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.

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.

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(Optional) Providing your street address lets us identify your legislative district and send you information about issues and votes in which your state legislators play a key role when they come up.

[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

Drive Aware: Tips for sharing the road with people on foot or bike

By Louise McGrody | Published January 13, 2015

Drive Aware - Tips for Sharing the RoadDriving a motor vehicle is a weighty responsibility and should not be taken lightly. In fact, it may well be the most dangerous thing you routinely do. Fiddling with the radio or reading a text message while driving can spell disaster for folks around you.

Washington Bikes has published a pamphlet called Drive Aware offering motorists some pointers for safely sharing the road with people on foot or bike. Tips include:

Focus on the road. You run the greatest risk of hitting a person walking or biking when you are distracted. Common distractions include talking on cell phones or texting, adjusting the radio, eating, and focusing on passengers. It is illegal to talk on a cell phone or text while driving, unless using a hands-free device.

Give people on bikes adequate space to maneuver around road hazards you may not see. These include potholes, debris, glass, and other hazards that might not be a problem for a motor vehicle but are potentially dangerous to bicyclists.

If a car is stopped in the roadway, assume it is stopped for someone. Don’t pass until your are sure no one is crossing.

The pamphlet contains 15 tips for sharing the road and it’s yours for the asking. Email info@wabikes.org with a request for the Drive Aware pamphlet. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Posted in Education, News, Safety, Share the Road | 1 Comment

Nominate a Deserving Bike Advocate!

By Louise McGrody | Published January 12, 2015
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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 on Nominate a Deserving Bike Advocate!

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.

Shadow of a girl on a bikeThe 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 , , , | 10 Comments

Alaskan Way Traffic Changes Near Ferry Terminal

By Louise McGrody | Published January 8, 2015

Heads up! Expect traffic changes along Alaskan Way near the Colman Dock ferry terminal beginning Monday, January 12. Work zone modifications for the SR 99 Tunnel Project and the Elliott Bay Seawall Project will alter ferry access and traffic patterns, which are expected to remain in place through May 2015.

Washington State DOT has a map of the upcoming changes and they outlined them in an announcement:

Cyclists offload at Colman Dock Ferry Terminal.

Cyclists offload at Colman Dock Ferry Terminal.

Bicyclists and pedestrians:

  • Existing pedestrian access to the ferry terminal via the Marion Street pedestrian bridge will remain in place throughout construction, though the configuration may periodically shift.
  • A temporary walkway between Columbia and Marion streets will provide pedestrian access to the ferry terminal from Alaskan Way.
  • Bicyclists will access the ferry terminal at Yesler Way.
  • Pedestrians and bicyclists will access the water taxi at Yesler Way.
  • The shared-use path along Alaskan Way will remain open throughout much of construction. Temporary shifts and intermittent closures may be necessary to accommodate work activities.

 Drivers:

  • Drivers will enter the ferry terminal from northbound or southbound Alaskan Way at Yesler Way.
  • Passenger pickup and drop-off (including access for people with disabilities) will be located on the west side of Alaskan Way between Columbia and Marion streets.
  • Drivers should prepare for additional congestion along Alaskan Way and nearby streets, especially during busy morning and afternoon commute times as travelers adjust to the new configuration. WSDOT and SDOT will monitor traffic patterns and make adjustments as needed in the weeks following these changes.
  • Trucks that are more than 40 feet long will only be permitted access to the terminal from northbound Alaskan Way.

Contact WSDOT via email at viaduct@wsdot.wa.gov or call their hotline (1-888-AWV-LINE) if you have questions or concerns.

Posted in Accessibility, Ferries, News, Seattle, Transportation | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Alaskan Way Traffic Changes Near Ferry Terminal

New Economic Analysis: Bicycling Means Business in Washington

By Blake Trask | Published January 8, 2015

Bicycle riders spend over $3.1 billion in the Washington state economy and outdoor recreation contributes significantly to supporting rural economies statewide.

One of the mountain views you'll find (earn!) when riding & spending money across Washington

One of the mountain views you’ll find (earn!) when riding & spending money across Washington

A new study, Economic Analysis of Outdoor Recreation in Washington State, commissioned by the recently completed Task Force on Parks and Outdoor Recreation that was co-chaired by Washington Bikes Executive Director Barb Chamberlain, illustrates the significant economic impact of bicycling in Washington state.

Among the highlights:

  • Bicycle riding is #3 in recreational activities by total expenditures in Washington state with over $3.1 billion spent statewide.
  • Bicycle riding comes in as the fourth biggest recreational activity by measuring the total number of participant days occurring in Washington state.
  • As compared to many activities where equipment purchases provide the significant economic impact to their activity,  bicycle riders’ trip-related expenditures account for a whopping 96% of the economic impact of bicycling. This means that bicyclists like to contribute to local economies via shopping, lodgings, and eating. It underscores that bicyclists are “wallets on wheels.”
  • In total, Washington state residents and visitors  spend $21.6 billion per year on outdoor recreation trips and equipment, which translates to nearly 200,000 jobs in the state.

[Tweet “Bicycle riders in WA spend over $3.1 B/year – third largest rec activity by $$ spent.”]

Not only does the economic analysis by Earth Economics of Tacoma show the benefits of bicycle riding, but it also underscores an important economic development dynamic for outdoor recreation in Washington state:

“These results show that outdoor recreation markets play an important role bridging urban and rural communities. The recreation market is unquestionably one of the largest markets in the state for moving income from urban to rural areas and building sustainable jobs in rural Washington State”

US Bicycle Route 10 crosses the state and brings "wallets on wheels" to businesses statewide.

US Bicycle Route 10 crosses the state and brings “wallets on wheels” to businesses statewide.

“It’s rewarding to see what we at Washington Bikes have long known,” says Executive Director Barb Chamberlain, “bicycling means business and can be a critical economic driver for small towns. Washington state is blessed with amazing places to ride your bike. With cost-effective improvements, small towns can capitalize on creating inviting places for bicyclists to stay, eat, play, and spend money.”

Study Underscores Need for Washington Bikes’ 2015 Legislative Agenda

As the Economic Analysis of Outdoor Recreation in Washington State conclusions show, bicycle travel and tourism is big business in Washington state.

Yet despite the impressive bicycle travel and tourism top-line numbers that this new economic analysis highlights, there is little detail beyond the 30,000 foot level. Especially lacking are details about attitudes, strategies and tools to attract more bicycle riding, or analysis of regions where bicycle riding could be enhanced. Interest in better information has been growing among tourism professionals, chambers, and businesses that seek out economic development opportunities via tourism and outdoor recreation.

The Earth Economics study shows the significant impact and opportunity of bicycle riding but still leaves a gap in knowledge about where or how bicycle riding can benefit local economies in Washington state. This lack of information is compounded as Washington state lacks a public tourism promotion agency or department; the state relies on various private-public partnerships that lack a focus on sector-specific opportunities like bicycle riding.

Other states including Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Oregon are ahead of Washington in understanding the bicycle travel and tourism sector. An improved understanding of bike travel and tourism in Washington state is needed to take advantage of this economic development opportunity statewide.

Particularly in rural areas and in communities seeking to recover their economies after 2014’s natural disasters, like the SR 530 landslide or the Carleton Complex fire, a clearer picture of the market for this fast-growing sector of tourism and outdoor recreation will help position communities like Snohomish and Okanagan counties moving forward.

As part of its 2015 legislative agenda, Washington Bikes will be seeking state investments in more detailed economic impact research to help better quantify these opportunities. With bicycling already resulting in $3.1 billion of annual expenditures and so much of that coming from trip-related spending, it’s clear that this rapidly expanding industry can continue to grow our state’s economy, particularly in rural areas.
[Tweet “Bicycling worth $3.1 billion (with a B) to WA every year. #bikesmeanbusiness #bikenomics”]
Learn how to make your community more bicycle-friendly to bring some of this spending to your town at the Washington Bike Summit March 16-17, 2015, in Olympia. Transportation Advocacy Day (day 2 of the conference) will give you the opportunity to meet with your legislators and tell them that bikes mean business and bike facilities deserve investment. Sign up for our e-news to get more on the Summit and bike news from around the state.
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Posted in Advocacy, Economic Impact, Funding/Policy, Infrastructure, Issues & Advocacy, Legislature, News, Rural, Tourism, Transportation, Travel | 5 Comments

Getaway to Lake Stevens and Beyond, Day Four: Back to Seattle

By Barb Chamberlain | Published January 8, 2015

Snohomish County Bikes: an ongoing series highlighting great Snohomish County bike rides. Share your own great ride with us!

Bed, Breakfast & Biking: Lake Stevens Getaway

Day 4, Lake Stevens to Seattle: 37+ miles

Oh my, such pie! Snohomish Pie Company apple crumb pie.

Oh my, such pie! Snohomish Pie Company apple crumb pie.

After 3 days of riding the prospect of another 37 miles sounded like nothing to my racing/training husband. These rides were all in Zone -2 for him, or something like that.

For me it meant a little mental preparation (you can do it, legs!). Adding up the total mileage for these 4 days brought me to over 117 miles. That’s as much as I might ride in a week if I did my entire 22-mile round-trip commute by bike every day, and I don’t always do that.

Thus I planned to break the ride in Snohomish for pie and in Woodinville for lunch and a rest before the final 10+ miles. Granted, the 10 miles to Snohomish wouldn’t take more than an hour, but when you’re biking for all your transportation you won’t feel much guilt stopping for something delicious whenever you want to.

Interior, Snohomish Pie Company, Snohomish, WA

Relaxing place to rest a while in downtown Snohomish, amazing pastry: Snohomish Pie company.

We decided to take a different route home to avoid the strange configuration over the highway of Day One and to experience something new. Once we got on our route we discovered it was popular with other riders, as we saw both bike travelers and people out on what looked like training rides and group rides with friends.

“You can usually tell which are the best roads for cycling from just looking at a map — the roads connect two inconsequential places, and are never the fastest route to major population centers.” –David Kroodsma, The Bicycle Diaries: My 21,000 Mile Ride for the Climate

By now this refrain should sound familiar: We started out riding on the Centennial Trail. Why am I so high on this? Watch this video we created to get an idea (some of the food shots are at Mirkwood, our Arlington lunch stop from Day Three).

[Tweet “Snohomish Centennial Trail: Plan your bike vacation around it. #bikesnoco”]

Railing outside Snohomish Pie Company makes for a handy bike rack.

Railing outside Snohomish Pie Company makes for a handy bike rack.

In Snohomish we stopped at the justifiably famous Snohomish Pie Company for pieces of apple and berry pie with melt-in-the-mouth crust (my standards are high — my mom made outstanding pies) and coffee before refilling our water bottles and heading out of town.

Although this route involved some climbing, we enjoyed the quiet back roads and seeing other riders along the way added to the pleasure.

The Commons in Woodinville is a frequent destination for a weekend ride to breakfast thanks to its position close to the East Lake Sammamish Trail and the bike rack out front. I had planned for us to stop there but we ended up thrashing around a bit (in a way not reflected on the map below — I missed a couple of key turns and climbed extra hills) so we kept going.

The flat miles on the trail helped, although it was a longer push than I was fueled for. I had a granola bar, which helped, but was sorry I hadn’t packed something to provide faster fueling when I needed it.

Bikes mean business: The long line at 192 Brewing on the Burke-Gilman Trail proves that.

Long line on a nice day at 192 Brewing on the Burke-Gilman Trail.

It also helped that this last stretch is very familiar territory. We ride this often and I loved seeing so many people out enjoying the trail: couples, families with kids, people walking slowly to accommodate a grandma or grandpa. The intersection of the East Lake Sammamish Trail and Burke-Gilman Trail was so busy I literally couldn’t shoot fast enough to get a picture of everyone riding through in just a short 5-minute span.

When we got to 192 Brewing in Kenmore my empty fuel cells and I called a halt for some black bean dip, chips, and a cold beverage. The place was packed, with locals and bike travelers alike lined up at the counter to order and the bike rack on the side of the building overflowing. Location, location, location!

Another easy 6 or so miles more and I was home, ready to rest my legs and decide where we might ride for our next bike vacation.

My Takeaways

You’ll get a lot more great bike touring advice from someone like Ellee Thalheimer in our Cycling Sojourner Washington book or Russ and Laura at Path Less Pedaled. These are my personal takeaways for planning our next adventure:

  • A route that lets me take a break every 15 miles or so is just about right.
  • If we were going for a vacation beyond 4 days I would build in some non-riding days for the break.
  • I need to remember to carry something for quick energy and fuel before I feel like I’m bonking, not once I’m into it. That’s a basic lesson I learned long ago but I didn’t take 35 miles very seriously. All depends on the fuel on board.
  • If the forecast says rain, bring the rain booties. Wool socks are a given if it’s going to be cool.
  • My Nuu-Muu bike dresses (made in Bellingham) are really fantastic for bike travel and eating out along the way. (I really already knew that — just wanted to put in a plug for such a great product made in Washington.)
  • Check to see what days most things will be open or closed in a location. Riding is always an attraction so lack of open stores etc. isn’t a showstopper — just good to know (and lost revenue for store owners).

Map: Lake Stevens to North Seattle Bike Route

Note on leaving the Burke-Gilman Trail: I designed this route to start/end at a transit stop in Lake City, which is my home neighborhood. For route ideas to/from downtown (specifically, the Washington Bikes office) see Seattle to Edmonds — Trip to the Salish Sea.

For my “dismount” from the Burke-Gilman southbound I take 42nd Ave NE rather than the much steeper 123rd. I’d rather climb those switchbacks than get off and push my bike up that steep grade at 123rd (because, let’s face it, that’s what I do).

Bed & Breakfast & Biking: Getaway to Lake Stevens by Bicycle. Another great bike tour in our Snohomish County Bikes series.

Related Reading & Riding

Your Turn

  • Write your ride! What bike trip have you taken that you want to share with others?
  • What did we miss in the round-up of possible activities?
  • Your favorite places to eat, drink, play, and stay in Lake Stevens, Marysville, Arlington, Snohomish, or somewhere nearby?

 

Posted in Adventure, Food, Kids, Lake Forest Park, Lake Stevens, Rural, Seattle, Snohomish County, Tourism, Trails, Travel, Woodinville | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Getaway to Lake Stevens and Beyond, Day Three: Arlington via Snohomish Centennial Trail

By Barb Chamberlain | Published January 7, 2015

Snohomish County Bikes: an ongoing series highlighting great Snohomish County bike rides. Share your own great ride with us!

Day Three: Lake Stevens to Arlington and back, 35 miles

Bicycle rider with two bikes outside entrance to Mirkwood Shire and Cafe, vegetarian restaurant in Arlington, WA, open 7 days a week

Important to know if you’re fueled by calories: Which restaurants are open 7 days a week, like the Mirkwood in Arlington.

Day 3 of our getaway from Seattle to Snohomish County offered us plenty of  sunshine to make up for the soggy ride to Marysville on Day Two. Where to now? That was easy; I’d been to Arlington weeks earlier for the ribbon-cutting of a project that filled a gap in the Centennial Trail and wanted to head back. After chatting over breakfast with Swiss visitors who were heading off to hike Granite Falls, we rolled out around the lake.

Once again, those flat miles on the Centennial Trail made it easy to plan, since it took us straight from Lake Stevens to downtown Arlington.

With such a pleasant trail section in place, if I were mayor of any other town in Snohomish County I’d be working as hard as I could to get my area’s connection to the regional trail network finished, complete with good signage, so I could lure our wallets on wheels into my downtown, too. (Like, say, Oso and Darrington on the Whitehorse Trail.) 

Coming into Arlington you’re greeted by banners designed by local artists on streetlight poles, along with tile art set into an attractive stone wall.

At the intersection of the trail and the parallel street 67th Ave. NE with Lebanon St., you can choose to stay on the trail, which has one little interruption at a set of railroad tracks where you’ll want to ride with care. Or take the on-street curve at the tracks right and you’ll end up on Olympic Avenue, which runs through the heart of downtown straight toward our destination: Mirkwood and Shire Café.

[Tweet “Vegan/vegetarian fare at @MirkwoodShireCafe in @ArlingtonWA. #biketravel”]

This vegetarian/vegan restaurant/coffee shop/bar features kitschy Tolkienesque décor, a big venue for live music, some jewelry and art prints and notecards for sale — a funny and appealing mix. We sat outside on the wrought-iron furniture where we could see our bikes and look straight down the main street.

Curried vegetable soup, falafel, Mirkwood Shire and Cafe, vegetarian restaurant in Arlington, WASoup of the day, curried vegetable, was creamy and delicious and my falafel came piled high with tomatoes and lettuce on fluffy pita. My husband enjoyed his panini sandwich with fresh basil, tomato, and mozzarella, and we topped off the meal with strong, hot coffee.

Our wait staff said she sees lots of bicycle business, noting, “All the bike people sit outside.” She drives from Darrington to get to work and sees more and more bikes on the road all the time. When we visited they were planning some modifications to the layout that may be complete by now to have two spaces, one aimed more at the music-and-bar crowd, the other at the eat-good-food-and-talk crowd.

Stop by Skookum Brewery for locally brewed beer when you visit Arlington, WA.

Stop by Skookum Brewery for locally brewed beer when you visit Arlington, WA.

I was sorry to see that The Local Scoop was closed as we rode down Olympic Avenue, as I’d had my tastebuds set for ice cream. Most of the shops were closed, as it was Sunday.

I saw something similar in Walla Walla and Yakima over Memorial Day and wonder why more retail businesses don’t stay open extra hours on long weekends to capitalize on the tourists coming through. If stores had been open we would have lingered in downtown, potentially long enough to have a second meal in town (I had my eye on Bistro San Martin thanks to lots of word of mouth recommendations.)

[Tweet “Planning #biketouring #biketravel to @ArlingtonWA. #bikesnoco”]

Things to Do in Arlington, WA

  • Shopping and strolling: Arlington has a cute little downtown strip visible from and paralleling the Centennial Trail with several thrift stores and assorted other shops. I’m one of those people who loves secondhand stores; I’d much rather look at the items that embody the stories of people who’ve already lived than a rack or shelf full of identical brand-new things. And any town with a massage therapy school right in downtown has something to offer the passing bike traveler.
  • Stop for food: Restaurants, saloons, and the aforementioned ice cream. Highly recommended by several locals and on our list for another day: Bistro San Martin, referred to as simply “the bistro.” Another option very close to the trail on Olympic: the Blue Bird Cafe, which gets high marks for breakfast in particular (expect a weekend breakfast crowd). Hubb’s Pizza and Pasta, at an intersection as you come into town, was the mustering point for the Centennial Trail ribbon-cutting June 2014.
  • Local beer: A stop at Skookum Brewery before you head back to Lake Stevens takes you just a few blocks out of your way. Not a brewery, but a place to rub elbows with locals and shoot pool: Whitehorse Saloon next to the Blue Bird in downtown.

[Tweet “Bike to beer: @skookumbrewery in @ArlingtonWA. #biketravel #WAbeer”]

  • Park, farmers’ market (and public restroom) on Centennial Trail: The Legion Memorial Park on the Centennial Trail in downtown provides a place to stop and hang out for a while with a pleasant gazebo and that essential trailside service: a public restroom. Saturdays July 1-September 1 it’s also home to the Arlington Farmers’ Market, 10am-3pm.
  • Disc golf: If you’d like to get a different type of circular device flying besides your wheels, the Arlington Rotary Disc Golf Course awaits within a mile of downtown at Twin Rivers Park.
  • Arlington Velo: Local bike shop in case you need any supplies or just want to check out the merchandise and talk bikes.

[Tweet “Local bike shop @ArlingtonWA: @velo_sport. #bikesnoco”]

[Tweet “Kangaroos in @ArlingtonWA?! Yep. #biketravel”]

[Tweet “Bike travelers love locally grown food. @RedRoosterRoute @arlingtonWA farms. #biketravel”]

  • Local history: Stillaguamish Valley Pioneer Museum. Check their site to make sure it will be open when you’ll be there. Currently they’re open March-October, Wednesday-Saturday-Sunday, 1-4pm, closed certain holidays.
  • Fly-In and Festivals: Experimental aerobatics are on display the second full weekend in July and area farms offer various festivals as their crops come into season. Make your reservations now if you want to catch the fly-in July 9-11, 2015.

[Tweet “Putting July @ArlingtonFlyIn on my #biketravel calendar. #bikesnoco @ArlingtonWA”]

  • Fishing: Arlington sits where the North Fork and South Fork of the Stillaguamush River come together. Mountain rivers offer cutthroat, Dolly Varden, salmon, and summer/winter runs of steelhead for spin or fly-fishing. (Don’t forget your fishing license, available at Arlington Hardware in downtown.)
  • Keep riding! Head north of Arlington to the Nakashima Farm before turning around to come back.
  • Snohomish County Tourism information on Arlington

[Tweet “Planning to bike @LakeStevensWA to @ArlingtonWA. Centennial Trail! #biketravel”]

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Trail etiquette note: As we left Arlington headed back to Lake Stevens a rider startled me by appearing suddenly with no warning that he was overtaking, and on a narrow enough stretch that I felt crowded. This is a pet peeve of mine. Don’t do this. (We caught him and I said something politely so he was aware it startled me.)

Dinner that night back in Lake Stevens: Sahara Pizza. I hadn’t realized from their website that they were takeout/delivery only, so we hung around a while waiting and my husband window shopped the fishing store next door. My Northwest Territory was an interesting and delicious combo I’d get again: apples, walnuts, gorgonzola, pesto, mushrooms, cinnamon, onions. (Sounded weird but I like all the ingredients so I took a chance on it — glad I did.)

We also considered riding around Lake Stevens to the other side, where we would have had additional restaurant choices. Another incredibly quiet night’s sleep on a comfortable bed at the Mansion Inn Bed & Breakfast.

[Tweet “Planning bike trip to @LakeStevensWA. #bikesnoco #biketravel”]

Map: Lake Stevens to Arlington Bike Route

 

Snohomish County Bikes: Bed, Breakfast, & Biking Getaway to Lake Stevens

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Posted in Adventure, Arlington, Darrington, Food, Kids, Lake Stevens, Oso, Snohomish County, Trails, Travel | Comments Off on Getaway to Lake Stevens and Beyond, Day Three: Arlington via Snohomish Centennial Trail

Getaway to Lake Stevens and Beyond, Day Two: Marysville

By Barb Chamberlain | Published January 6, 2015

Snohomish County Bikes: an ongoing series highlighting great Snohomish County bike rides. Share your own great ride with us!

Day one of our B&B&B (bikes & bed & breakfast) trip to Lake Stevens we arrived in Lake Stevens with plenty of time to find dinner and settle into our room. We slept soundly on a wonderfully comfortable bed after the day’s mileage (36 or so total, which is more than my usual commuting).

Saturday dawned bright and early and I realized the one tiny change I’d make in our room — one set of small windows didn’t have really dark shades and the light woke us earlier than what I would have planned, given that this was a vacation.

Well, “bright” is an overstatement — the sky held a bit of an overcast. After enjoying our breakfast and plenty of coffee we packed rain gear into our bags before setting off to bike to Marysville with plans to see a movie and have lunch.

Good thing we had the gear, as it started to drizzle not long after we got on the road and kept up for most of the ride. I wore wool socks so even when the rain crept through my bike shoes my feet weren’t freezing, but would have liked to have my waterproof shoe covers.

Bicycling from Lake Stevens to Marysville meant more easy miles on the Snohomish County Centennial Trail  before turning off to cross Highway 9. We rode through peaceful farming acreage with beautiful fields of flowers, corn, and other crops. While the road didn’t always have good shoulders, traffic was minimal and drivers gave us plenty of room.

Why did I plan a trip partly around the Centennial Trail as a key connection? Watch this video we created to get an idea (some of the food shots are at Mirkwood, our Arlington lunch stop from Day Three).

We came into Marysville following Google Map’s recommendations, which involved some major roads but got us onto a quiet street paralleling an arterial wherever possible. (See Lake Stevens to Marysville bike route map below.)

One particular stretch of road gave me that mix of delight and dread familiar to anyone who rides a bike: We had a wonderful long coast downhill, which meant we’d have to climb it on the way back. At least the newly surfaced street had bike lanes on both sides all the way — thanks, Marysville!

We had one of those small-town moments when we arrived at the movie theater to find an empty parking lot and a dark, silent building. At first we thought it might have closed but their site had shown a full roster of movies.

This made me wish I’d done a little more planning to have some back-up options handy. On the other hand, when you’re on a bike you’re already doing something so you can just keep riding and see what you find. But that advance planning would have told me Willis Hall Winery lay just 3 miles farther and I would have checked on the possibility of a little tasting stop.

Turned out the theater just hadn’t opened yet because the first showings started after noon and it was only about 11, so we went for an early lunch. We ended up at Applebee’s; a chain isn’t our first choice but we got great, friendly service and decided we were hobbits and should have second breakfast.

I was glad I’d brought a bag with me even though we weren’t planning to do any shopping. I often have leftovers to carry (couldn’t finish my second breakfast) or want to shed some gear. Our jackets and rain pants came on and off multiple times on this trip.

We came out of the movie to clearing skies and a mostly-dry ride home, warming to sunshine toward the end. After the long haul up that hill in Marysville, I was glad to get back on the Centennial Trail for easy bike miles back to Lake Stevens, where we stopped at the grocery store to get a bottle of Whidbey Island port for a treat along with some chocolate bars.

For dinner that night we ended up raiding the snack shelves for yogurt, granola, fruit, and hot cocoa. The Mansion Inn provides wine glasses and corkscrews, which made it easy to enjoy that port, too.

Other options considered for Day 2:

Everett: We could have gone to Everett to the Future of Flight Museum, which would have made about a 35-45-mile day (depending on the route taken) with a lot of walking at the museum.

Granite Falls: This would have been less mileage — around 17 miles round trip. If it hadn’t been raining we might have done this to see the ice caves. The catch could have been that our bike shoes aren’t hiking shoes and we didn’t know whether we could find secure bike parking at a trailhead.

Map: Lake Stevens to Marysville

 

 

Snohomish County Bikes: Bed, Breakfast, & Biking Getaway to Lake Stevens

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Posted in Adventure, Food, Lake Stevens, Marysville, Snohomish County, Trails, Travel, Weather | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bed, Breakfast & Biking: Getaway to Lake Stevens and More, Day One

By Barb Chamberlain | Published January 5, 2015

Snohomish County Bikes: an ongoing series highlighting great Snohomish County bike rides. Share your own great ride with us!

Bridge-coming-into-Snohomish_Loaded-bikes_forweb

The bridge coming into Snohomish for a pastry stop.

Whether we realize it or not, we all bring some mental checklist to our vacation planning. Some of us are looking for a quiet place to relax and unwind, others for lots of sightseeing and shopping. My husband’s checklist includes the phrases “I can’t just sit around all day” and “I can’t sleep when it’s too noisy,” while mine includes the words “pastries”, “cute downtown,” and “coffee shops.”

Our four-day bike getaway to Lake Stevens with side trips to other small towns in Snohomish County checked all the boxes for both of us — quite a trick!

We did this trip in fall, over the Labor Day weekend, and based on our experience will plan more trips like this. I briefly considered planning a big loop with a stay in a different town every night. The reality check for my checklist: I was planning this in the last couple of days before leaving and we were heading out on Labor Day weekend so many places were already booked.

I opted for a “hub and spoke” design—ride to one place, then go out and back from there each day—rather than the bike touring multi-day loops we’ll explore in the future.

Friday: North Seattle to Lake Stevens, 35 miles

We headed out mid-morning Friday, which put us ahead of those taking a 3-day weekend rather than a 4-day — a tactic I’d definitely use again to miss some of the heavy traffic volume of a holiday weekend.

The Mansion Inn Bed and Breakfast in Lake Stevens provided the perfect hub. At around 35 miles from our starting point in northeast Seattle, it was a comfortable distance for me with that all-important pastry and coffee stop along the way in downtown Snohomish, which has lots of wonderful places for flaky confections.

Bike-Friendly Lodgings: An Essential Attraction

When I checked with the Mansion Inn owners about bike storage before booking the room, I got this welcoming and reassuring answer: “We have secure bike storage in our garages. A couple of weeks ago we had around $50,000 of bikes here for our guests who did the Ironman Triathlon.”

Note to hotel owners everywhere: If I had gotten an answer that didn’t welcome us on bikes, we would have gone to a different town.

[Tweet “Bike-friendly lodgings: Offer only if you want my travel $$ in your town. #biketravel”]

After an easy start on the Burke-Gilman Trail to Kenmore, we rode in new bike lanes for quite a bit of the route to and through Bothell. Alternatively, we could have routed through Woodinville and made a stop at some wineries for tasting.

Scroll down for maps for both routes. If you’re starting farther south and need a break along the way, you may want to check out Honey Bear Bakery in Lake Forest Park along the way. See options for routes from downtown Seattle in Seattle to Edmonds: Day Trip to the Salish Sea.

For us the ride itself was the primary point of the trip, but I found plenty of reasons to stop along the way if we wanted to.

Things to See and Do in Kenmore and Bothell

Log Boom Park on Lake Washington: You’re heading to a lake destination but if you want to stop for some fishing or just staring at water and boats, this is your spot. Watch a float plane or two landing or taking off from Kenmore Air, the world’s largest seaplane-based airline, and check out the Kenmore History Walk (PDF).

Family biking — playgrounds and toy stores: Log Boom has a playground so if this is a family biking trip, stop here to let them run and shriek and climb on things. If you feel the need for takeaway entertainment, hunt down Snapdoodle Toys after you cross 522 just a little farther on or Toys that Teach in a little mall farther north on the route.

Bike to beer at 192 Brewing: This popular stop right on the Burke-Gilman Trail is just north of the traffic light at 73rd Ave. NE, where our route turned off the trail. Lots of outdoor seating.

Bothell Bike and Ski: Bike shop on the route in case you need to stock up on anything.

Things to do in Bothell, WA: This list of businesses in Bothell will give you more ideas, although remember that pastry awaits in Snohomish.

Things to Do in Snohomish, WA

Fields of flowers in Snohomish County farmland, WashingtonLocal farms: On your way into Snohomish you’ll ride some of Snohomish County’s beautiful farmlands. Bailey’s Vegetable Farm was on our route as we came into Snohomish via springhetti Road; we passed by this time but another time would make a stop for some freshly grown fuel. The Snohomish County Farm Trail guide will come in handy (PDF); they have a mobile app that will alert you when you’re near a stop, too.

Craft beer, wineries, distilleries: For fuel of another kind all over Snohomish County, this list of the liquid arts — breweries, wineries, and distilleries — will have you mapping out plenty of stops and side trips. In Snohomish stop at Skip Rock Distillers or Mt. Pilchuck Brewery. (Note that it doesn’t list every last craft beverage maker but it makes a great starting point.)

Hot air baloons over Snohomish River, Washington stateHot air balloon ride: You’ll have to plan around this, as the best times for ballooning are at sunrise or close to sunset. If you opt for the sunset ride and full dinner from Airial Balloon you’ll have an evening ride on to Lake Stevens but it’s an easy route almost entirely via the Centennial Trail.

Skydiving: If you’d like to move through the air but quite a bit faster, go for the thrill of skydiving. TravelChannel.com named Snohomish one of the 6 Best Places to go Skydiving in the world, the only location named in North America!

Rider with two bicycles and panniers outside Snohomish Bakery Creations, Snohomish, WABakeries: Snohomish checked off both “cute downtown” (lots of antique stores) and “pastry” (lots of bakeries) on my list—so much so that we made plans to stop there again on our way back.

At Snohomish Bakery Creations this first time around Eric’s sandwich on fresh, fluffy bread more than satisfied his hearty race-training appetite and my apple strudel satisfied my sweet tooth, although plenty of other things tempted in that case. We didn’t make it to Snohomish Pie Company this time but that was okay — it was on our list for the return.

Antiquing: Snohomish’s short downtown stretch invites you to lock the bikes up and walk a while to explore the antique shops and other specialty shops.

From Snohomish we rode an easy 10 miles more on the Centennial Trail through quiet pines and past a Little Free Library. As beginning birdwatchers we appreciated the sightings of hawks and a Stellar’s jay, among others.

[Tweet “Plenty of reasons to ride my bike to Snohomish! #bikesnoco”]

 

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As we came into easygoing Lake Stevens we saw kids swimming in the lake. With rain in the forecast we hadn’t packed our suits, but definitely would on a summer bike tour.

Mansion Inn Bed & Breakfast

Mansion Inn Bed and Breakfast, Lake Stevens, WAThe Mansion Inn, which is all of 5 minutes away from a grocery store and a few places to eat and 10 minutes away from the Centennial Trail, made for a delightful stay. Rod and Tracy are welcoming hosts, and with shelves full of snacks available 24/7 they’re more than ready for the hearty appetites bike-touring travelers bring in the door.

View of Lake Stevens from window of Mansion Inn Bed and Breakfast.Rod told us they had been stuffed to the gills for the Lake Stevens Ironman a couple of weeks before, with people willing to sleep on sofas and floors just to have a place to stay. The Ironman is a boon to business for lodging owners, with nothing available for 50 miles around because registration nearly doubled this year. If I lived anywhere along the Centennial Trail I’d be looking seriously at whether I wanted to sign up as an Air BnB host, given the opportunities created by major events like this and the daily attraction of the trail.

Our room at the top of the inn offered all the peace and quiet we wanted. It also featured a jetted tub — I hopped right into that after we unpacked to soak away the mileage. Then it was time to go find dinner.

Jetted tub in our room in Mansion Inn Bed and Breakfast.Places to Eat in Lake Stevens

This side of Lake Stevens offers small local places and a couple of fast-food chains — nothing fancy but we weren’t dressed for or interested in “fancy.”

We chose the Adriatica for our first night’s dinner. With fast, attentive service and delicious food, it more than satisfied, although we made the mistake of skipping the baklava so I can’t report on that. Portions weren’t gigantic so if the first day had burned a lot more calories we might have ordered an additional entrée.

Other options:

Soft mattress, smooth sheets, and well-deserved sleep rounded out Day One of our bike trip to Snohomish County.

North Seattle to Lake Stevens: The Map

Route notes:

The one dicey part came when the nice bike lane in Bothell ended with us on a bridge over 405 looking for signs. We had to stop to understand a strangely angled curb-cut/sidewalk configuration with cars coming off the freeway on a ramp that we had to cross. This very short segment is not for the faint of heart.

In Bothell Google Maps for bikes shows a connection from 23rd Ave SE to Seattle Hill road. It isn’t a street connection; we added a little more mileage thrashing around, asking people who were out for a walk, and pulling out my smartphone for navigation. We should have realized that a Dead End sign means for cars, not necessarily for bikes; Google Street View shows a path that continues at the end of what appeared to be a cul-de-sac on 23rd.

 

Alternate Route: North Seattle to Lake Stevens via Woodinville

If you take this route, you may want to plan time to stop at the wineries and distilleries for some tasting, or check out the protected wetlands around University of Washington Bothell for birdwatching. We came back this way, as I’ll report in Day Four.

 

Distilleries: Craft distilleries in Woodinville offer handcrafted vodka, whiskey, grappa and more.  Check out these fine Washington state distilleries:  Pacific Distillery, Woodinville Whiskey Company, Soft Tail Spirits, and Project V Distillery and Sausage Co.

Birdwatching: Interpretive trail in 58 acres of protected wetlands at the University of Washington Bothell, one of the largest and most complex floodplain restorations in Washington State. Fall to late spring you’ll see one of the state’s largest area for roosting crows.

Hot air ballooning: You’ll have a couple of chances on this trip if you take this route. Over the Rainbow in Woodinville has a post-flight session at Matthews Estate.

Snohomish County Bikes: Bed, Breakfast, & Biking Getaway to Lake Stevens

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Posted in Bothell, Food, Lake Forest Park, Lake Stevens, News, Seattle, Snohomish County, Trails, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments