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Winter Bike to Work Day Feb. 13, 2015

By Barb Chamberlain | Published January 22, 2015

Winter-Ride-Ephrata_from-Twitter_forweb In a state with such enormous participation in Commute Challenges, we’re sure lots of folks will jump at the chance to prove your winter bike-commuting hardiness. Friday Feb. 13, 2015 is Winter Bike to Work Day.

You’re proving you’re up for this every day: lots of winter-riding posts in the Facebook group GASUP (Getting Around Spokane Using Pedals), photos of #Festive500 miles shared on Twitter by riders in Ephrata, Instagram pictures tagged #WAbikes that show frost and snow, and the many responses we got when we asked for tips on gear for riding in rain and cold weather biking gear. There’s a closed Facebook group called Icy Bike Winter Commuting Challenge, too (not specific to Washington but has quite a few WA bike folk members).

Sign up at the Winter Bike to Work Day site to put your hometown on the map as a place for hardy, dedicated bike commuters.

Sign up with us and we’ll send you some snazzy “I Arrived by Bike” business cards that you can leave behind when you make a stop along your commute for that all-important hot beverage to warm up before finishing the ride.

[Tweet “I’m #BraverThanTheElements riding #WinterBike2Work 2/13/15. Join me! @WinterBike2Work“]

BikesMeanBusiness_backlogo7 The cards, developed by Cascade Bicycle Club and sporting our logo and theirs, provide a brief message illustrating why bikes mean business and help inspire business owners to be bike-friendly. If you don’t want to wait for the mail and you’re in the Seattle area, stop by our Pioneer Square bike gift shop/offices at 314 1st Ave. South, sign up for our e-news, and we’ll give them to you on the spot.

When you sign up you can also request our pocket guide to Washington state bike laws, our “Drive Aware” brochure (great to share with a non-bicycling friend or co-worker), and our “Go By Bike” tips on bike commuting.

[Tweet “I want my town to be #1 in WA for #WinterBike2Work Day 2/13/15. Sign up! @WinterBike2Work”]

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[Tweet “I Arrived by Bike” cards encourage biz to be bike-friendly. Get yours! #bikesmeanbusiness”]

Just another day in paradise #centralwa #wintercycling #rideviciouscycle pic.twitter.com/0BQNSg1Reu

— Jake Maedke (@ephratajake) January 11, 2015

Posted in Bike to Work, Commuting, Events, News, Weather | Comments Off

SB 5438 – Updating State Law to Accommodate for Faulty Traffic Signal Detection

By Blake Trask | Published January 22, 2015

Legislation introduced yesterday in the Washington State Senate provides a safe and reasonable procedure to proceed through broken traffic signals that fail to detect bicycles.

Someday, all traffic signals will detect bicycle riders. Until then SB 5438 provides a safe protocol to address getting stuck at red lights. Photo: Seattle Bike Blog

It doesn’t get much more frustrating than to ride a bike and get stuck at a red light that fails to detect you and doesn’t turn green. Still, this a too-common occurrence for bicycle riders on streets across Washington state.

Luckily, in 2009 Washington Bikes, with the help of the Washington Road Riders, passed legislation that requires all jurisdictions to make traffic signals detect bicycles and motorcycles (subject to the availability of funds), if they are undergoing maintenance (also, with priority to complaints made), and if they are installed after July 26, 2009.

Progress is being made in many cities to update traffic signals to conform them to state law, but unfortunately many older traffic signals statewide still fail to reliably detect bicycle riders.

To help address this problem SB 5141, sponsored by Senator Curtis King (R-Yakima), was passed in 2014 allowing for motorcycles to stop and proceed or make left-hand turns through traffic control signals that do not detect motorcycles under certain very limited conditions with a specific protocol that is clear and understood by law enforcement.

For a variety of reasons, the legislation passed last year did not include bicycles. The omission was noticed by Washington Bikes, as well as many bicycle riders around the state (and reportedly by our bike riding Governor at the bill signing ceremony, too) and with input from the Washington Bikes Legislative and Statewide Issues Committee, adding bicycles to the law became a 2015 legislative priority of Washington Bikes.

SB 5438 is sponsored by Senate Transportation Committee Chair Curtis King who led the successful passage of last year’s legislation. SB 5438 builds on the 2009 and 2014 legislation by continuing to provide a legal protocol for how bicycle riders can address getting stuck at a traffic signal that fails to detect them.

Adding bicycles to the 2014 law that addressed motorcycles, provides road users the following benefits:

Uniformity in addressing faulty traffic signals. The current law treats motorcycles and bicycles differently at traffic signals. This creates confusion for the public and potentially for law enforcement in its application of the law.
Provides a clear protocol for bicycles to safely address situations where city, county or state infrastructure fails to properly detect them.
Promotes safety. Encourages users to come to a full and complete stop, observe conditions, and requires operators of bicycles and motorcycles to wait a complete signal phase before taking appropriate action.

Don’t see a bike symbol on the pavement? Older bicycle-specific markings include this T symbol. Put your bike on it to trigger the light. Photo Seattle Dept of Transportation.

Also, important: if the signal is actually working, this legislation doesn’t give someone the excuse to proceed quickly through a light without the green! Make sure the light is really broken before proceeding by following the protocol of waiting through an entire signal phase and looking for appropriate bicycle markings on the pavement to attempt to trigger the light (if they exist).

SB 5438 provides bicycle riders a simple solution, improves 2014’s legislation so that bicycles and motorcycles conform to address the same protocol when getting stuck at a red light, and still requires everyone to stop and follow laws to engage traffic signals at every intersection.

Ultimately, we hope there comes a time when all traffic signals detect bicycles and motorcycles and this law becomes moot. Until then, bicycle riders and motorcyclists should have a safe and clear protocol for how to address broken red lights.

And always, if you get stuck at a red light, call, email, or Tweet it in to the city, county, or state transportation department in charge so they can fix it according to state law.

Posted in Advocacy, Funding/Policy, Infrastructure, Issues & Advocacy, Legal, Legislature, News, Safety, Transportation | 6 Comments

Youth Bike Summit Program is Out

By Seth Schromen-Wawrin | Published January 20, 2015

In case you have not heard, the Youth Bike Summit is coming to Seattle, WA this February. The Summit is a weekend event to bring youth (24 and under) together from all over the country to engage around bicycles. But it is not just for younger people. Anyone working with or advocating for biking for all ages will want to be there. Whether you’re a teenager, college student, educator, parent, advocate, urban planner, civil servant, cycling enthusiast, or community leader of any age, this is an event you wont want to miss.

You can now see their line up of speakers, events, and sessions online. This program is full of amazing speakers from around the country who will expand your perspective, inspire your adventures, and motivate your actions.

The 2015 Youth Bike Summit is happening in Seattle February 13-15. This is the first time the Summit is happening outside of New York and we are thrilled that it is in Washington State. With so many cities wanting to host this event, we may not see the Summit this close again for a decade. Seattle’s youth driven bicycle organization, Bike Works, is hosting the event in Seattle.

The early-bird registration ends February 1st! Tickets for this 3 day conference are $25 for people 24 and under ($50 if you are 25+). Get registered!

Posted in Education, Encouragement, Family biking, Kids, News, Safe Routes to School | Comments Off

10 More 2014 Milestones in Washington State Bicycling

By Barb Chamberlain | Published January 15, 2015

When we listed 13 great things that happened in 2014 for better bicycling, we knew it wasn’t everything that happened in Washington state. But when we started listing the additional 2014 milestones in Washington state bicycling, even more came to mind and we surprised ourselves with the length of the list.

We still don’t have everything — what’s on your list as a signpost that tells you bicycle advocacy is on the right road?

[Tweet “My #1 reason 2014 great for WA biking: #WaRecOutdoors bicycle econ impact=billions of $$.”]

Cyclists visiting this cider orchard contribute to the Methow Valley eonomy.

Cyclists visiting this cider orchard contribute to the Methow Valley economy.

1) The outdoor economy: Yes, we’re doubling down on this — it was on our original list. The release of an economic impact analysis that shows just how amazing bike tourism is bears repeating. And the study came out in 2015 but looks back so we figure it’s news all over again.

Recognizing the importance of the outdoor recreation sector to the state’s economy, in 2014 Governor Jay Inslee appointed a Blue Ribbon Task Force on Parks and Outdoor Recreation and named Washington Bikes executive director Barb Chamberlain as co-chair. One great conclusion? Bicycle riders spend $3.1 billion across the state. It’s clear that Washington recreation means business and bikes are a big contributor.

[Tweet “My #1 reason 2014 great for WA biking: 56K kids have bike/walk know-how.”]

2) 41 school districts and 56,000 5th-8th graders reached by Washington Bikes Safe Routes to School trainings since 2010. Washington Bikes continues to grow trainings in partnership with the State Office of Superintendant of Public Instruction (OSPI), WSDOT, and Feet First. Our Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Education Program has delivered training and materials to physical education teachers and is poised to grow by another eight school districts in the upcoming biennium – assuming the state legislature funds walking and biking in its 2015-17 budget. (We never assume; SRTS is always on our legislative agenda.)

[Tweet “My #1 reason 2014 great for WA biking: New advocates Yakima, Clarkston, more towns.”]

3) New advocacy groups and initiatives: These new efforts join many great groups, from small committees to nonprofit organizations and bike clubs. If your organization isn’t on our list of bicycle and trail groups in Washington state, let us know.

Yakima Bikes and Walks got started, with immediate results in pushing for a bike master plan.
Bicyclists in the Clarkston area have begun organizing for involvement in local planning efforts. https://sites.google.com/site/lcvbikeandped/
In Pullman, the city responded to requests from bicyclists for more downtown bike racks by creating an ad hoc task force (which included WA Bikes board member Marie Dymkoski and other WA Bikes members such as Jaime Brush) to choose sites for the racks that were installed. Jaime then led the successful effort to add Pullman to the statewide bike count.
Colville installed its first-ever bike racks in downtown, with ColVelo ramping up efforts and the Colville Rotary Club active in working for better bicycling.

[Tweet “My #1 reason 2014 great for WA biking: New Bicycle Friendly Communities, Businesses.”]

4) Bicycle Friendly Washington: The list keeps growing in the #1 Bicycle Friendly State! In our first post we noted Greater Wenatchee because it’s (so far) unique in Washington as a multi-jurisdictional designation. But it’s not the only bicycle-friendly place. The standards set by the League of American Bicyclists provide a way for towns, businesses, and universities to learn what it takes to support bicycling and receive recognition for their efforts. In 2014:

Sequim named Bicycle-Friendly Community.
University of Washington attained Gold level Bicycle-Friendly University.

Bicycle Friendly Businesses

Bronze Level

Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, Richland, @PNNLabs

Silver Level

Corpore Sano Physical Therapy, Kenmore
Whatcom Council of Governments, Bellingham
Greenies, Richland, @GreenieLife

[Tweet “My #1 reason 2014 great for WA biking: Bikeshare! @CyclePronto new, @WSUPullman Green Bike.”]

5) Bikeshare launches in Seatle: The second bikeshare system in the state launched in Seattle as Cycle Pronto. The second?! Yes; the first is at Washington State University in Pullman. The 140 bikes in the Green Bike system have been checked out over 74,000 times by over 15,000 unique users.

[Tweet “My #1 reason 2014 great for WA biking: @NACTO guides in @WSDOT, @CityofSeattle, @SpokaneCity.”]

6) NACTO Urban Bikeway and Street Design Guides endorsed: WSDOT, Spokane, Bellevue. In 2014 WSDOT led the nation, making it the first state DOT to endorse the new Urban Street Design Guide and the Urban Bikeway Design Guide from the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO). In December Spokane adopted both the Urban Bikeway and Streets Design Guides. Also in early 2014, Bellevue adopted NACTO’s Urban Streets Design Guide. These most recent additions follow Seattle and Tacoma‘s endorsement of both guides in 2013. The first city in Washington state to endorse a NACTO Guide? That would be Moses Lake in 2012.

[Tweet “My #1 reason 2014 great for WA biking: Bike master plans in Bellingham, Seattle.”]

7) Bike master plans adopted or updated: Seattle, Bellingham. Seattle adopted its update in early 2014 recommending great connections for riders of all ages and abilities, and Bellingham in October.

[Tweet “My #1 reason 2014 great for WA biking: @CityofYakima starts 1st bike master plan. #bikeYAK”]

8) Bike master plan efforts initiated: Yakima (and the city has just selected a firm to develop the plan, with an editorial in the Yakima Herald calling for involvement of the bicycle community in the work).

[Tweet “My #1 reason 2014 great for WA biking: @PierceCo adopts #completestreets ordinance.”]

9) Complete Streets ordinance adopted: Pierce County. Pierce County adopted the ordinance, needed to be eligible for potential future grants from the state Complete Streets grant program that Washington Bikes helped get created by the legislature. When funded the grant program will provide incentives to cities to adapt their street design approach to take into account walking, biking, driving, taking transit, and moving freight.

[Tweet “My #1 reason 2014 great for WA biking: Bike access to Hwy 167 protected w/@WSDOT.”]

10) State Route 167 bike access protected: Washington Bikes worked with local advocates in the City of Pacific, as well as Cascade Bicycle Club, to engage the Washington State Department of Transportation on its SR 167 HOT Lane expansion project. Initial design proposals had WSDOT closing bicycle access to portions of SR 167 and potentially to adjoining state routes. With work between design staff, even including Secretary of Transportation Lynn Peterson, access for bicycles was retained and additional bicycle facilities will be included in the final project design.

[Tweet “My #1 reason 2014 great for WA biking: Lots going on for trails! @railstotrails”]

11) Trail developments: So many great strides made we’re going to do a separate post just on these.

Newest on our list to track: a potential Colfax-Pullman Rail Trail. We worked with local advocate Karl Boehmke of the Pullman Civic Trust to provide policy analysis concerning a federal court ruling. With our memo in hand Karl changed the context of the discussion to keep the potential trail alive. Local elected officials considered our analysis that addressed the court decision, a railbanking option, and the value of bike tourism to the local economy.

Your Turn
Are we still missing some major milestones? Tell us!

Wondering why the headline says 10 but the list is numbered to 11? Well, two things: One is that we’re repeating the outdoor economy item. Second is that the trail highlight is incomplete. Sort of a “two halves = one whole” numbering system for the headline.

What’s next? Keep up with developments for better bicycling — sign up for our e-news and hear the awesome as it happens.

Posted in Advocacy, Asotin County, Bellingham, Bike Parking, Clarkston, Colfax, Complete Streets, Funding/Policy, Infrastructure, News, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Yakima, Yakima County | Comments Off

Summer Transportation Internships Available

By Louise McGrody | Published January 14, 2015

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Region 10 Office in Seattle is offering multiple paid summer transportation internships positions this year. The focus of each public health related internship will be variable, involving bicycle and pedestrian traffic safety, a program evaluation of the Federal Bike-To-Work Challenge, or another highway safety focus area of mutual interest agreed upon between NHTSA and each intern. Graduate and undergraduate students should complete the brief application found here: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/education/stipdg.cfm

The 2015 Summer Transportation Internship Program for Diverse Groups (STIPDG) Program will run from June 8, 2015 to August 14, 2015. Applications are still being accepted, but only through January 16, 2015. Apply now and don’t miss out!

More information about NHTSA’s Regional Office efforts can be found here:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Highway+Safety+Grant+Programs

Posted in News | 1 Comment

Sunday Farmers Market Bike Ride: Bike Local, Shop Local, Eat Fresh

By Louise McGrody | Published January 14, 2015

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig.
Home again, home again, jiggety-jig.

It was a Sunday in mid-January and skiing sucked due to a lack of mountain snow. What’s an outdoor girl to do? The temperature was mild in Seattle, the day foggy and a bit drippy. I decided to try out a bike ride that I had devised in my head: The Sunday Farmers Market Bike Ride.

Cranberries and other locally grown produce are at the farmers market.

Farmers markets are fun cycling destinations by bike. With 140 farmers markets in Washington state, many of us can bike to one easily and they can be nice outings for the family. These community markets create a sense of connection by giving us an opportunity to meet local growers and buy fresh foods and plants directly from them. You can often find local musicians, some healthy recipes and get some gardening tips there as well.

While most farmers markets operate seasonally (typically spring through fall), Seattle has a handful of year round markets and I discovered that four of them are open on Sundays. It was this newly acquired knowledge that inspired this bike ride.

The Sunday Farmers Market Bike Ride visits the neighborhood farmers markets in West Seattle, Ballard, and Capitol Hill/Broadway. It also includes stops at the Fremont Sunday Market (not a farmers market – more like a flea market) and the landmark Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle.

Because I live in West Seattle, I began and ended this 25-mile ride at the West Seattle Farmers Market. Since it’s a loop ride, you can begin from any of the farmers markets on the route. You can also choose to visit fewer of the markets. Make sure you have baskets, panniers or a backpack so you can shop!

Bicycle Benefits accepted in West Seattle.

The Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets also participate in the Bicycle Benefits program. Bike to the market and show your helmet sticker at the info booth to receive a $2 coupon for that day. Don’t have your sticker? You can purchase one at the info booth for $5.

This is really about the experience of biking to and supporting your local farmers market. If you haven’t visited your local farmers market or you haven’t been there by bike, please give it a try.

You may not have to ride alone. Thurston County’s Bicycle Commuter Contest organizes an Earth Day Market Ride in April. Last year 80 riders braved the rain to bike to the Olympia Farmers Market. Whatcom Smart Trips partnered with the Bellingham Farmers Market to encourage folks to bike, walk or bus to the market in August and September by holding two prize drawings.

These are just a couple of examples. Check with your local bike club, Bike Month organizers, and Kidical Mass groups to see if they are planning a Bike to Market ride. Better yet, organize one yourself!

Posted in Health, Rides, Seattle, Shopping, Sustainable Living | Tagged Bicycle Benefits, encouragement, Farmers Market | Comments Off

WSDOT Report: Bike/Ped and Safe Routes to School Projects up for State Funding in 2015-17

By Blake Trask | Published January 13, 2015

WSDOT’s Bicycle and Pedestrian and Safe Routes to School Grant project lists indicate that less than 20% of the $100+ million in requests will be funded in the upcoming biennium.

It’s day two of the 2015 legislative session. Today, the Governor addresses the State House and Senate in his annual state of the state. Legislators from around the state are busy filing policy and budget bills for consideration in the 105-day session.

Bicycle Friendly Wenatchee helped by state transportation funding.

One of the top reasons Washington Bikes works for you in Olympia is to ensure that transportation dollars go to cost-effective projects that support safety, mobility, health, and economic development. Despite the fact that less than 0.7% of the state transportation capital budget went to biking and walking projects, bicycle riders in Washington state spend over $3.1 billion to benefit Washington businesses statewide.

Two of the biggest sources of biking and walking project funding originate in the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety and Safe Routes to School Grant Programs. Since 2004 when Washington Bikes worked with then Representative Ed Murray to get the first $1 million for a Safe Routes to School pilot project, almost $100 million state and federal funds have been directed at these two grant programs.

In the 2013-15 biennial budget, Washington Bikes worked with our legislative champions to get the most funding ever for both grant programs – $30.45 million. Unfortunately, the 2015-17 budget could see a downturn in supporting these cost-effective investments. As it stands now, roughly $18 million is available from state and federal sources for the next two-year state budget cycle to support 28 Safe Routes to School and 25 Bicycle and Pedestrian projects and programs statewide.

Recently, WSDOT released its preliminary project list of $57 million in project requests for the Bicycle and Pedestrian funding and $44 million for Safe Routes to School project requests, as well as its Report to the Legislature about both programs. In short, given the current budget request by WSDOT, less than 20% of these projects will be funded.

[Tweet “Tell #WAleg: More investment in safe walking/biking for our kids! #saferoutesnow”]

Both program requests are down markedly from the previous biennium (almost $100 million in request for the Bicycle and Pedestrian funding and $60 million for Safe Routes to School). While it is still hard to tell why this decline occurred, signs point to the initial WSDOT request for proposals issued in the spring of 2014 that indicated only $8 million would be available for both programs. This low prediction for the combined program budget by WSDOT could have turned away potential applicants that understood the great need and high competition for these two project funding sources.

Since it’s only day two in the new legislative session in Olympia, much is subject to change. If a transportation funding package is passed, more investments for safe biking and walking could be included – or not. The Governor has already released a transportation spending proposal that includes additional spending for many transportation projects, including these two grant programs. Now the State Senate is expected to release its own version of a transportation package for consideration. Washington Bikes will be working in Olympia to ensure smart investments in biking and walking are provided.

But we need your help.

Petition for Better Bicycling

Think Washingtonians deserve safer, healthier and more business-friendly ways to get around? Sign the Washington Bikes petition to ask the Governor and state legislature to make safer bicycling a top priority and to invest in more bike lanes and trails and improved road designs to create a complete network of bicycle connections.

[Tweet “Just signed petition to #WAleg asking for focus on safety, $$ for better bike connections.”]

Posted in Advocacy, Economic Impact, Funding/Policy, Infrastructure, Issues & Advocacy, Legislature, Politics, Safe Routes to School, Safety, Trails, Transportation, WSDOT | 4 Comments

Nominate a Deserving Bike Advocate!

By Louise McGrody | Published January 12, 2015

The Alliance for Biking & Walking has been presenting its annual Advocacy Awards since 2009.

Bicycle infrastructure, meaningful bike policy, bike skills education, and all the other things that get more people on bikes don’t just magically happen. It takes people power to make Washington state and our communities great places to bike and walk.

Now you have an opportunity to give some outside bike love to a deserving bike advocate, organization or business by nominating them for the Alliance for Biking & Walking’s 2015 Advocacy Awards. Public nominations will be accepted until this Friday, January 16.

This year, the Alliance is awarding Advocacy Awards in seven categories:

Advocate of the Year – This award goes to an individual leader of a bicycling and/or walking advocacy organization who has shown tireless commitment to promoting bicycling and walking in his/her state/community. This person goes above and beyond the call of duty to transform his/her state/community into a great place for biking and walking. His or her time, knowledge, creativity, and commitment are the highest standard of excellence exemplifying a role model for peers.*
Bicycling Magazine People’s Choice Award – This award is given to a state or local bike advocacy organization in recognition of exemplary work, executed within the past year, that significantly improved bicycling in their community. The People’s Choice winner has made a notable positive impact on bicycling and bicyclists in their community, whether through breaking ground on infrastructure or instituting programs to make bicycling accessible to all. Nominations will be received through the Alliance for Biking & Walking, and the winner will be decided by popular vote on Bicycling.com.** ‡
Innovation Award – There are a million ways that people think about bicycling and walking. This award is given to an individual leader, group of leaders, community organization, or state or local biking and/or walking advocacy organization in recognition to incorporate diverse perspectives into biking and walking advocacy and/or foster new leaders within bicycle and pedestrian advocacy who have not traditionall been included. This award is presented in conjunction with the League of American Bicyclists’ Equity Initiative and Women Bike programs.* **
Susie Stephens Joyful Enthusiasm Award – This award commemorates Susie Stephens, one of the Alliance’s founders, former executive director of Washington Bikes, and an enduring inspiration for many members of the bicycle and pedestrian movement. The honor goes to an individual who carries on Susie’s passion for advocating for bicycling as a fun and economical means of transportation, as well as creating a safe biking and walking environment for all.*
Advocacy Organization of the Year – This award goes to a bicycling and/or walking advocacy organization who, in the past year, made significant progress. Their leaders have worked tirelessly together to grow and strengthen their organization and fulfill their mission. The proof of their efforts is in the growth of their capacity and programs and the victories they have achieved for biking and walking in their state/community.**
Winning Campaign of the Year – This award goes to an organization for a winning campaign, in the last year, which has had the biggest impact for bicycling and walking. Their victory will dramatically increase biking and walking in their state/community or will dramatically shift the way that biking and walking are considered.**
Business Advocate of the Year – This award goes to a business, corporation or corporate employee who have constantly championed the cause of bicycling and walking advocacy. The time, money, and energy they have invested are evidence of their commitment to promoting bicycling and walking for healthier communities and sustainable transportation choices.

Submit your nomination today! You can submit multiple individuals and organizations, and you can nominate an individual or group for more than one award category.

Two Washingtonians have been past recipients of Advocacy Awards. Julia Field, the founder of Undriving, received the Susie Stephens Joyful Enthusiasm Award in 2012. Barb Culp, former ED of WA Bikes, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.

The 2015 Advocacy Awards Ceremony will on March 10 — the first evening of the National Bike Summit — in Washington, DC.

*In order to become a finalist for this Advocacy Award, the nominated individual must be closely associated with an organization that is a member of the Alliance for Biking & Walking.

**In order to become a finalist for this Advocacy Award, the nominated organization must be a member of the Alliance for Biking & Walking.

‡ In order to become a finalist for the Bicycling Magazine People’s Choice Award, the organization must (a) agree to encourage supporters and members to vote for them on Bicycling.com and (b) agree to promote a Bicycling magazine subscription to their supporters.

Send your nomination to us for a profile on the Washington Bikes blog

We’d like to profile great advocates around Washington. If you’re submitting a nomination, consider sending a copy to Louise McGrody.

Posted in Advocacy, News | Comments Off

Fat Girl on a Bike

By Guest Blogger | Published January 9, 2015

Andrea Parrish is a communications geek, cyclist, photographer, and creative type in Spokane, and this is a lightly edited version of a post she originally wrote for Bike Style. You can view her creative work at andreaparrish.com. You can also purchase some of her photographic work at our Washington Bikes store in Pioneer Square.

The image that seems to come to mind when one hears the term “bike commuter” is often one of two things: either one of a lithe woman wearing incredibly cute clothes, pedaling easily with cute panniers and a perfect hairstyle… or one of incredibly fit individuals in full cycling kits, speeding around on bike lanes, looking like they “belong” there.

When I say I am a bike commuter, these are the images I sort of like to think people have. The reality for me, however, is very different, but it is one that I do my best to accept with open arms. I am a fat girl on a bike.

Let me be clear. I don’t consider the term “fat” to be a derogatory term in this context; it is descriptive. I am 6’4″ tall, wear a dress size 24, and at last weigh-in I was at 325 pounds. When I started cycle commuting, I weighed in at around 410 pounds.

Biking at this size admittedly comes with a variety of interesting challenges. I had to send my first commuting bike in to the manufacturer to be repaired because the metal sleeve for the seat post ripped in half from the pressures of my weight (and height). I’ve had to get my back tire rim replaced more than three times, because I kept popping spokes every time I hit any pothole. The internal hub that held my breaks needed to be re-packed at least once a season. I have yet to buy a bike “off the shelf” and assume that I’m replacing at least four parts before I even start pedaling. Clothes that easily go pedal-to-office are, at best, difficult to find.

Even with all of that, though, I absolutely adore biking. The feeling of freedom, the sense of accomplishment, and even the stares I get as I pedal by. I am a fat girl on a bike, and I love it. Biking allows me the chance to get in a workout in the time I would normally spend driving. Biking is the one thing that is easy to fit into my (sometimes far too busy) schedule. It’s also an incredible community, a sense of freedom, and above all a great reason to have a beer on the way home. Last summer I completed my first century ride (in 13 hours) and the high was practically indescribable.

There are a few things I have learned that make biking easier, no matter how large or small you may be. First of all, leggings, tights and a cotton camisole will become your best friends. Skirts are amazing to bike in, but only with leggings to provide some coverage and comfort. A good camisole can also serve as your base layer. If you are like me and have to switch shirts when you get to work, because biking more than a mile or two means you will sweat, no matter how hard you try not to. A good cotton camisole means you can change shirts easily, no cramped bathroom or private office required. This is especially important since, in men’s or women’s sizing, specifically “biking” clothing, is basically non-existent in my size.

Second, a good local bike shop is absolutely invaluable. My first commuter was a Kona AfricaBike, which is a three-speed cruiser bike with a basket, a step-through frame, and a covered chain. Over the years, I have ended up replacing the rim, adding a back rack, adding panniers, and switching out the bike seat. Two local bike shops have helped me get the bike adjusted, sized, and repaired time and time again. They never flinch when I bring in my bike with the latest weird problem, they just do their best to fix it. I’ve never once had a local bike shop make me feel “fat.” When I went to buy a new bike, it was those local shops that I visited, and they again didn’t bat an eye when I asked what the weight limit on the bike would be.

Third, it’s not completely unusual for the rhetoric around the benefits of cycling to include losing weight or “becoming more healthy.” These discussions cast someone my size as the “before” picture, and the pictures of cyclists tend to have approximately zero size variety This isn’t specifically unique to cycling — but it does create an environment where someone expressing surprise at my size and biking schedule is more common than not.

Biking has no size. Being a fat girl and a bike commuter (and cyclist in general) at the same time means that I face some interesting challenges, but those challenges are worth facing head-on, because growing biking means welcoming a wide variety of individuals into cycling, and I’m happy to be one of those fat girls on a bike.

[Tweet “Biking has no size, says @tinytall in Fat Girl on a Bike. #womenbike”]

Posted in Attitudes, Commuting, Encouragement, Health, Women | Tagged bike commute, encouragement, Spokane, women | 10 Comments