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City of Tacoma to Present Options for Completing Historic Water Ditch Trail

By Louise McGrody | Published November 18, 2014

Join bicyclists, pedestrians, residents and City of Tacoma staff tomorrow evening (November 19) for an open house reviewing options to finish the Historic Water Ditch Trail.

The City has analyzed the South Tacoma Way corridor between Pine and C Streets and developed four alignment alternatives that will connect the two existing segments of the Water Ditch Trail and complete it. This is an opportunity to learn about the proposed alignments, question the design team and provide feedback.

When completed, the 6.5 mile Historic Water Ditch Trail will connect South Tacoma with downtown, the Tacoma Dome and the Thea Foss Waterway. It restores a historic 1896 trail that was once part of a 110-year-old trail system that traveled through Tacoma and extended to Mount Rainier.

Last summer Kidical Mass explored the Water Ditch Trail on one of its rides. You can read about their adventure in this Tacoma Bike Ranch blog post.

Can’t make the open house? The City invites you to complete its online survey beginning November 19.

Posted in Infrastructure, Tacoma, Trails | Comments Off

A Little Kindness

By Barb Chamberlain | Published November 13, 2014

If you try a little kindness then you’ll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets.
— Glen Campbell – Try A Little Kindness (lyrics)

Turning from 35th Ave. NE onto NE 110th St. takes me past Nathan Hale High School on my preferred route from NE Seattle to downtown. I started using this route during the summer when the only activity was an occasional practice on the field, so the increased traffic volume that came with the start of school took some getting used to.

The other day as I rode past the school, a woman clutching a 16-ounce paper cup stood with her son at the corner of 34th NE waiting to cross. The oncoming driver didn’t hesitate, even for a second. I slowed to let her enter the street, saying, “We’re all supposed to stop for YOU.”

She hesitated, made a move as if to go, then stepped back and waved me on, saying, “Sorry!”

I had meant my remark as a commentary on the driver’s behavior, not hers, but my tone didn’t do a great job of conveying that. She looked as if she felt guilty for slowing me, so I called back over my shoulder, “No, I meant that’s a GOOD thing!”

I rode another couple of blocks, thinking that I had left her with an impression of someone who didn’t want to stop to let her cross the street when I’d meant the exact opposite.

Couldn’t stand it. Circled back to find her, still standing at that same corner with coffee and son.

As soon as she saw me she started talking, saying, “I’m so sorry! I couldn’t make up my mind and I know that was annoying.”

“No-no-no, I came back to make sure you didn’t misunderstand what I said. I meant we SHOULD all stop for you and that guy didn’t.”

She said, “I realized that a second after you said it.”

I replied, “I just wanted to make sure you didn’t think I was one of those jerks who don’t stop for people.”

We both laughed about it and ended up hugging each other. She wished me a safe ride as I headed away, very glad that I’d circled back and thinking about how much we’d all benefit from a few more one-on-one human moments like that: taking a moment to give the benefit of the doubt and respond with understanding and kindness, rather than reflexively going away angry or annoyed. Taking the time to connect, not to assume.

Kindness is an undervalued virtue, in my mind. It somehow has a reputation as a “wimpy” response, when it can take far more discipline, more mindfulness, more internal toughness to respond with kindness, most especially when that’s not what you’re receiving from someone else. My mother embodied kindness and I think of my kindness reflex as one of the greatest gifts she gave me.

How often, when you’re in a traffic interaction, do you put yourself in the other person’s shoes for a moment and cut him/her some slack? How quick we are to judge someone and then from there it’s a short step to generalizing that behavior. Tell me you’ve never constructed a sentence in this format right after a negative encounter:

“All drivers XYZ!”
“Those cyclists never DEFG!”
“Why don’t pedestrians JKLMN?”

In talking about kindness I know I run the risk of triggering a lot of comments about the people who “don’t deserve” that response. We want to push back, to stand up for our rights, when someone does something that endangers us on our two wheels. Part of our work at Washington Bikes is to stand up as advocates, working for laws that hold people responsible when they drive dangerously.

I’m not suggesting kindness in response to aggression or to harassment that targets you for one label or another. I’m not suggesting we don’t hold people accountable for distracted or inattentive driving — those penalties should be increased.

I’m thinking more of our personal responses to the thousands of daily acts of carelessness that surround us all.

Our work as advocates is intended to improve interactions on the street for everyone. When it’s safer and more pleasant, more people will ride. While we must change the laws, we won’t get kinder, safer, better streets using only the law as a tool.

[Tweet “Our work as advocates is intended to improve interactions on the street for everyone. Kindness helps.”]

Look at what MADD did about drunk driving and how they did it. They used a combination of tough penalties and a change in social norms. Austin rider Adam Butler is attempting to use a simple wave of the hand as a tool to change the tone of interactions between people on wheels and people behind wheels.

[Tweet “I pledge to make streets better one human moment at a time.”]

Most days if I’m paying attention I notice small acts of kindness on the streets — if I’m looking for kindness. If I’m looking for people to act like jerks and break the rules, guess what I’ll notice? Human nature being what it is, every single day offers me a dose of each. I figure it’s up to me to decide which taste lingers longest.

[Tweet “Try a little kindness: Thoughts on our human interactions on the street.”]

A little Glen Campbell to take you out, with those appropriate lyrics I stumbled across looking for things on this topic:

Your Turn

What do you remember most at the end of a ride — the positive interactions or the negative ones?
How do you think this would change if you consciously thought of kindness as one of the skills you bring to riding?

Posted in Attitudes, News | 2 Comments

Tell Them Washington Bikes: Take the Voice of Washington State Survey Today

By Blake Trask | Published November 13, 2014

Think Washington state doesn’t pay enough attention to biking and walking? Now’s your chance to let them know you want better and more investments in biking.

Make sure Washington state leaders know bicycling matters.

The Washington State Transportation Commission is out in the field with its Voice of Washington State survey panel. The purpose? To understand Washingtonians’ perspectives on transportation issues that impact their daily lives. The results of the survey are presented to transportation decision makers, including the legislature and Governor.

For perhaps the first time in the survey’s existence, the Washington State Transportation Commission asks a range of questions about biking and walking.

Washington Bikes has had concerns about the survey in the past, but with its noticeable focus on biking and walking this go-around, please take the estimated 12 minutes to provide your input about how much you bike, and why you want the state to make more investments in biking.

Join the Voice of Washington State panel today to let them know Washington Bikes!

Petition for Better Bicycling

While you’re at it, sign the Washington Bikes petition to ask the Governor and state legislature to make safer bicycling a top priority and to invest in more bike lanes and trails and improved road designs to create a complete network of bicycle connections.

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

Posted in Accessibility, Alert, Attitudes, Funding/Policy, Legislature | Comments Off

Spokane School and Family Programs: Walking and Biking at Holmes Elementary

By Kate Johnston | Published November 7, 2014

What inspires a student to learn how to fix his/her own bike? An opportunity to learn.

Josh Hagen, a hobby bike mechanic, donated his professional services to empower and educate students and families at Holmes Elementary to do their own bike maintenance.

In strong partnership with the Spokane Regional Health District, Washington Bikes volunteers are making a difference in the West Central Neighborhood in Spokane by creating opportunities for health, fitness and fellowship. Our Walking School Bus Program at Holmes Elementary has been a great example of this and will continue this fall until November 21, 2014. The Walking School Bus program offers a reliable way for students to get to school on time and provides part of their essential 60 minutes per day of physical activity to maintain good health — and students are loving it!

Holmes Elementary’s Walking School Bus Route A, aka: “The Happy Heroes” arrive to school in time for breakfast.

The Walking School Bus Program will continue this Spring at the following elementary schools and we’ll looking for volunteers to join the fun:

Holmes Elementary School
Bemiss Elementary School
Stevens Elementary School
Logan Elementary School

Join us as a volunteer by contacting Kate Johnston in our Spokane office: kate@wabikes.org 509.280.5762

[Tweet “Spokane kids getting healthy, walking to school, w/@spokanehealth @WAbikes.”]

Holmes Elementary’s Walking School Bus and Bicycle Train team celebrate International Walk to School Day on October 8th, 2014. Spokane Indians mascot Otto joined in the celebration. FedEx representatives (not pictured here) also joined and passed out safety lights and reflective gear to students.

The Walking School Bus at Holmes Elementary is leading the way for the Bicycle Train that is planned for implementation in 2015 and beyond. Garry Kehr, Spokane Bicycle Club President, has been involved in Washington Bikes’ bicycle/pedestrian safety programs in Spokane. Garry and other members of Spokane Bicycle Club are making this program possible by volunteering their time leading walking School bus routes.

Emma and her grandfather practice bike safety on the way to Holmes Elementary. In a few years Emma will be old enough to participate in a volunteer-led Bicycle Train to get to school.

Join Washington Bikes and the families of Spokane to take part in these community-empowering programs. Call or email Kate today to get on our list. We look forward to hearing from those of you who can volunteer your time or your professional services to make our neighborhoods safer and healthier.

Posted in Family biking, Kids, News, Safe Routes to School, Spokane County | Comments Off

Create Adventure: What to Expect at the WA Bikes Gala Auction

By Barb Chamberlain | Published November 1, 2014

What you can expect when you come to CREATE ADVENTURE at the Washington Bikes Gala Auction Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014:

Fun.
Food.
Beverages.
Getaway travel packages.
Great bike gear.
Fun and unique experiences up for bid.
People who love bicycles almost as much as you do.
Prizes, raffles, fierce bidding contests.

But seriously, we field questions each year about what to wear, whether we have bike parking, how long the event lasts, and so on. We thought we’d round those up into your Great Big Bike Party Manual for the 22nd Annual Gala Auction Saturday, Nov. 8.

You have one last shot to get tickets so you don’t miss the biggest bike party of the year in the #1 Bicycle Friendly State — book them by Sunday night, Nov. 2.

[Tweet “Got my ticket, have my Party Manual, ready for 11/8 @WAbikes auction in Seattle.”]

Getting There

Location: Seattle Marriott Waterfront (map link), 2100 Alaskan Way between Lenora and Blanchard, right on the Elliott Bay trail.

Bike parking: Provided by our friends at Sportworks Racks, who are also hosting a table. Fun fact: Most of the bike racks on buses all over the US are made in Woodinville, Washington, at Sportworks!

Transit: Depending on which bus route you take you’ll have to walk or pedal a few blocks. Nearest light rail stop is at University.

Bikeshare: If you take Cycle Pronto Bikeshare the nearest station is at 2nd and Blanchard.

[Tweet “I’ll #GoPronto w/@CyclePronto to the @WAbikes auction Nov 8 in Seattle. Ride w/me!”]

Car parking: On-site valet parking is available for $20 to auction attendees. Other parking options are available in the vicinity; rates vary.

What to Wear

It’s a party — and it’s a bike party. Some people do wear bike clothing and that’s absolutely fine. Many dress up a bit more, all the way up to pretty fancy clothing. Just be sure to wear something that leaves your arms free to raise that bid paddle high.

5:30pm: Check-In Opens

When you arrive you’ll check in at the registration table to receive your packet, which includes a card with your bid number. Don’t lose this — it’s what you need to bid and win fantastic gear and experiences.

We’ll have a coat room available. It’s not a coat check with staff supervision, but we’ll have lots of volunteers floating around all night.

Three bars will be set up pouring DRY Soda, House Wine, and Schooner Exact beer. Many thanks to them for donating their delicious beverages!

[Tweet “Thanks @DRYSoda @SchoonerExact @OurHouseWine for bike-friendly donation to @WAbikes auction!”]

5:30-6:45pm: Silent Auction

We have two sections in our silent auction. One closes at 6:30, the other at 6:45. Keep track of the things you love and stay on top of those bidding wars!

What kinds of things are up for bid in the silent auction? Bike art, jewelry, gear, ride registrations, clothing, bike tune-ups, bike fitting, tools, equipment, experiences from kayak lessons to a scenic flight, yoga, massage, overnight stays, restaurant gift certificates, and so much more.

For a list of everything donated grouped by category, check out our donation inventory list tracked courtesy of our fantastic partners at the Bicycle Paper.

Buy It Now: See something you really, really have to have? Just like eBay we have a “buy it now” option. Go straight to that amount, enter your bid number, and it’s yours — no more checking back and you can keep cruising the tables for other great items.

Water Bottle Grab: A $25 ticket lets you pick one of the water bottles. Inside is your key to a prize worth at least $25 and maybe much more!

Kitsap Getaway Raffle: A $5 ticket enters you in the drawing for a weekend getaway for 2 on the beautiful Kitsap Peninsula worth over $500.

Special Feature: The Big Bike Button

Have your heart set on something in our live auction and worried that you’ll miss out? Enlist Lady Luck on your side — buy a Big Bike Button for $100.

Only 50 are sold. The winner chooses any item from the live auction and it’s yours — for just $100! Watch for volunteers selling buttons in the crowd and get yours before they’re all snapped up.

6:45pm: The Main Event — The Live Auction and Program

6:45pm: Find your table. As the second silent auction table closes our volunteers will start pointing you toward the dining area.

As you come in make a pass by the Dessert Dash tables and start thinking about which deliciousness you hope to taste at the end of your meal.

7pm: Program Starts!

Dessert Dash: This is important — your dessert depends on it! As soon as you get seated, determine what you’re willing to put in the pot to help make sure your table gets first crack at the amazing desserts. Put your bidder number and amount on the form you’ll find on the table. Volunteers will come by shortly to pick up your table’s envelope to tally and see where you rank.

Speeches — Minimal: We keep remarks pretty brief but make absolutely sure we thank our sponsors for their generous support and our volunteers for their hard work.

MC: We’re helped out this year by Ellee Thalheimer, author of Cycling Sojourner: A Guide to the Best Multiday Tours in Washington. Proceeds from sales of the book support our advocacy, and Ellee knows just how to create adventure by bike.

Special Guest: Washington State Dept. of Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson joins us this year with remarks about the future vision for WSDOT and the essential role Washington Bikes plays as both partner and pressure.

[Tweet “I’ll be w/@WSDOT Sec @LynnPetersonWA 11/8 in Seattle. Will you? Get tix by 11/2.”]

Live Auction Items

On your tables you’ll find a catalog listing the details for each package. This short version should get you dreaming about next year’s vacation plans, special experiences, and new gear to amp up your ride.

Craft Your Own Cocktail
Two Registrations to RAMROD — Ride Around Mount Rainier
Wenatchee Valley Winter Escape for Two
Custom Bike Build from Bike Works
Create Your Own Bike Adventure
Ride With the Big Wheels!
Join/Renew with Washington Bikes! Many make an annual tradition of renewing their membership in Washington Bikes at the auction.
South Asian Dinner for Six
From Traffic to Two Wheels: REI Bicycle Commuter Package
Vashon Epic Weekend: Passport to Pain
Giant Expressway 2 Folding Bike
Spokane Adventure Package for Two
Mercer Estates Wine & Dine Event for 6 Guests
Women-Only Wenatchee Valley Biking/Hiking Weekend
REI Camping Package
Ortlieb Bicycle Touring Package
Cycling Weekend in Southwest Washington
Family Fun Cycling Package
SRAM Red 22 Road Groupset & Zipp 202 Road Clincher Wheels
Special Appeal: This is where we tell you a bit about some of the work we’re doing and ask for your generous (and tax-deductible) philanthropic support. Your prize: Knowing that you’re helping create adventure and grow bicycling statewide by investing in the mission of Washington Bikes.
Mount Adams Country Bike Tour
2014-15 Crystal Mountain Gold Unlimited Pass
Diamondback Haanjo
Blake Island Yacht Cruise for Six
Suncadia Cycling Festival for Two
Three Nights in Port Angeles Vacation Home for 8
Surly Disc Trucker
Exclusive 2-Night Use of the Methow Valley Inn in Twisp
Mediterranean Dinner for Six
Skykomish Valley Getaway/River Raft
Better Birding by Bike! (a.k.a. Biking is for the Birds)

9:00pm: Auction Ends, Time for Checkout

We run a tight ship over the course of the evening to wrap up the live auction by 9pm.

Dave Shaw and the Wizards (hey, that would make a great name for a band!) have your winning bids, Dessert Dash, membership, Special Appeal donation, and all the rest tallied up. They’re ready and waiting with a Square app to swipe your credit card. Personal checks also accepted.

We prefer that you take all your items home that night. But if you biked to the event and bid on another bike, a wheelset, a big painting, or something else, we totally understand if you can’t haul it home. Don’t let cargo worries stop you from bidding — or maybe bid extra high on the cargo trailer .

Just hang onto your receipt and come by our retail store/offices in Pioneer Square during regular business hours, Monday-Friday, 9:30am-4:30pm.

Don’t forget your coat on your way out!

Sponsors Make It All Possible

Gold Wheel

Silver Spoke

Bronze Gear

Zipcar Seattle logo

Pedal Partners

Todd Vogel & Karen Hust

In-Kind Sponsors

Foro Tasto

ICYMI This Year: Sign Up for Next Year!

If you have to miss this great event in 2014, don’t let it happen again in 2015! Sign up for our e-news to make sure you hear about it in plenty of time to get your tickets to adventure.

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Posted in Auction, Events | Tagged Auction | Comments Off

Recognizing Bicycle Friendly Washington

By Robin Armstrong | Published October 29, 2014

Bicyclists on University of Washington campus. Photo: University of Washington

As Washington continues to lead the nation as the #1 Bicycle Friendly State in the US, the League of American Bicyclists has announced that the University of Washington is being upgraded from Silver level Bicycle-Friendly University to Gold.

The Leauge examines 5 different categories to determine where communities, states, businesses, and universities stand: engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, and evaluation.

UW efforts to promote cycling on campus include self-service bicycle repair stations, a multitude of bike parking spaces throughout campus including bike rooms, lockers, and houses, and access to showers and clothes lockers for bicycle commuters.

In honor of this designation League of American Bicyclists President Andy Clarke will present the Gold award to UW Associate Vice President for Facilities Services Charles Kennedy Thursday, Oct. 30, in Architecture Hall on the UW campus at 7:00pm. The event kicks off UW’s annual November “Ride in the Rain” bike commute challenge. The event is free and open to the public.

Every year the League of American Bicyclists recognizes states, communities, businesses, and universities through its Bicycle Friendly America program

A panel of speakers will discuss the role of universities as in the creation of bicycle friendly communities: Seattle Department of Transportation Director Scott Kubly, Cascade Bicycle Club Executive Director Elizabeth Kiker, and Nancy Rottle from the Green Futures Research and Design Lab.

Not only has UW been recognized by the League but four Washington Businesses are being recognized as Bicycle Friendly.

Bicycle Friendly Businesses — New in 2014

Bronze Level

Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, Richland, @PNNLabs

Silver Level

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

Bicycle Friendly Universities

Gold

University of Washington, Seattle, @UW

Honorable Mention

University of Washington, Bothell, @UWBothell

Congratulations to these universities and businesses for contributing to our ever-growing bicycle friendly state!

For a complete list of Bike Friendly communities, businesses, and universities around the state head to our Bicycle Friendly Washington page. Past recipients update their information on a three-year cycle; Bicycle Friendly Community and State rankings are announced each spring.

Posted in News | Comments Off

13 Reasons Bicycles Are Perfect for the Zombie Apocalypse

By Barb Chamberlain | Published October 25, 2014

Walking Dead character known as Bicycle Girl because Rick Grimes grabs a bike for his getaway from her.

Just in time for Halloween, your list of 13 reasons bicycles make the perfect vehicle for the zombie apocalypse.

In every disaster movie ever made, everyone fleeing the city in a vehicle ends up in a huge, hopeless traffic jam, AKA zombie smorgasbord.
Bikes let you dodge around not only that big traffic jam but all the other debris left by the looters.
By the time you realize things are getting serious, your neighbors have taken all the gas and diesel and you can’t refill your car’s tank.
Zombies are drawn to noise, and bicycles make for much quieter travel than the internal combustion engine. (Sorry, electric vehicle owners, but the grid is going to let you down about the same time people realize the petroleum fuel distribution system isn’t ever going to work again either.)
OK, the mods are maybe a bit over the top on this one…. They’ve sacrificed mobility.
Bikes will retain their value as an item of barter in the post-apocalyptic economy.
You can carry more on a bike than you can if you’re walking/running.
Bicycles are the most calorie-efficient form of transportation. When you’re scavenging for food and eating cold canned beans every calorie you find has to go a long way.
See them coming! No constraints on your field of vision caused by the vehicle’s body.
When you need to stop for the night you can climb a tree and pull the bicycle up with you or bring it into the building you’re barricading yourself into. Either way, you have a vehicle you can hide from passing zombies.
Meanwhile, costumed bike rides let you add one more factor to consider: What if it’s true that you never really forget how to ride a bike and the zombies come after you on two wheels?
You’re not limited to roads for your travel — you have a wider range of escape routes from which to choose.
Mechanically a bike is pretty straightforward and you can learn to repair it yourself and keep it running.
If your plan is to hunker down and shelter in place for a while and you own lots of bikes, bike frames make good bars for the windows.
In a really tight spot, you can keep the bicycle between yourself and the zombie as a barricade. Use it to push your attacker away and buy time while you draw your sword.

With all this in mind, maybe your next bike purchase should be one with the attributes you’ll need for a quick getaway:

mobility
durability
hauling capacity
sturdy tires
quiet mechanics — ditch those spoke cards and buzzing freewheels
standard tire size so you can find parts
heads-up posture so you can see the zombies coming and fire your crossbow

In case you think we’re the only ones who think about this, there’s this Zombie Apocalyplse Getaway Pinterest board and this exhaustive comparison of all types of vehicles and their plusses/minuses for use in the zombie apocalypse.
[Tweet “Reason #1 bikes great for zombie apocalypse escape: Fast escape from traffic jam.”]
[Tweet “Reason #5 bikes good for zombie apocalypse: barter value.”]
[Tweet “13 reasons bikes great for zombie apocalypse. Most apply right now too.”]

And check out our Halloween Bikes playlist on YouTube:

PS: Did you happen to notice how many of these are advantages for everyday life even before the zombies get here?

Posted in Adventure, Bike Culture, Gear/Maintenance, News | Tagged apocalypse, Halloween, zombies | 12 Comments

#Coffeeneuring: It’s on a Roll in Washington State

By Barb Chamberlain | Published October 20, 2014

The perfect bike challenge for Washington state? Coffeeneuring, of course!

Simple concept: Ride your bike to 7 stops over 7 weekends, documenting the trips. If you’re not a coffee drinker, go for tea, hot chocolate, cider — anything in keeping with the spirit of taking a bike ride to a local venue and hanging out a while.

We kicked it off a couple of weeks ago and it’s rolling right along. Participants bike, sip, and tweet/blog/tell the world they’re doing it with the #coffeeneuring hashtag.

Read on for your chance to win, a list of the blog posts to date, and the Twitter action in the #1 Bicycle Friendly State in America.

Share Your Posts and Pictures and Be Entered to Win!

Writing your rides? Send your blog post our way to Louise-at-WAbikes.org. Don’t wait until the end to send it to us. We’ll share posts along the way to inspire others. We’d love to have a map, too, if you’ve put together a nice route someone else might enjoy.

Everyone who submits a blog post or Instagram picture to us will be entered into our prize drawing to win one of several oh-so-appropriate WA Bikes coffee mugs. Tag your photos with #coffeeneuring #WAbikes.

Please select a valid form

Blog Posts

Coffeeneuring: A Bike Challenge Everyone Can Love (Washington Bikes, Oct. 1)
Getting Ready for Coffeeneuring (The Interurban Cyclist, Oct. 5)
First Coffeeneuring Ride: Zoka’s Coffee and Tea House (
Weekend Wandering: New Shoes, a Long Run, and Coffeeneuring (Marathon Sam, Oct. 5)
Coffeeneuring Trip #2 Bridge Coffee House and Shoreline News (The Interurban Cyclist, Oct. 11)
Weekend Wrap-up: A Trail Race, Pumpkin Carving, Coffeeneuring (Marathon Sam, Oct. 12)
Coffeeneuring Trip #3 and Bonus Bike Movie Review (The Interurban Cyclist, Oct. 19)
Coffeeneuring 2014: The Halfway Mark (Bike Style Life, Oct. 20)

Twitter Round-up

Posted in Bike Culture, Encouragement, Events, News | 2 Comments

Submit Proposals for the 2015 Youth Bike Summit in Seattle, WA

By Seth Schromen-Wawrin | Published October 15, 2014

The 2015 Youth Bike Summit is being held in Seattle and organizers are now accepting proposals for workshops and presentation. This is an opportunity to showcase all the amazing work happening in Washington, and to demonstrate why Washington truly is the #1 Bike Friendly State.

The Youth Bike Summit is a three-day conference geared toward youth, bikes, educations, advocacy, and leadership. It will be hosted for the first time ever on the west coast from February 13-15 at Bike Works in Southeast Seattle . The mission of Youth Bike is to transform local communities and strengthen the national movement by empowering bicycle leaders.

Do you have something to present or know someone who should present? “Innovation” is this year’s theme for the Summit, and we know there is lots of that here. It could be a workshop on how to start a mountain biking club, students telling about how they got involved with local planning, a showcase of fashion for youth who like to ride, an epic tale of some Girl Scout’s week long bicycle tour, youth helping youth start their school’s first bike to school day, or anything. You can see last year’s program here.

Go here to submit a proposal. They are accepting workshops and presentations until Friday, October 31. The formats can consist of:

Hands-on workshops
Panel presentation
Small group discussion
Project showcase/exhibition
Academic paper/case study
Multimedia screening

This is a great opportunity to inspire the next generation of riders and recognize the impressive work your local community is doing. Spread the word and submit your proposals!

Posted in Education, Encouragement, Events, News, Seattle | Comments Off

Signs of Bike Tourism in Eastern Washington

By Guest Blogger | Published October 10, 2014

Today’s post is written by our friends at Path Less Pedaled. Since 2009, Russ Roca and Laura Crawford have explored bike travel through an advocacy lens, learning about and championing the many ways in which cycling can positively impact small communities. Currently based in Portland, Oregon, Russ and Laura are working with tourism organizations across the US to market and promote bike tourism initiatives. Learn more at: www.pathlesspedaled.com.

Sharing beers with bike advocates in Wenatchee.

As part of our recent Bike Tourism Road Trip, we crossed the border from Oregon into Washington, to see what bike tourism looks like in our neighbor to the North.

We spotted bike corrals in Leavenworth, shared beers with bike advocates in Wenatchee, and rode a stretch of the John Wayne Trail near Ellensburg. We popped into Allegro Cycling in Walla Walla as a couple from Seattle picked up rental bikes, and we counted dozens of day riders along the Yakima River Valley. Everywhere we went, we counted cars with bikes strapped on the back – including a few who stayed at the same motels as us.

In short, all throughout our time in Eastern Washington, we saw signs of bike. If you’re like us, and you’re on the hunt for evidence that people on bikes are welcome, you’d see a lot of proof that Eastern Washington is a great bike tourism destination. The trick is that, as a visitor, you have to be willing to hunt.

Everyone we talked to in Eastern Washington told us about great local rides – and then admitted that you had to know the area to know that they existed. Which highlighted a large (albeit easily remedied) gulf between the people who want to ride their bikes and the routes waiting to be ridden.

Which isn’t to say that we didn’t find good local rides. When we stopped in the ReCycle Shop in Ellensburg and asked for a ride suggestion, an employee pulled out a file of cue sheets and picked one that fit the length we wanted, telling us a little about what we would see along the way, where we should be extra careful, and how we could modify the route. Win!

As we traveled, we asked folks what “bike tourism” means to them and their community – and the predominant response was that it created a reason for people to visit and stay a little longer. When bikey people see signs of bike in the places they visit (or read route suggestions online when they’re planning a trip), it’s a visual handshake that tells them that they (and their bikes) are welcome (and are welcome to stay and play).

In Wenatchee, when we checked into our motel, I asked the owner what we should do in town. She replied that she noticed the bikes on our car, and did we know that there’s a great bike path along the river? She even pointed it out on a map. Win! Imagine if she also knew the best way to wear out your climbing legs on Badger Mountain, or how to connect the back roads on a long spin through the Valley? When front line staff understand the role bikes play in their local tourism economy, and encourage and support it through simple actions like offering tips about where to ride, they make it more likely that people with bikes will have a good experience, return for another trip, and tell their friends.

Exploring the John Wayne Trail near Ellensburg.

Each community that we visited offered distinct rides that fit with their identity – wine country loops in Walla Walla, the John Wayne Trail in Ellensburg, the Fruit Loop in Wenatchee. These are the backbones of bike tourism. All it takes to make that leap from small-town-with-great-hidden-rides to successful-bike-tourism-destination is to bring together all the local players and start trumpeting out the availability of these rides.

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