people express approval on the roads, remains unsolved. Honking, fist-waving, and angry shouting provide us with abundant means of expressing displeasure, but what happens when somebody wants to express friendly or positive feelings on the road? Usually drivers (of cars or bikes) employ the same methods of communication – honking, waving, and shouting – and their intentions are all-too-easily misconstrued. This is your chance to offer some clues to solve this mystery. How should motorists communicate approbation to bicyclists, and vice versa?

Posted in Attitudes, Share the Road | 5 Comments

Bicycling is fun(ny)

By baw_admin | Published August 10, 2010

Just for fun:
If there isn’t a source then it’s a joke from a friend or original wit.

Knock knock
Who’s there?
Isabell
Isabell who?
Isabell required on your bike?

You know you’re addicted to cycling when you have more bikes than the days of the week.

Q. Do you know what is the hardest part of learning to ride a bike?

A. The pavement. (source)

Q. Why did the lion chase the cyclist?

A. He heard that bikes are good for you. (source)

“I’ve really had it with my dog: he’ll chase anyone on a bicycle.”
“So what are you going to do – leave him at the dog’s home? Give him away? Sell him?”
“No, nothing that drastic. I think I’ll just confiscate his bike.”(source)

Q: Why did the boy take his bike to bed with him?
A: He didn’t want to walk in his sleep.

You know you’re addicted to cycling when the surgeon tells you need a heart valve replaced and you ask if you have the choice between presta and Schrader.

Q: Why don’t bikes stand up by themselves?
A: They’re two-tired!

You know you’re addicted to cycling when you catch your self using turn signals while navigating the grocery store isles.

Anyone else have a good bicycle related joke?

Posted in Humor | 3 Comments

I Bike: Jon Snyder

By Louise McGrody | Published August 9, 2010

Jon Snyder of Spokane is the founder and owner of the publication Out There Monthly, a family man, and he rides his bike for everyday transportation. He also happens to be a member of Spokane City Council.


Photo by Ben Tobin.

Working two jobs and raising two young kids does not give Jon much time for recreational pursuits, which is why he likes to use his bike for transportation. He believes Spokane is a great city for cycling and he rides his bike year round in all sorts of weather.

“Biking keeps me alive and it’s a funny thing to say since I do almost all of my cycling in traffic on urban streets that many folks think are dangerous,” Jon commented. “But as a city councilman and small business owner, the more dangerous choice is not being healthy and not being in touch with my surroundings.”

Jon helped champion the passage of the City’s Complete Streets resolution earlier this year. He’s a member of the Bicycle Alliance and proudly sports Share the Road license plate number 230 on his vehicle.

Posted in Go By Bike, I Bike, People, Spokane County | 1 Comment

You Can’t Keep a Good Bike Advocate Down

By Louise McGrody | Published August 5, 2010

After taking a week off for her daughter’s wedding, Washington Bikes’s Executive Director Barbara Culp was looking forward to returning to the office last Monday. She donned her new summer dress, mounted her bike and pedaled out of her driveway.

Barb makes her way to her office.

Less than two blocks from her home, Barb encountered street construction and moved to the sidewalk to get around it. As she made her move to return to the street, she hit loose gravel from the construction and went down. (You can read an accounting of it in Publicola’s Morning Fizz.) The result was three hairline pelvic fractures for Barb and doctor’s orders to stay off her right leg for three months.

But you can’t keep a good bike advocate down for long. After ten days of house rest, Barb has returned to the Bicycle Alliance on a part time basis. Our office is ADA accessible so Barb can negotiate her way around with crutches and a walker specially equipped by the staff and JRA Bike Shop with a water bottle cage, basket and Hello Kitty bike bell.

Barb’s tricked out walker.

“This is an exciting time for the Bicycle Alliance and I’m delighted to be back in the office,” said Barb. “We’re bringing Safe Routes to School to six King County school districts under a Public Health grant and expanding our Mobility Education curriculum to up to 30 school districts around the state.”

The Bike Alliance is also planning a Hub and Spoke event in Walla Walla, some outreach efforts in the Tri-Cities, and a Complete Streets meeting with Whatcom County bike advocates–all in September.

Welcome back, Barb!

Posted in Advocacy, People, Safe Routes to School | 1 Comment

The Faces of Volunteerism

By baw_admin | Published August 4, 2010

Jennifer Kogut

Whenever you read The Advocate, our quarterly newsletter, you’re reading a product that Jennifer Kogut has had her creative hands on. An editor by profession, Jennifer–a Seattle native–has edited our publication as a volunteer for over six years.

Six years. That’s a chunk of time to devote as a volunteer to the Bicycle Alliance–and we are so appreciative of Jennifer’s generosity with her time. We are also very fortunate that there are others like her who give us many hours over a span of years.

For instance, there’s Dave Shaw. Dave has donated his time as our database guru for many years, is a current contributor to our blog, and has served on our Board of Directors. There’s Rebecca Slivka, another Seattle native. She has been our volunteer webmaster, among other things. Or David McCulloch of Port Townsend, who has helped us advocate for signed bicycle routes, bike imrovements to the Hood Canal Bridge, and served on our Legislative & Statewide Issues Committee. You can read about these good folks and others featured under the Volunteer Spotlight section of the our website.

Tour de Fat volunteers.

Not everyone can devote hours to bicycle advocacy. Many volunteers choose to help the cause through occasional letter writing to elected officials, attending Transportation Advocacy Day in Olympia, or helping us with special events–such as Tour de Fat or our annual auction. Their efforts are invaluable to us and many repeat their volunteer roles for these events for several years. We tip our helmets to them as well.

2009 Board & Staff photo

Some volunteers rise to the top as leaders for Washington Bikes–our Board of Directors. These committed individuals create our vision, set our agenda, and ensure that we have adequate human and financial resources to accomplish our work. They are passionate about our work and many devote an extraordinary amount of time to the organization. Saying thank you seems inadequate, but it is a sincere thank you!

Are you inspired to give some time to Washington Bikes? Perhaps you’d like to help us at one of our month end work parties at the office. Contact Donna Govro for more information. We are also recruiting volunteers for our recently launched Outreach Corps. Would you like to contribute articles to our blog or newsletter? Contact Louise McGrody with your story ideas. Maybe you have your own project idea in mind or you’d like to help us out with an event. Please contact us–we’d love to hear from you!

Volunteers attend Mariners game.

Posted in Advocacy, People, Volunteer | 1 Comment