11 Trends that Are Good for the Growth of Bicycling

By Barb Chamberlain | Published December 30, 2014
Mary Anderson and Izzy roll in Bellingham. Mother and daughter on bike with trail-a-bike behind.

Mary Anderson and Izzy roll in Bellingham.

Bicycling is on the rise across Washington state, the nation, and the globe, across all ages, abilities, and ethnicities. All the indicators tell us that the future of transportation is increasingly two-wheeled. What originally served as our 2013 auction theme, “All Kinds of Riders for All Kinds of Reasons,” now describes both our ongoing commitment and the future of bicycling.

The Trends

The indicators below tell us more and more people are riding for more and more reasons, and that our hometowns are changing in ways that will encourage and accelerate growth in bicycling.

Our list touches briefly on topics being written about in greater depth here and elsewhere and we haven’t captured everything. Tell us in the comments: What trends do you see that tell you bicycling is booming?

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[Tweet “Reason #1 biking booming in WA/everywhere: #familybiking on the rise.”]

Family biking is really rolling! Washington state bike blogs like Family Ride and Car Free Days show how it’s done. The Seattle Family Biking group on Facebook shares tips and wonderful pictures. Kidical Mass rides take place from Spokane to Tacoma.

[Tweet “Reason #2 biking booming in WA/everywhere: Cargo bikes haul people and goods.”]

Yes, you can make a Costco run by bike. Glen Buhlmann of Kirkland does it every week.

Yes, you can make a Costco run by bike. Glen Buhlmann of Kirkland does it every week.

Cargo bikes are big — as in, you can haul a lot by bike! You can buy the bicycle equivalent of a minivan with room for 2-3 kids and several bags of groceries. People move by bike (in fact, that’s one of the books we sell in our store) and go to Costco.

[Tweet “Reason #3 biking booming in WA/everywhere: #womenbike growth. Spokane Valley #1!”]

Women are riding in increasing numbers. And the #1 place in America for women commuting by bike, according to the League of American Bicyclists? The town of Spokane Valley.

[Tweet “Reason #4 biking booming in WA/everywhere: Fastest increase=people of color. #bikes4all”]

Riders at STP.

Riders at STP.

Biking is on the rise among people of all cultures and ethnicities. In fact, the most rapid increases in riding are among Latinos, blacks, and Asian Americans and the highest use is among Native Americans (“The New Majority: Pedaling Towards Equity” from the League of American Bicyclists lays out the data). In the next 3-4 decades these demographic groups will also become the majority in Washington state.

[Tweet “Reason #5 biking booming in WA/everywhere: Biking=transpo independence for seniors.”]

senior-on-trike
Senior cycling skyrocketing: New trips by senior citizens account for 22% of the growth in bicycling. Time to give up those car keys? Bicycling will help maintain health and transportation independence.

[Tweet “Reason #6 biking booming in WA/everywhere: Young people riding more, driving less.”]

Young people ride bikes, walk, take transit, use car-sharing: Young people (“young” in this case meaning 35 and under) are driving less and bicycling more.

The Millennials are the biggest generation in human history. As a writer said in Motor Trends magazine, no less, they’re more likely to spend their money on cell phones and bikes than on cars, with the former giving them the social connections and freedom of movement that used to be attributed to driving. A Washington Post headline said they’re “shunning” cars.

Put this shift in habits of consumption and transportation alongside accelerating trends in bike infrastructure and bikes themselves and there’s little reason to think they’ll all abandon bicycling when they turn 36. When they do drive it’s apt to be with a car-sharing service like Zipcar, which gives them the utility of a car for occasional use without the ongoing burden of ownership.

[Tweet “Reason #7 biking booming in WA/everywhere: Bike advocates work for equity/inclusion. #bikes4all”]

Equity on the agenda: Bike advocacy leaders are working to address issues of privilege and inclusion to build a pro-bike movement of, for, and by everyone. I was privileged to participate as a speaker in the opening session when the League’s Future Bike initiative launched. Dr. Adonia Lugo heads the League’s equity initiative; she lived in Seattle while working on her PhD and we helped supported her research into bicycle justice.

These girls at a Bike Works Kid Bike-O-Rama represent the future of bicycling.

These girls at a Bike Works Kid Bike-O-Rama represent the future of bicycling.

[Tweet “Reason #8 biking booming in WA/everywhere: Neighborhood activists demand safer, better streets.”]

Neighborhood activism remaking streets: People are uniting in groups like Seattle Neighborhood Greenways, Kirkland Greenways, Yakima Bikes and Walks, and others to say that neighborhood streets with fast traffic and fatalities are unacceptable. Through traffic calming measures, street redesign, buffered bike lanes, and other changes aimed at creating streets for all, not just for drivers, cities are responding to pressure from these citizen groups to make safer and more livable streets for people.

[Tweet “Reason #9 biking booming in WA/everywhere: Slower speed limits make safer streets. #20IsPlenty”]

20 Is Plenty: One of the tools for these changes is the move to slow speed limits in residential areas evident everywhere from London to New York City.

Just a 5mph slowdown makes a dramatic difference in injuries and survivals, which is why groups from AAA to AARP to the Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition to public health agencies supported the Neighborhood Safe Streets Bill we got enacted in 2013. Washington cities can now slow speeds on non-arterials without the expense of a traffic engineering study. As streets feel safer, more people bike and walk.

[Tweet “Reason #10 biking booming in WA/everywhere: Places for people, not cars, taking off.”]

People live in places, not in cars: “Placemaking” is all the rage, but people have always made places. It’s just that the traffic designs of the past made places for cars, not for people. As someone said on Twitter:

Many of the headlines about placemaking refer to walkability without mentioning bikeability. But any town focused on increasing foot traffic to its Main Street businesses and improving health in its neighborhoods will be redesigning streets to slow motor vehicles and encourage active transportation to replace driving alone, making conditions better for bicycling too.

Walking and bicycling are distinct ways of getting around, each with its own needs, but when you see “walkable” think “walkable/bikeable” and you’ll recognize the improvements under way for all of us who use people-powered movement.

As for this being a “trend”: We’ve been celebrating these types of places for a long time without labeling them. Every brochure you’ve ever seen that made you want to visit a place showed you slow-paced streets with lots of things to do inviting you to linger, not four-lane high-speed roads through a downtown core.

[Tweet “Reason #11 biking booming in WA/everywhere: Bikes mean business! #bikenomics #biketravel”]

Bikes mean business: Elly Blue’s book Bikenomics makes the case eloquently — people on bicycles return both direct and indirect benefit to local economies. With the rise of Bike-Friendly Business Districts, Bicycle-Friendly Communities found in all 50 states, and a growing interest in bike tourism as a tool for economic development particularly well suited for small towns and rural areas, our “wallets on wheels” are more welcome than ever.

Your Turn: We got to 11 and didn’t even talk about health, the environment, or the affordable nature of bicycling in difficult economic times. What other trends should be on the list?

Don’t fall behind: Sign up for our e-news to learn what’s happening for better bicycling, events in your area, legislative action and more.

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Posted in Accessibility, Advocacy, Complete Streets, Economic Impact, Encouragement, Equity, Family biking, Infrastructure, Issues & Advocacy, Kids, Legislature, News, Safe Routes to School, Safety, Seniors, Transportation, Women | Tagged | 2 Comments

13 Ways Bicycling Got Better in Washington in 2014

By Barb Chamberlain | Published December 29, 2014
Mom Tonya shared this with us, saying, "Kids out of school, cold & rainy, time to ride!"

Mom Tonya shared this with us, saying, “Kids out of school, cold & rainy, time to ride!”

Before we look ahead to 2015, let’s pause a moment to celebrate all we accomplished together for better bicycling in 2014

The list of milestones is long! Washington Bikes couldn’t make any of this happen without the support of people like you: People who care about safer streets, better bike networks, bike-friendly towns, and laws that improve education, safety, health, justice, and our local and state economies through biking.

13 Bicycle Milestones for Washington State in 2014

[Tweet “Reason #1 bicycling in WA awesome: 7th yr @bikeleague says WA #1 Bicycle Friendly State.”]

For the seventh year in a row the League of American Bicyclists named Washington the #1 Bicycle Friendly State in America.

[Tweet “Reason #2 biking in WA great: @peopleforbikes says we have 2 of US’s 10 best new bike lanes.”]

Protected two-way bike lanes grew, with two in Seattle named among America’s 10 best new bike lanes by People for Bikes. New approaches to infrastructure get more people riding, and with examples on the ground we can expect more cities to build these.

[Tweet “Reason #3 biking in WA fantastic: Bicycle-Friendly Communities like Wenatchee.”]

The Greater Wenatchee Metropolitan Area became the state’s first multiple-jurisdiction Bicycle-Friendly Community. The application included Wenatchee, East Wenatchee, Rock City, Chelan County, and Douglas County, and was energized by the efforts of Wenatchee Valley Velo Club and area trail groups, among others.

For a complete list of Washington state’s Bicycle-Friendly Communities, Businesses, and Universities from Sequim to Seattle to Spokane, see our Bike-Friendly Washington page.

To get your community on the list, start working on your application first thing in the New Year: Next round of applications due Feb. 11, 2015.

Apple Capital Loop Trail, East Wenatchee.

Apple Capital Loop Trail, East Wenatchee.

[Tweet “Reason #4 WA biking great: Small towns, breweries, scenery, local food–WA bike touring rocks!”]

We celebrated the release of Cycling Sojourner: A Guide to the Best Multi-Day Bike Tours in Washington. Around 3,000 copies are already in circulation to get more people exploring Washington by bike with the first multi-day bike tour guide for Washington to come out in over a decade.

One of the mountain views you'll find (earn!) if you ride the tours in Cycling Sojourner Washington.

One of the mountain views you’ll find (earn!) if you ride the tours in Cycling Sojourner Washington.

[Tweet “Reason #5 WA biking rocks: 1st @usbicycleroutes on West Coast, USBR10. Put it on #bikeit list!”]

Working with WSDOT, WA Bikes rolled out US Bicycle Route 10, our state’s first entry in the US Bicycle Route System (a nationally recognized interstate bike network), with a ribbon-cutting featuring State Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson. USBR 10 is the first US Bicycle Route in the Pacific Northwest and on the West Coast.

Anacortes Mayor Laurie Gere and WSDOT Sec. Lynn Peterson cut the ribbon in Anacortes for USBR10.

Anacortes Mayor Laurie Gere and WSDOT Sec. Lynn Peterson cut the ribbon in Anacortes for USBR10.

[Tweet “Reason #6 WA bikes: 1000s of WA kids walk/bike to school thx to safety educ. #saferoutesnow”]

We trained teachers in 8 new school districts to use our Bike and Pedestrian Safety Education Program: Cascade (Leavenworth), Deer Park, Kettle Falls, La Center, La Conner, Newport, Riverside and Tumwater.

Over 56,000 students have learned to bike and walk to school safely and responsibly with our program, with 15,000-16,000 more each year. The program is supported by WSDOT and involves the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction — biking to school is healthy transportation and good for waking up brain cells and preparing kids to concentrate and learn.

Children in White Salmon enjoying the bikes they got through the Safe Routes Bicycling/Walking Safety Education Program run by Washington Bikes with funding through the Dept. of Transportation. Photo by Amber Marra, White Salmon Enterprise.

Children in White Salmon enjoying the bikes they got through the Safe Routes Bicycling/Walking Safety Education Program run by Washington Bikes with funding through the Dept. of Transportation. Photo by Amber Marra, White Salmon Enterprise.

WA Bikes partnered with Snohomish County, the Centennial Trail Coalition, and others to rally support for the 27-mile Whitehorse Trail connecting Arlington to Darrington through the stunning Stillaguamish Valley. The trail and the tourists it will attract will aid the region’s recovery from the devastating Oso mudslide.

[Tweet “Reason #7 biking in WA=fantastic: trails like Whitehorse & Centennial.”]

Centennial Trail and Whitehorse Trail

A large sculpture marks the intersection of the Whitehorse and Centennial trails. Photo courtesy of Debora Nelson

[Tweet “Reason #8 WA biking great: 1000+ @railstotrails miles–most in the US!”]

When the Whitehorse Trail is completed it will connect to the Snohomish County Centennial Trail. From there, a growing network of trails connects the Puget Sound region. The Cross-Kirkland Corridor, part of the Eastside Rail Corridor; Burke-Gilman Trail; East Lake Sammamish Trail; Interurban; Ship Canal; trail mileage continues to grow, inviting more and more people to ride to more places.

With over 1,000 miles of rail-trails, Washington is #1 in the nation for rail-trail miles and has the single longest such trail, the John Wayne Pioneer Trail.

Trail projects keep rolling, from the Prairie Line Trail in Tacoma to the final “Bridging the Gap” project in the Chehalis-Western Trail to the Olympic Discovery Trail.

[Tweet “Reason #9 WA biking rocks: Local advocates who show up, speak up, ride the talk.”]

With support from Empire Health Foundation, Washington Bikes opened an office in Spokane. We tripled the number of League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructors in the Inland Northwest by hosting a training, developed a network of PE teachers who collaborate to get kids biking, and piloted a Walking School Bus program (since kids walk before they ride) that will continue under the auspices of the Spokane Regional Health District. Local advocates including members of Spokane Bicycle Club, Belles and Baskets, Swamp Ride, and others volunteer in our programs and with all the great bike events in the area. WA Bikes (then the Bicycle Alliance) helped found Bike to Work Spokane in 2007; advocacy in the region has grown steadily ever since.

Around Washington in 2014 more and more local people became bike leaders.

  • Seattle, Kirkland, and elsewhere: Activists started pushing for Vision Zero traffic safety measures to reduce fatalities to zero for pedestrians and bicyclists.
  • Wenatchee: Advocates energized the effort to get elected officials from five jurisdictions on board for the Bicycle-Friendly Community application and are working for the “Fruit Loop,” a proposed link between Wenatchee and Leavenworth.
  • Port Angeles and Clallam County: A similar effort is under way for Bicycle Friendly status, with Port Angeles Likes Bikes bringing people together.
  • Vancouver: BikeVanWa advocates for completion of critical trail segments and on-street improvements.
  • Pullman: Advocates are hard at work on a number of fronts. They got Pullman added to the statewide bike count, got the city to support installation of bike racks around downtown and identified the best locations, and worked to keep the possibility of a rail-trail between Colfax and Pullman alive.
  • The list goes on!
LCI Seminar in Spokane, August 2014.

LCI Seminar in Spokane, August 2014.

[Tweet “Reason #10 biking in WA keeps getting better: Elected officials at all levels who get it.”]

Elected officials at every level of government, from local to state to federal, demonstrate great leadership in making biking safer and more accessible for all. This list doesn’t begin to capture everyone — it’s just a sampling of some of the people we’ve worked with over the past year:

[Tweet “Reason #11 biking keeps getting better in WA: Open Streets parties take over our streets!”]

Open Streets events based on the original Ciclovia in Bogotá, Colombia empower people to experience their streets in a whole new way: without cars! Once people have felt that freedom, they see the possibilities of the street with new eyes. These events can inspire people to work for redesign and other changes to make streets friendlier for all.

Does your community hold an Open Streets event? Note it in the comments below and we’ll add it to the list here.

Want to start an Open Streets event? Check out the Open Streets guide brought out by the Alliance for Biking and Walking and NACTO (PDF).

[Tweet “Reason #12 WA bikes: Fun challenges from #coffeeneuring to #biketowork to #30daysofbiking.”]

Some people ride alone. Some people ride no matter what. Some people need a challenge, team spirit, or a reasonably entertaining excuse to motivate more time in the saddle. This year all kinds of group rides and challenges from formal to informal got the people of Washington riding in every season. Among them:

  • 30 Days of Biking: Simple, really — just ride your bike every day. Every. Single. Day. Takes place in April and again in September.
  • #Coffeeneuring: Ride 7 places in 7 weeks for coffee. Quite a few Washington riders went for coffee–imagine that!
  • Bike to Work Week: From Olympia (where Thurston County has the longest-running commute challenge in the state) to Spokane and everywhere in between, people rallied their coworkers. Check out some of the winning categories in the giant Commute Challenge put on by Cascade Bicycle Club — good thing participation in this workplace challenge is so big, considering that the Puget Sound is home to over half the entire state’s workforce. If your area has a Commute Challenge that isn’t on our list, let us know.
  • National Bike Challenge: This gets bigger and better every year. Miles per capita measures let people in really tiny places (Dixie, WA, we’re looking at you!) match their mileage of all kinds against the big cities. All kinds of riding count and you can log miles May-September.
  • Solstice Ride: Among those out on their bikes on the shortest day of the year — Seattle Randonneurs and Tacoma Kidical Mass. Did you go for a ride to chase the sun back into the sky?
  • Local challenges: In 2014 City of Spokane staff created the “Commute of the Century” — 5 maps of 20-mile routes designed to have people ride in every quadrant of the city and provide input on conditions for bicycling. Promoted as a series of lunchtime rides during Bike to Work Week, the challenge is available any time you want to download a map. In Wenatchee the Pybus Kids Century challenged kids to ride the 10-mile Apple Capital Loop Trail to rack up the miles.

Did your town or group put on a creative local challenge that isn’t about biking to work? Will you be repeating it in 2015?

Mom and baby take a break for snacks during Spokane's Commute of the Century.

Mom and baby take a break for snacks during Spokane’s Commute of the Century.

[Tweet “Reason #13 we love biking WA: Recognized as part of huge outdoor rec economy in the state. #bikesmeanbusiness”]

In 2014 Gov. Jay Inslee appointed a Blue Ribbon Task Force on Parks and Outdoor Recreation. The outdoor recreation economy in the state is worth over $20 billion (that’s with a B) and puts 226,000 or so people to work all over the state. With strong support for trails expressed at every meeting, the task force recommendations that Washington Bikes will be supporting include funding for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program.

Bicycling contributes to the state’s economy: We have major bicycle manufacturing and supply companies headquartered here, retail sales, bicycle tour guides, and every form of riding from bike touring to mountain biking to major events, charity rides, day trips, and biking downtown for coffee.

Bonus support for bicycling in 2014: We celebrated record-breaking attendance for this year’s Annual Auction and Gala! Thank you to our sponsors and organizational members: Cascade Bicycle Club, John Duggan Cycling Attorney, Ortlieb, SvR Design, Sound Transit, UW Transportation Services,Biking Billboards, Zipcar Seattle, Todd Vogel and Karen Hust, House Wine, Schooner Exact Brewing Co., DRY Soda Co., Foro Tasto Design, and H4 Consulting.

The funds we raise through the auction help support our lobbying in Olympia and our policy work with state, regional, and local agencies. If you’d like to make a tax-deductible donation to support our work for better bicycling all across the state, use our online form. You’ll help us make next year’s list of milestones even longer.

Be part of the success: Sign up for our e-news to learn what’s happening for better bicycling, events in your area, legislative action and more.

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Posted in Auction, Bike to Work, Chelan County, Economic Impact, Education, Encouragement, Events, Funding/Policy, Infrastructure, Issues & Advocacy, Kids, King County, News, Olympia, Olympic Peninsula, Safe Routes to School, Snohomish County, Spokane County, Tacoma, Thurston County, Tourism, Trails, Travel, USBRS, Vancouver, Wenatchee, White Salmon | 1 Comment

SeaTac Airport: Getting There By Bike

By Guest Blogger | Published December 23, 2014

Airport makes improvements, but the ride is not for the faint of heart

Guest blogger Lisa Enns is a Seattle cyclist earning a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Washington.

Last year, I was on a team of students that produced a Bicycle Facility Plan for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. I had heard that the airport was starting to make some improvements, and I wanted to check them out.

Getting to the airport is a little bit stressful. You can check out my bike route here. That said, I’m the slowest person on Dexter every day, and the worst part for me was the hills, not the traffic and roadway infrastructure. You do have to be comfortable taking the lane, as there are a few four lane roads with no bike lanes.

SeaTac Airport Bike SignMy journey started in downtown Seattle. I’d seen one lonely “to Sea-Tac Airport” sign downtown.  I ignored it, because I had no idea where it pointed to (After a bit of street view sleuthing later, I found that it points you through the International District and onto Airport Way.) and utilized Google maps to pick a route. I took the West Seattle Bridge to the Duwamish trail, and then up through residential neighborhoods in Des Moines and Burien.

The worst part was climbing the hill. I came through Des Moines on 24th Ave S, which has bike lanes. It dumped me out on Air Cargo Road, a four lane road with no bike lane, sidewalks, or shoulder. Luckily traffic was light enough that everyone could go around me easily. International Blvd was no picnic either, but it at least had a bus lane that I could use. The Port of Seattle doesn’t control roadways in the surrounding jurisdictions, but they have been considering adding bicycle facilities on the roadways under their control. A few bike lanes or separated paths would make the connection much easier. There are already bike lanes on S 154th St, connecting to Burien, but they end at 24th Ave S.

Google maps is now reporting the information we gathered when producing the bike plan — the best (and possibly only) way to access the airport from the north is through the light rail station and parking garage. If you’re coming from the south, you have a much nicer, quiet ride up Air Cargo Road and through the tour bus loading area.

[Tweet “Work by @UW students on biking to @SeaTacAirport now in @GoogleMaps.”]

At the Airport

SeaTac Bike Racks 2

The old bike rack has been replaced with an awesome new one made in Woodinville, WA by Sportworks!

[Tweet “Check out bike repair stand, @sportworksracks #bikeparking at @SeaTacAirport.”]

Once you get past all of the hills and traffic and want to park your bike, there are much better options than there were a few months ago. There are new, high quality bike racks in the parking garage by the northernmost sky bridge. The old racks were not bolted down, and did not allow you to securely lock a wheel and the frame with a U-lock. There are new bike racks at the south entrance as well, as opposed to the old wave racks.

Bike rack and tool stand in SeaTac Airport

Bike rack and tool stand in SeaTac Airport

For the hard-core bike tourist who is taking his/her bike on the plane (or the airport employee who needs a quick tune-up), there is a maintenance stand in the baggage claim area, near the middle of the airport. This makes it easier if you’re planning on taking apart your bike and checking it. You can buy a bike box at Ken’s Baggage on the baggage claim level — I’d recommend calling ahead to make sure they have one available.

Bike racks inside the terminal, on the baggage claim level  by the maintenance stand, may provide a longer-term storage solution if you’re leaving your bike at the airport. Currently, there is no signage regarding longer term bike storage, but it should be up in a few weeks. Ken’s Baggage will store your bike for around $12/day if you want a super secure solution.

[Tweet “Yay for new bike repair stand, #bikeparking options at @SeaTacAirport!”]

For the general public, riding a bike to the airport for a routine trip, with luggage is a bit of a stretch unless you are an avid bike tourist or live close by. The real benefit that I see is for employees. The airport employs around 17,000 people, making it a fairly large regional employer. A fair amount (17.8%, according to 2012 American Community Survey Data) live in the immediately adjacent zipcodes, making a bike commute a short one. Driving to work at the airport may be expensive, and odd shifts may make taking the bus a challenge. As a large regional employer, Sea-Tac has a responsibility to provide different commute options for its employees. If they continue to implement elements of the Bicycle Facility Plan, Sea-Tac is well on its way to making bicycling an attractive option for getting to the airport.

[Tweet “Bike access, parking upgrades at @SeaTacAirport good for workers & tourists.”]

Check the airport’s Bicycle Resources page for more information.

seatac bike commuter

SeaTac employee bikes to work in the rain

* * * * * * *

The Bicycle Facility Plan was prepared by the Sea-Tac Airport Bicycle Access Studio, a specialized graduate course in the Urban Planning department at the University of Washington. Students in this course performed the role of a small consulting firm. In early 2013, Prof. Dan Carlson with the University of Washington, Steve Rybolt, Environmental Management Specialist, and Leslie Stanton, Manager of Environmental Programs, in Aviation at the Port of Seattle, and Barb Chamberlain, Executive Director of Washington Bikes, initiated conversations about bicycle access to Sea-Tac. Those conversations eventually led to the formation of this studio as a part of the Master of Urban Planning program at the University of Washington.

 

Posted in Accessibility, Bike Parking, Commuting, King County, Seattle, Transportation, Travel | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on SeaTac Airport: Getting There By Bike

It’s Official: Greater Wenatchee Is Bicycle Friendly!

By Deb Miller | Published December 19, 2014

Greater Wenatchee Metro Area Earns Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly Community Status

I LOVE THE GREATER WENATCHEE METROPOLITAN AREA!

Greater Wenatchee earns a bronze level as a Bicycle Friendly Community

Greater Wenatchee earns a bronze level as a Bicycle Friendly Community

In August I wrote a blog post sharing my love for the city where I live. I was so excited to come home and find a bike lane and sharrows painted on the street next to my driveway! Having served on the Regional Bicycle Advisory Board (RBAB) for the Greater Wenatchee Metropolitan Area for a number of years, the lane and sharrows represented another step in progress for the bicycling community in the Wenatchee Valley.

Today I’m expanding the love for my city to love for the Greater Wenatchee Metropolitan Area. Earlier this summer, after another gentle nudge from Wenatchee Valley Velo board member Ace Bollinger, Wenatchee Valley Transportation Council (WVTC) and the RBAB began working on an application for Bicycle Friendly Community status from the League of American Bicyclists. The energy and enthusiasm around gathering the information necessary for the application was high! Several folks helped in the effort, which resulted in an application being submitted to the league on August 13.

[Tweet “Thx @WenatcheeVelo & others who got Wenatchee @bikeleague Bronze!”]

On November 18 the next step of progress was announced. The press release opened with this news:

“Today, the League of American Bicyclists recognized Wenatchee, East Wenatchee and Rock Island along with Chelan and Douglas counties, collectively as the ‘Greater Wenatchee Metropolitan Area’ with a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community (BFCSM) award, joining more than 325 visionary communities from across the country.”

As an RBAB board member, I was thrilled to share my thoughts in the press release along with the mayors of the two larger cities in our metropolitan service area.

“The award solidifies the work and efforts of the Regional Bicycle Advisory Board over the past few years. This national recognition provides another step toward reaching the vision set forth in the Greater Wenatchee Bicycle Master Plan. I am excited to have the award report card to share with the WVTC Board members and community partners for additional planning efforts,” said Deb Miller, a member of the Regional Bicycle Advisory Board.

“I am thrilled the League of American Bicyclists has recognized the hard work of the transportation community in our region,” said Wenatchee Mayor Frank Kuntz.

“The bicycle plan is a great new tool for cities and counties that we can use every time we look at our priorities for funding,” said East Wenatchee Mayor Steve Lacy following adoption by WVTC of the Greater Wenatchee Bicycle Master Plan.

[Tweet “Mayors of Wenatchee/East Wenatchee praise regional bike plan.”]

Bicycle Friendly WenatcheeThis award has instilled newfound enthusiasm for continuing the work that started with the efforts to draft a new Greater Wenatchee Bicycle Master Plan (GWBMP) when I first joined RBAB. We now have an additional action plan in the form of a report that will supplement the work lined out in the GWBMP. It seems that bicycle enthusiasts are popping up around the valley showing interest in bicycling in the valley. I’ve been participating in meetings with folks interested in increasing bike tourism in the valley; the Complete the Loop Coalition and their efforts to sign the Fruit Loop route from Wenatchee to Leavenworth; agencies wanting to bring more bike education into the schools; and Wenatchee Valley College looking at steps to become a bicycle friendly college, to name just a few!!

All this new interest is captured by Andy Clark, President of the League of American Bicyclists: “Visionary community leaders are recognizing the real-time and long term impact that a culture of bicycling can create.”

* * * * * * * *

Greater Wenatchee Metropolitan Area becomes the 14th community in Washington state to earn a Bicycle Friendly Community status. Washington state has been named the #1 Bicycle Friendly State in the nation for seven years straight by the League of American Bicyclists. Visit our Bicycle Friendly Washington page to learn more.

Posted in Advocacy, Chelan County, Douglas County, Wenatchee | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Representative Rick Larsen Champions Biking and Walking Safety

By Blake Trask | Published December 18, 2014

Thanks to Representative Rick Larsen’s leadership, we’re about to learn more about the trends and causes of collisions involving pedestrians and bicycles and to make recommendations about improving safety on our streets.

Rep Larsen PhotoWhile most transportation fatalities and serious injuries in Washington state have been on the decline, our most vulnerable road users — those who walk and bike — have not been enjoying this safety dividend. In some cases fatalities are up. From 2009-2011 15.5% of all transportation-related deaths and 16.7% of all transportation-related serious injuries in Washington state come from those who walk and bike.

[Tweet “In WA 15.5% of transportation deaths, 16.7% transpo serious injuries=people who walk/bike.”]

As most who walk and bike can attest, many streets and roads can be unfriendly places. It’s a reason that new design guides and innovative best practices around street engineering are beginning to take hold. Still, the majority of new street and road designs in Washington state take a conventional engineering approach, which leads to unsafe vehicle speeds and numerous biking and walking safety and mobility problems.

[Tweet “Time to change road designs to increase bike/walk safety. Thx @RepRickLarsen for GAO study!”]

To begin to get to the bottom of these issues, Washington Bikes thanks Representative Rick Larsen (2-Washington) for spearheading a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and supported by Representatives Norton (Washington DC) and DeFazio (4-Oregon).

“The safety of everyone on the road should be our top priority. Thanks to coordinated efforts, motor vehicle accident deaths are declining. But the same is not true for the most vulnerable people on our roadways – pedestrians and bicyclists. The GAO can give us a better idea of the reasons behind why pedestrian and cyclist fatalities are going up. We want to know what more Congress can do to ensure the highest level of safety for all of those using our roads,” said Larsen, DeFazio and Norton.

[Tweet “”The safety of everyone on the road should be our top priority.” -@RepRickLarsen”]

GAO will now conduct research to examine:

  • trends in pedestrian and cyclist crashes (including causes of such crashes), fatalities, and injuries in the last decade;
  • challenges that states face in improving pedestrian and cyclist safety (including roadway design speeds and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidelines for road design), and the initiatives states have undertaken to address this issue — with a focus on the effects of the common road engineering standard that sets speed limits at the rate 85% of drivers use under regular conditions;
  • the extent that federal initiatives and funds have been made available to assist states in improving pedestrian and cyclist safety, and additional federal actions that may be needed.

[Tweet “GAO to study bike/walk crashes, effect of engineering standards. Thx @RepRickLarsen!”]

This GAO report will help inform US Department of Transportation and FHWA as recommendations and policy are developed as part of the “Safer Streets, Safer People” initiative.

Washington Bikes looks forward to the results of this GAO study also informing next steps for the Washington State Department of Transportation (particularly its Highway Safety Improvement Program) and Washington Traffic Safety Commission (and its Strategic Highway Safety Plan, Target Zero) as both agencies seek to become more multimodal and grow their focus on protecting the most vulnerable on Washington state’s streets and roads.
[Tweet “GAO study of bike/walk crashes, design issues will help @WSDOT improve practice.”]

Posted in Alert, Complete Streets, Federal, Funding/Policy, Issues & Advocacy, News, Politics, Safety | 2 Comments

Trails and More #1 in Washington State: Bicycling By the Numbers

By Barb Chamberlain | Published December 16, 2014
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Bike travelers approach Snoqualmie Pass on the John Wayne Trail.

We’re #1! Not only has Washington been the #1 Bicycle Friendly State in America 7 years in a row — we’re also #1 for great trails. And that’s not just our claim; the numbers bear it out.

Our trails offer outstanding riding whether you’re on your way to work or to the next town. Coupled with the US Bicycle Route System in the state, the future development of state scenic bikeways, and growing bike infrastructure in our towns, our vision of a complete, comfortable connected bike network all over the state moves closer to reality all the time.

If you care about trails, don’t miss the advocacy tips at the bottom. Sign up for our e-news to stay connected to trail developments.

[Tweet “Longest @railstotrails in US, most rail-trail miles in the West: WA!”]

1: Longest Rail-Trail in America

According to the Rails to Trails Conservancy. John Wayne Pioneer Trail, 253 miles. From high trestles and dramatic views in the Cascades to the quiet dry side in eastern Washington, the John Wayne Trail offers an amazing getaway.

“I’m going to let you in on one of the state’s best-kept secrets: you can ride your bike from one of the densest population centers in the Pacific Northwest to the empty eastern Washington desert mostly on a traffic-free unpaved rail trail….” — “Escape from Seattle” tour in Cycling Sojourner: A Guide to the Best Multi-Day Tours in Washington

[Tweet “On my #bikeit list: John Wayne Pioneer Trail to bike away from it all.”]

Read more about the John Wayne Trail

The trail needs work, though: A fire summer 2014 damaged trestles and a 22-mile section is currently closed. We’ll be an advocate for repairs and reopening, working with Washington State Parks as the lead agency.

1: Most Rail-Trail Mileage in the West

Again according to the Rails to Trails Conservancy, which tracks trail mileage by state, Washington has far more rail-trail mileage than any other state in the West.

  1. Washington: 1,057 miles, 81 rail-trails, 19 current projects/147 miles
  2. California: 726 miles, 112 rail-trails, 51 current projects/923 miles
  3. Idaho: 408 miles, 19 rail-trails, 4 current projects/63 miles
  4. Oregon: 295 miles, 19 rail-trails, 8 current projects/170 miles miles
  5. Montana: 160 miles, 18 rail-trails, 4 current projects/59 miles
  6. Utah: 139 miles, 12 rail-trails, 2 current projects/32 miles
  7. Nevada: 52 miles, 4 rail-trails, 3 current projects/125 miles

[Tweet “Most @railstotrails miles in West in WA, #1 Bike Friendly State.”]

 

1: First US Bicycle Route on the West Coast

WA Bikes board member John Pope rode across Washington to celebrate the newly designated USBR 10,

WA Bikes board member John Pope rode across Washington to celebrate the newly designated USBR 10,

Spring 2014 we announced the official federal designation of USBR 10, which runs across the northern tier of Washington from Newport in the east to Anacortes in the west. Our partners at WSDOT celebrated with us at a ribbon-cutting in Anacortes Sept. 13. Our USBR 10 page includes a Google map of the route.
[Tweet “On my #bikeit list: 1st @usbicycleroutes on West Coast/USBR10 in WA.”]

Read more about USBR 10

 

2.2% & 4.9%: People & Trail Miles

2.2%: The percentage of the US population in Washington state (6.971 million out of 316.1 million).

4.9%: The percentage Washington’s rail-trails represent of the national total (1,057 miles out of 21,447 total).

In other words, we have more trail miles and fewer people.

6: Columbia Plateau Trail

Cyclists explore the Columbia Plateau Trail.

Cyclists explore the Columbia Plateau Trail.

Columbia Plateau Trail State Park is #6 on the list of longest rail-trails in America, at 130 miles, and offers wonderful wildlife viewing. From Spokane the Fish Lake Trail, another rail-trail, takes riders part of the way to Cheney; the rest of the connection to the Columbia Plateau Trail is on the road.

[Tweet “On my #bikeit list: Columbia Plateau Trail @WAStatePks #6 longest @railstotrails in US.”]

Read more about the Columbia Plateau Trail

Learn More, Support Bike Connections

Trail Advocacy Tips

  • Show how your trail is part of a larger local, regional, or even statewide network. That makes each segment more valuable.
    • As one example, the Fish Lake Trail connects to the Columbia Plateau Trail which connects to the John Wayne Pioneer Trail which connects to the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail which connects to the Burke-Gilman Trail which connects . . . you get the picture.
  • Use the power of bike tourism to illustrate why the trail matters to more than just people who bike or walk. Bikes mean business and trails serve as destination attractions.
  • Share information on your trail project with whatever organizations market your town as a great place to live, work, and visit. Keep them posted on project milestones and opportunities to demonstrate their support.
  • Stay in touch with local transportation planners and agencies. A trail is part of the regional transportation system. It’s not just about finding funding; they can also share news about progress, events, and volunteer opportunities.
  • Don’t be afraid to tell people your project has hit a speed bump. Use it to rally support. 
  • Take lots of pictures at every phase and share them on social media.
    • Pictures get passed along more than just text.
    • We can help; send your pictures to Louise and we’ll share them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. If you’re sharing, tag #WAbikes.
  • Tell WA Bikes about your project!
    • We’ll highlight it here to build support.
    • We’ll tell your story to your state legislators as an illustration of why we need more investment in healthy, safe places for people to bike and walk. Trail funding is always on our legislative agenda.

    • [Tweet “How to promote your trail project: Tips for trail advocates.”]

Your Turn

  • Have a great story about biking one of Washington’s trails? We’d love to publish your guest post. Contact Louise.
  • What’s your #1 favorite trail in Washington? Comment below to share it with others.

 

 

Posted in Adventure, Infrastructure, News, Tourism, Trails, Travel, USBRS | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

We Did It! A Federal Safety Performance Measure for Biking & Walking to be Developed

By Blake Trask | Published December 15, 2014

Despite the drama surrounding the FY 2015 Omnibus, or “CRomnibus,” biking and walking just got a big win thanks to Washington state’s own Senator Patty Murray.

ty_patty_murray_12-15Tell Senator Murray thanks for her leadership in advocating for a non-motorized safety performance measure.

The win addresses the growing and persistent problem for the safety of everyone that walks and bikes. As most transportation fatalities and serious injuries in Washington state have been on the decline, our most vulnerable road users – those that walk and bike – have not seen a similar decline. From 2009-2011 15.5% of all transportation-related deaths and 16.7% of all transportation-related serious injuries in Washington state come from those that walk and bike.

During the development of the 2015 budget, Washington Bikes and the League of American Bicyclists worked with Senator Murray’s office to include a directive for the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) to develop a safety performance measure. This push for inclusion in the appropriations bill represents a continuation of an earlier push to pass legislation in both the US House of Representatives and Senate to require USDOT to establish a non-motorized performance measure.

The now final budget, specifically under the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations, passed by Congress on Saturday includes a directive (see page 17) to the US Department of Transportation from Congress to “…to establish separate, non-motorized safety performance measures for the highway safety improvement program, define performance measures for fatalities and serious injuries from pedestrian and bicycle crashes, and publish its final rule on safety performance measures no later than September 30, 2015.”

What can we expect from this important advance for non-motorized safety? For one, this directive will require states to set a goal of reducing biking and walking fatalities in their state, and report back on their progress.

Additionally, the directive speaks directly to the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). While some HSIP projects in Washington state have included walking and biking improvements, they have also included other traditional street design considerations that make it challenging to comfortably walk and bike. Furthermore, HSIP in Washington state hasn’t had an explicit tie to walking and biking as its primary purpose is to address top-tier priority safety areas in the state’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan, Target Zero, and not overtly on walking and biking. This new directive’s rulemaking and reporting requirements will precipitate more accountability as to determine whether HSIP investments actually improve safety for those that walk and bike.

In the current Congress Senator Murray holds a leadership position in the Senate on transportation funding issues and advocated for the inclusion of this directive to make our streets safer for everyone. We at Washington Bikes can’t thank her enough for her leadership.

Please join Washington Bikes and thank Senator Murray for her invaluable help in making this significant change happen for everyone that bikes and walks. Thank her today.

league-logoWashingtonBikes_GBS_stack

Posted in Advocacy, Alert, Federal, Funding/Policy, Issues & Advocacy, News, Politics, Safety, Transportation | 2 Comments

Bridging the Gap in Thurston County

By Guest Blogger | Published December 14, 2014

Guest blogger Michelle Swanson rides her bike in Olympia.

Bicycling in Thurston County just got a lot easier with the third and final phase of the Bridging the Gap project. 

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The Chehalis-Western Trail provides the backbone of the Thurston County trail network, running 22 miles from Woodard Bay in the north to the Yelm-Tenino Trail in the south. A former railroad used to transport timber, it’s now a vital respite from busy motor vehicle traffic for people walking and rolling in a variety of ways.

Dad with son, bike pulling trailer, and others at dedication of final phase of Bridging the Gap project on the Chehalis-Western Trail, Olympia, WA, Dec. 13, 2014

“Yo, you got an electric assist on that bike?” “Nope, just 7-year-old power!”

Fifteen years ago, a coalition of several government agencies and advocates worked together to bridge three major gaps in the north part of the trail. The first bridge over I-5 was built in 2007. The second bridge over Martin Way—which was the main north/south route between Seattle and Portland before I-5—was finished in 2010. Saturday December 13, 2014, the community gathered to celebrate bridging of the very last gap over Pacific Avenue.

[Tweet “Bridging the Gap projects complete trail connections in Thurston County. #bikeOLY”]

You can now ride from the Puget Sound to Yelm or Tenino—or both!—almost entirely (save for about 1,500 feet) on a trail in Thurston County. Yay!

[Tweet “Ride from Puget Sound to Yelm/Tenino; trails 99%+ of the way! #bikeOLY”]

In addition to linking to the Yelm-Tenino Trail in the south—which many of our friends up north know from riding part of the STP on it—the Chehalis-Western intersects with the I-5 Trail and the Woodland Trail, two trails that run east and west. Both are great off-street links between Olympia and Lacey.

Roundabout at dawn. It really does look like a flying saucer, doesn't it?

Roundabout at dawn. It really does look like a flying saucer, doesn’t it?

My favorite part of this project is the intersection between the Chehalis-Western and Woodland Trails: the very first bicycle roundabout in Washington State. Squeee! It looks like a flying saucer, doesn’t it?

[Tweet “1st bike roundabout in WA state on Chehalis-Western & Woodland Trails #bikeOLY”]

This was a massive project, and a lot of people dedicated significant time and effort to make it happen. I’m so happy to live in a community that values bicycling enough to pull something like this off.

Courtesy of Twitter we have two videos shared by Kevin VanDriel of Olympia. The first is a fast-paced hyperlapse view of his ride to the dedication; the second shows the Boy Scout troop, band, and hundreds of people who showed up to celebrate.

 

Posted in Infrastructure, Olympia, Thurston County, Trails, Transportation, Travel | Tagged , | Comments Off on Bridging the Gap in Thurston County

Wet Weather Riding Tips #IBikeInRain

By Barb Chamberlain | Published December 13, 2014

It was a dark and stormy night . . . and I went for a bike ride.

Plastic-bag seat cover photo courtesy of Anne King, Seattle, blogger at Car Free Days with Tim King.

Plastic-bag seat cover photo courtesy of Anne King, Seattle, blogger at Car Free Days with Tim King.

No judgment here if you prefer to keep your bike rides on the dry side — we work for all kinds of riders! If you do want to keep rolling into the wet season you’ll be wondering how to maximize comfort and minimize soggy socks, among other challenges.

Our cold weather riding tips apply on cold wet days too, so start there. Our Instagram friends have been sharing pictures of wet riding, so draw some inspiration from them. Then dig into the advice below that we rounded up from Twitter with tips ranging from brand names to low-budget ideas like plastic bags.

[Tweet “Sharing rainy riding gear tips from plastic bags to fenders #ibikeinrain”]

We had our ABC of cold-weather riding; now we have the DEFG of rainy riding. Things to think about as you decide whether you need some additional gear for you and your bike for bicycling in the rain:

Dry feet are happy feet. Spring for foot covers, improvise with plastic bags, wear waterproof boots — tactics vary but everyone said something about feet. As in cold weather, wool socks-wool socks-wool socks to keep feet warm even if they end up damp.

Evaporation is a challenge. As one person said, “waterproof” and “breathable” are mutually exclusive terms. When you keep rain out you keep sweat in; your goal is a balance you can live with.

[Tweet “One of the rainy-riding challenges: “waterproof” & “breathable” don’t coexist well. #ibikeinrain”]

Fenders are everyone’s friend. A front fender is your friend; it minimizes spray shooting up at your feet on the pedals. A rear fender is friendly for the rider behind you; it cuts the rooster-tail effect. An extra-long fender works even better for this. If it’s reflective like our WA Bikes fenders (blatant plug), it adds visibility on those dark and rainy days.

Gloves x two. Cold clammy gloves at the end of the day don’t help you stay warm. More than one person suggests using two pair, one for the morning ride, one for going home. They’ll dry faster if you prop them up to air-dry; try standing them on a couple of empty toilet-paper tubes or a piece of PVC pipe with holes bored in it as a DIY project.


Posted in Commuting, Gear/Maintenance, News, Weather | 1 Comment

Washington Bikes 2015 Legislative Agenda: Health, Safety, Transportation & Strong Economies

By Blake Trask | Published December 8, 2014

As the dust settles on the 2014 elections, activity for legislative action in 2015 grows. The slim Democrat House majority (now at 51 seats compared to 47 for the Republican minority) and the Senate Republican majority (25 with 1 Democrat caucusing with the Republican majority compared to a 23 seat Democrat minority) face a challenging legislative session with budget realities that fail to match up with expected revenues. High priority issues will include meeting State Supreme Court decrees on education funding, addressing ongoing structural funding burdens, and determining next steps in upkeep of a heavily bonded transportation system.

Mom Tonya shared this with us, saying, "Kids out of school, cold & rainy, time to ride!"

Mom Tonya shared this with us, saying, “Kids out of school, cold & rainy, time to ride!”

To pass a state budget, most observers expect the 2015 legislature to go well beyond the scheduled 105-day “long” session. For as long as it takes this year, Washington Bikes will be in Olympia to help grow bicycling statewide. We look forward to working the issues, rallying supporters to write legislators, and advocating for better bicycling in Washington state.

Keep in touch by signing up to our email list and follow our blog, Facebook, and Twitter for action alerts and additional legislative news.

The 2015 Legislative Agenda

Washington Bikes Board of Directors and its Legislative and Statewide Issues Committee set a 2015 agenda to improve safety and health through smart investments and legislative improvements, highlight the benefits of efficient transportation investments, and grow the state’s economy via bicycle travel and tourism.

Investments that Get Washingtonians Where They Want to Go

Washington state continues to slip behind other states in making investments to grow biking and make safer streets. As the Governor and Legislature begin another round of discussions to pass a multi-year transportation-spending package, and as funding for school safety improvements are in doubt, it’s even more important that Washingtonians get the right investments for biking, walking, and making streets work for everyone.

In 2015 Washington Bikes will advocate to (1) Grow and stabilize state funding for the Safe Routes to School Grant Program; (2) ensure that biking, walking and complete streets projects are a component in any transportation revenue package; and (3) support the $97 million Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program Grant request.

[Tweet “#WAleg needs to invest in #saferoutesnow #completestreets and bike trails.”]

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.

Growing the Multimillion Dollar Bicycle Travel & Tourism Industry

Bicycle travel and tourism is big business. Annually Oregon receives $400 million in direct economic impact from bicycle travel and tourism. An improved understanding of bike travel and tourism in Washington state is needed to make smart choices for growth statewide, particularly in rural areas and in communities seeking to recover their economies after natural disasters, like SR 530.

Washington Bikes will be seeking state investments in a similar study to help quantify the industry and improve strategies to grow our state’s economy.

[Tweet “#WAleg should invest in #biketourism to grow local economies.”]

Updating State Law to Accommodate for Faulty Traffic Signal Detection

Riders in Spokane

Riders in Spokane

In 2014 state law was improved to allow for motorcycles to stop and proceed or make left-hand turns through traffic control signals that do not detect motorcycles or bicycles under certain very limited conditions with a specific protocol that is clear and understood by law enforcement.

Because this same issue affects bicycles and the 2014 law did not include bicycles, Washington Bikes will seek similar legislation would improve the 2014 law’s uniformity by including bicycles and providing a clear protocol for how to safely and legally make a left turn and a non-functioning signal.

[Tweet “#WAleg please fix traffic signal laws for bicycle to match motorcycle.”]

Strengthen Washington State’s Distracted Driving Laws

Following Washington Bikes successful lobbying in 2010 to pass Washington’s distracted driving legislation, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission is expected to make agency request legislation improves upon the current law. Work is still being conducted to refine the legislative proposal to help address the crisis of one in every ten Washington state drivers driving distracted.

Washington Bikes will be supporting this agency request legislation to help protect bicycle riders on our streets and roads.

[Tweet “1:10 WA drivers not paying attn! #WAleg #distracteddriving”]

Posted in Advocacy, Alert, Complete Streets, Economic Impact, Education, Funding/Policy, Health, Infrastructure, Issues & Advocacy, News, Politics, Safe Routes to School, Safety, Tourism, Trails, Transportation, Travel, WSDOT | 2 Comments