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Pullman Added to Washington State Bicycle and Pedestrian Count

By Guest Blogger | Published September 10, 2014

Volunteers Needed to Help With Pullman Count

This blog post was contributed by guest blogger Jaime Brush of Pullman.

Upon learning about the combined efforts of the WSDOT and Cascade Bicycle Club for the upcoming statewide bike count, I knew Pullman had to be included as one of the cities to participate in the bike counts. So, as a bicycle advocate, I started asking how Pullman can get on the list of cities performing the counts. With the help of Washington Bikes, I was quickly connected with WSDOT and Cascade Bicycle Club, which in turn led to the City of Pullman signing off on participating and me leading the volunteer efforts, here on the eastern side of the state.

This is an annual bicycle and pedestrian count taken at locations throughout Washington State in nearly 40 jurisdictions. Data collected from these counts will be used to monitor success in increasing bicycle and pedestrian travel as identified in the Washington State Bicycle Facilities and Pedestrian Walkways Plan while also providing critical data to support improvements to bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

This year’s count takes place on September 30, October 1, and October 2. Counts will occur twice each day: 7-9 am and 4-6 pm.

This important project helps the state collect valuable bicycle and pedestrian data that informs state policy! Since community participation is so vital to the success of this project, we encourage interested Pullman area residents to sign up for a shift as a volunteer counter.

Contact Jaime Brush if you have questions specific to volunteering for the Pullman Count.

Visit WSDOT to learn more about the Washington State Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project.

Posted in Advocacy, Commuting, Guest Blogger, News, Research, Transportation, Whitman County | 2 Comments

Tell the Washington State Transportation Commission that Washington Bikes and Walks

By Blake Trask | Published September 10, 2014

Comment now on the Washington State Transportation Plan to tell decision makers that Washington bikes and walks

What are state plans for? Every four years the Washington State Transportation Commission has the job of developing an update to channel the priorities of the legislature and executive branch, in conjunction with applicable state laws to chart a 20-year vision for Washington state’s transportation future.

WA Bikes member Allan Ohlsen.

The Transportation Commission’s latest planning effort, WTP 2035, is now out for public comment. Washington Bikes has been following the planning process for over a year by working with Transportation Commission staff and other partners to provide input that reflects the growing interests from visitors and residents who bicycle.

The Plan is a start, but needs your help and input to ensure the state emphasizes walking and biking safety, mobility, and investments for the future. Now it’s your chance to provide comments to help the plan better reflect your priorities as Washingtonians that support safer transportation options, healthier places and people, great places to travel on your bike (and to support businesses statewide), and more investments that get people where they want to go easily and affordably.

How to Comment

Written comment Let the Commissioners know by emailing them at Transc@wstc.wa.gov, or by commenting online. Comments are due by September 25, 2014.

Meetings There are a few remaining in-person opportunities to comment:

Bellevue Bellevue Regional Library, Room 1 1111 110th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA 98004 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Richland Ben Franklin Transit Center, Board Room 1000 Columbia Park Trail, Richland, WA 99352 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, September 18, 2014

Bremerton Norm Dicks Government Center 345 6^th Street, Bremerton, WA 98337 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 11, 2014

Webinars:

Wednesday, September 17 | 1pm – 2pm
Thursday, September 25 | 11 am – noon

For either webinar, RSVP to admin@berkconsulting.com and GoToMeeting login information will be sent out the day before. The format will be a short (20 minute) presentation on WTP 2035 followed by Q&A

Wondering what to say? Washington Bikes has a few high level recommendations included below.

Washington Bikes Recommendations

WTP 2035 should include proposals more robust planning and data collection for non-motorized transportation. Washington Bikes recommends (1) updating the state bike/ped plan; and (2) creating a robust data collection framework for biking and walking to better understand and assess relative safety in Washington’s transportation system.

Background: Washington state agencies focus resources and staffing to calculate vehicle crash rates by exposure (vehicle miles traveled), while injury and fatalities for bicyclists and pedestrians are compared to the population (deaths/injuries per 100,000 population). The lack of comparable denominator data is troubling for public health and safety, as it prevents a valid comparison of the risk of bicycling, walking, and driving. Data suggest a dire need to address this problem: estimates suggest the US has a cyclist injury rate twenty times that of Denmark and The Netherlands and seven times Germany’s. Similarly, WTP uses seven-year-old data from the outdated Washington State Bike/Ped Plan that fails to reflect the huge changes in best practices and increased demand (and cost for system build out) for biking and walking facilities that we now see in 2014.

Washington’s Transportation Plan needs to plan for all trips, not just commute trips. Washington Bike recommends expanding the concept of what trips matter and evaluating the potential to support and plan for non-commute trips in transportation planning.

Background: Researchers have tracked falling Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) in recent years. While only 27% of VMT are commute-related, commutes are typically what is addressed in transportation surveys. Without knowing how (and why) people travel, it is difficult to appropriately fund an effective or efficient transportation system. Similarly, small trips of under 3 miles – ones that are ideal for walking and biking – comprise approximately 40% of trips but are often not commute trips.

Student transportation needs recognition in the WTP. Washington Bikes recommends including planning for student transportation and Safe Routes to School in WTP 2035.

Background: Pupil transportation of our state’s approximately one million children from kindergarten to 12th grade links to several state-level priorities. Student transportation issues factor in around highway safety (on the state highway system, almost 90 percent of all pedestrian and bicycle collisions occur within one mile of a school and 21 percent of those involve children ages 5 to 18), congestion (nationally, 10-14% of peak hour congestion is related to drop-offs and pick-ups of children), and the state’s general fund obligations for McCleary (annually state and local school districts spend almost $500 million annually on pupil transportation).

Biking and walking occurs statewide. Washington Bikes Recommends ensuring that biking and walking planning and resources are considered viable transportation solutions statewide and not just limited to large urban metropolitan areas.

Riders on the bike/pedestrian bridge that connects East Wenatchee to Wenatchee at Pybus Market.

Background: Think Seattle has the highest share of biking commuters in Washington state? Wrong. That designation goes to Ellensburg. Unfortunately, this is a common misconception. Biking and walking occur outside of large urban metropolitan areas, but WTP 2035 implies this is not the case. 3- and 5-year ACS data illustrate this in Ellensburg (22.9% walked and biked), Port Angeles (8.8% walked and biked), Bellingham (11.8% walked and biked), Colville (12% walked and biked), Pullman (24% walked and biked) and Walla Walla (13.1% walked and biked). These numbers often exceed the large metro areas in Washington state. WTP 2035 needs to recognize this fact.

Safety for those that bike and walk needs to be prioritized in Washington state. Washington Bikes Recommends that state transportation planning and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission’s Target Zero plan need to reprioritize bicycle and pedestrian safety to effectively implement Governor Inslee’s Results Washington goal of achieving zero pedestrian and bicycle deaths by 2030.

Background: The emerging issue around safety in Washington state continues to be addressing the shortfalls a transportation system that does not accommodate those that walk and bike, thus creating safety and mobility concerns. Nationally, since 2009, fatalities have been increasing for those that walk and bike. In 2012, over 16% of all traffic-related fatalities were people on bike and foot. More biking and walking can lead to conflicts with other modes, but it also creates “safety in numbers”, which leads to more awareness of those that bike and walk and, ultimately, increased safety.

Remember, let the Commissioners know via email, meeting, or webinar by September 25, 2014.

Posted in Advocacy, Alert, Funding/Policy, Infrastructure, Issues & Advocacy, Kids, Legislature, Rural, Safe Routes to School, Safety, Tourism, Trails, Transportation, Travel, WSDOT | 4 Comments

USBR 10: Inaugural Bike Tour

By Louise McGrody | Published September 10, 2014

Photo courtesy of Adventure Cycling Association.

Washington Bikes board member and USBRS route coordinator John Pope is biking US Bicycle Route 10! He departs from his hometown of Anacortes—the western terminus of the newly designated national bike route—on September 15 and is scheduled to arrive in Newport at the Idaho border on September 22.

John will be vehicle supported by his wife Michele, and he has invited members of Skagit Bicycle Club, Colvelo and Washington Bikes to join him for all or part of the week-long tour. Here’s his itinerary:

Day 1: Monday 9/15 (the day following the Anacortes Ribbon Cutting for USBR10). Start from Anacortes Ferry Dock at 9AM, long day crossing Skagit County flats to Newhalem CG (87mi, not much elevation). Lunch break at Rockport SP or Howard Miller County Park. Read the post about John’s Day One Ride.
Day 2: Tuesday 9/16. Leave Newhalem, water break at Colonial Creek CG, lunch at Rainy Pass roadside/Washington Pass Overlook, camp at Early Winters CG (57mi day, ~5000’+). Read the post about Day Two.
Day 3: Wednesday 9/17. From Mazama, coffee break at Winthrop, lunch/sag point at Twisp grocery store, camp at Lyons City Park, Okanogan (62 mile day, ~4000’+). Read the post about Day Three.
Day 4: Thursday 9/18. From Okanogan ride to Riverside, then Tonasket (lunch/sag). Climb Wauconda summit, stay in Republic, possibly at Millers RV (71 miles, ~3500’+).
Day 5: Friday 9/19. Ride up Sherman Pass (up 3300′, then down 4300′), lunch at the Columbia River, stay at Fairgrounds in Colville (53 mile day, ~4000’+).
Day 6: Saturday 9/20. Participate in Blazing Saddles bike ride and chili cook off, and USBR 10 event (0 to 100 mile day, rides of every description included in the event). Stay in Colville.
Day 7: Sunday 9/21. Colville to Ione (lunch). Camp at Panhandle USFS (63mi, ~2000’+).
Day 8: Monday 9/22. Coffee at Usk, lunch at Newport (30miles, moderate hills). Spokane (47 mi from Newport) has Amtrak, or continue your tour on through Idaho!

Tune in to our Facebook page to follow John on his USBR 10 adventure.

USBR 10 Ribbon-Cutting Celebration This Sunday

By Louise McGrody | Published September 9, 2014

It’s official! US Bicycle Route 10 has been approved as Washington state’s first route in the nationwide US Bicycle Route System and we’re holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony this Sunday, September 14 at 1 pm in Anacortes.

Ribbon-cutting for USBR 10 will feature State Secretary of Transportation Lynn Peterson, Anacortes Mayor Laurie Gere, WA Bikes Executive Director Barb Chamberlain, Representative Kris Lytton and additional elected officials who have helped to approve and support this historic route that crosses the northern tier of Washington state via the SR 20 corridor. A similar dedication will occur on September 20 at the Rotary Club of Colville’s 2nd Annual Blazing Saddles Bike Ride fundraiser in Colville.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held during Anacortes Open Streets. The open streets event–the first of its kind in Anacortes–will spread out over a twenty block loop and will include a Retro Bike Ride, a Concours d’Elegance bike show, Volkswalk, BMX and Mountain biking demonstrations, Special Olympics riders, bike repair station, live music, healthy lifestyle demos, information displays, a bike parts swap meet and more.

USBR 10 is a 407-mile bike route following the SR 20 corridor from Anacortes to Newport at the Idaho border. It climbs and coasts six mountain passes in between. The USBR 10 interstate route will eventually connect all the northern tier states, linking Washington state to Maine and running from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean.

Nationally, Adventure Cycling Association is managing the endeavor to create over 50,000 miles of interstate bike routes. Washington Bikes, in partnership with Washington State DOT, is coordinating the USBRS effort in our state.

Posted in Events, News, Skagit County, Tourism, Travel, USBRS, WSDOT | 2 Comments

Bike and Hike the Stillaguamish this Weekend!

By Blake Trask | Published September 8, 2014

(and join us Saturday morning at the Fortson Mill Trailhead to celebrate the partnerships, progress and potential of the Whitehorse Trail)

With next weekend’s temperatures forecast for the upper 70s and low 80s, the Pacific Northwest’s September Summer continues. And we have ideas for your weekend trip – visit Snohomish County’s Stillaguamish Valley for a Bike and Hike adventure. We’re excited to partner with our friends at Washington Trails Association and Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition for their suggestions on where to hike in this fabulous gateway valley to the Glacier Peak Wilderness.

Additionally, be sure to join us 10:30 am Saturday morning at the Whitehorse Trail’s Fortson Mill Trailhead for a special event to join community leaders in celebrating the progress, partnerships, and potential of the Whitehorse Trail following the SR 530 landslide.

Get up to Darrington and Gravel Grind

Nestled between impressive Cascade peaks at the northern tip of the Stillaguamish Valley, the town of Darrington is a hotbed of gravel adventure riding opportunities. Over 100 years of mining and logging industry have left a large network of gravel roads snaking their way through the forests around town.

The routes listed range from 5-23 miles. Because they all loop back to town, they can easily be combined for longer days in the saddle. Check out the Washington Bikes rundown on gravel grinding the Stilly.

Bridge to Nowhere. Photo by George Winters.

When you’ve had your fill of gravel adventure consider swinging by Mountain Loop Books and Coffee to refuel. The owner Tony bike toured across Ireland and loves to chat with his customers. Or quench your thirst at the newly opened Whiskey Ridge microbrewery located in the old City Hall building.

Gateway to the Stilly: Centennial Trail from Arlington to Nakashima Barn

With 12 trailheads across its 30-mile span, the Centennial Trail can be broken into a nearly endless number of rides for beginners to experts alike. One of the most scenic is the short stretch from downtown Arlington to the northern terminus of the trail at the old Nakashima Farm site. And at just 15.5 miles roundtrip on a flat, car-free multi-use path, the ride is truly accessible for anyone, families with children included.

Whitehorse Trail spur off of the Centennial Trail. Photo by Debora Nelson

Immediately north of Arlington, the Centennial Trail intersects with the Whitehorse Trail, a 27-mile rail corridor owned by Snohomish County Parks. The western segment that abuts the Centennial Trail is best suited for hikers, horses, and really fat mountain bike tires (note: seven miles of the Whitehorse Trail’s eastern section is very bikeable in Darrington). In response to the SR 530 tragedy in Oso, Washington Bikes is working with partners including Snohomish County Parks and leaders in Arlington and Darrington to coordinate and acquire funding to develop the entire 27-mile corridor to spur bike travel and tourism and connect the Stillaguamish Valley to a growing trail network across the Puget Sound.

The Centennial Trail ends 7.8 miles from Arlington at the site of the historical Nakashima Farm. The Nakashima Family bought the dairy farm in 1937 having worked on it for nearly 30 years prior. It was the first and, to-date, only dairy farm in Snohomish County owned by Asian Americans.

From there it’s just a matter of turning around and heading back the way you came to Arlington. Where you can enjoy the fantastic downtown with shops and restaurants, as well as Legion Park, which has a great Farmer’s Market from 10am to 3pm on Saturday.

A Multi Day Adventure: USBR 10 or Mountain Loop Highway

Great mountain views, even when cloudy! Photo courtesy of Josh Cohen

Looking for an overnight ride this weekend? Start in Arlington and bike up the Stilly on SR 530 (remember to stay aware and not stop through the SR 530 landslide, especially as it will be one-way through September 20) and continue along through Darrington (stop by and enjoy the town!) SR 530 north to SR 20 (aka Washington’s first US Bicycle Route) and then loop back to Arlington. Bike Overnights provides a nice writeup of a recent adventure along this route.

Another option is to head south from Darrington along the Mountain Loop Highway and then around to Granite Falls. Spectacular scenery abounds. Rough Stuff Cycling Northwest took this loop the opposite way and provides great photos and some descriptions on their trip.

Join us Saturday, September 13 to Celebrate the Partnerships, Progress and Potential of the Whitehorse Trail!

Completing the 27-mile Whitehorse Trail will connect Arlington and Darrington through the stunning Stillaguamish Valley and will tie into the Snohomish County Centennial Trail system. Activity to complete the Whitehorse Trail has gained traction in response to the SR 530 slide near Oso. As the residents of the Stillaguamish Valley seek to recover from the tragedy, completing the Whitehorse Trail serves as one economic redevelopment strategy to attract bike travel and tourism to the area.

Join us at the Fortson Mill Trailhead at 10:30 am on Saturday, September 13 to celebrate the partnerships, progress, and potential of the Whitehorse Trail for helping to redevelop the Stillaguamish Valley’s economy. We’ll be joined by elected officials and staff, as well as leaders from Darrington and Arlington to recognize the great work already accomplished and the task ahead.

Bike and Hike this Weekend to Support the Stilly Valley

September’s a great time to get up to the Stillaguamish to support the communities hit hardest by the SR 530 landslide. At Washington Bikes, we’re proud to support Arlington, Darrington and the communities across the Stillaguamish Valley impacted by this natural disaster. Luckily with all of the great opportunities up and down the Stilly, it’s easy to enjoy the natural scenery and great attractions on your bike. Enjoy!

Sign Up to Receive Updates on Biking in Snohomish County

Posted in Adventure, Arlington, Darrington, Events, Family biking, Federal, Funding/Policy, Infrastructure, Issues & Advocacy, Legislature, Oso, People, Politics, Rides, Snohomish County, Tourism, Trails, Transportation, WSDOT | 3 Comments

Auction Donations Needed!

By Louise McGrody | Published September 7, 2014

Annual Auction & Gala Supports Our Work to Grow Bicycling Statewide

It’s been a big year for bicycling in Washington state and we have some key things to celebrate at our 22nd annual auction and gala on November 8: retaining our status for the 7th year in a row as the most bicycle friendly state in the nation; official designation of US Bicycle Route 10, Washington’s first route in the national bike network; and the release of Cycling Sojourner Washington, the first multi-day bicycle tour guide book for the Evergreen State in over a decade.

Would you like a weekend getaway in Port Angeles? We have a vacation home available in this year’s auction!

Whatever your reason and wherever you ride, you can help support Washington Bikes’ vital work on policy and legislation, creating safe routes to work, school and beyond, promoting bike travel and tourism, and making biking accessible to everyone with a donation to our annual auction.

This year’s theme is Create Adventure–highlighting our bike travel and tourism efforts. Donations that play on this theme–like weekend getaways, biking or outdoor adventures, and unique experiences of all kinds–are needed. Other helpful items include themed gift baskets, handcrafted items, restaurant gift certificates, massage/spa packages, tickets to cultural and sporting events, and more.

Use our online donation form to submit your donation today. Not sure what to donate? Cash is always helpful! Contact Louise McGrody if you have any questions.

Thank you. Your donation helps grow bicycling all across Washington.

And please plan to join us on November 8 at the auction! Come ready to meet friends, have fun, and bid. Visit our Auction Page for more information.

Posted in Auction | Comments Off

Tell the Washington Legislature: Focus on Safety and Complete Connections

By Barb Chamberlain | Published September 5, 2014

Going into the 2015 legislative session — an important budget-writing year that sets the two-year transportation budget — we hope to build on our success in 2013 in getting an all-time record investment of over $40 million in biking/walking projects. We’ll be working for a forward-looking approach to transportation funding that recognizes how people want to move.

As the recent poll on kids and safe biking and walking showed, Washingtonians overwhelmingly want the legislature and their local leaders to invest in safer connections. Add your voice with our petition that asks the legislature for two fundamental things: making safety a top priority and funding complete bike connections.
[Tweet “Join me in asking #WAleg to focus on safe, complete bike connections for all.”]

Washington State Capitol – courtesy of Cacophony

Petition for Better Bicycling

Getting more people on bikes is good for our personal health, local businesses, our towns, our economy, and the air we breathe.

That’s why we call on the governor and the state legislature to make safer bicycling a top priority and to invest in more bike lanes and trails and improved road designs to create a complete network of bicycle connections.

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

Posted in Advocacy, Alert, Issues & Advocacy, Legislature, News | 3 Comments

#wabikes on Instagram

By Louise McGrody | Published September 4, 2014

Where have your bike wheels taken you to lately? If you are an Instagram user (follow us @wabikes), you can see that Washingtonians are riding their bikes for all kinds of reasons and to a variety of places.

@joeski_nw enjoyed the views along Commencement Bay in Tacoma.

@un_drew and friends had a multi-day gravel adventure on the Columbia Plateau Trail.

Bikes mean business. Many of us, including @stephen70 in Spokane, shopped by bike.

Biking is transportation. @milerdd proudly showed us the new bike lanes near her home in East Wenatchee which she now uses on her commute.

Of course, biking can also be great family time, as @familyride showed us.

Show us where you your bike takes you. Follow us @wabikes on Instagram and tag your cycling photos with #wabikes.

Posted in News | Tagged instagram | Comments Off

Create Adventure: Bikepacking the John Wayne Trail

By Guest Blogger | Published September 3, 2014

Sara Callan is the mother of three young ones and a jewelry designer. She loves bicycling and is sharing that passion with her kids. She and her family live in Spokane.

During the summer of 2013, my two best friends and I decided we were going to take four days off from our everyday lives and escape on bikes. We made plans, gathered gear, and started out for the east end of the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. There were headwinds, deep gravel, very little access to water, scorching heat, and very sore rear ends. There were definitely some difficulties and bad moments, but there was also triumph and empowerment. And so we decided to do it again this summer, this time being better prepared.

Ready to hit the trail at Lake Easton.

The John Wayne Pioneer Trail follows the path of the old Chicago-Milwaukee-St. Paul-Pacific Railroad through the 1,613 acre Iron Horse State Park. The east end of the trail by the Columbia River is arid, featuring sagebrush covered scrublands. Conversely, the west end of the trail is green, forested, and also has a much friendlier trail surface. So as we sat around a table, cocktails in hand, this was decided to be the location of our second annual four-day ride.

We packed up all of our gear for a multi-day, backcountry bikepacking trip, hopped in the car, and headed out for Lake Easton. We ditched the car there, loaded up our panniers and packs, and spent the next four days with some of the most beautiful scenery from Lake Easton to North Bend and back again.

Our first day was cool and overcast. We were full of energy and invigoration and so was the sky. We happily chatted along as we rode through mountain showers with rolling thunder above us. We passed many cyclists headed east as part of a three-day race. So many unzipped cycling jerseys and muscular arms… but I digress. We could see already why this end of the trail was used much more. The trail surface was mostly hard packed earth with some gravel over it- a much easier ride than the deep, large gravel of the trail bed on the East end. We stopped under tree cover to munch on energy bars, and later explored a graveyard of beautifully smoothed driftwood along the Yakima River.

Campsite at Cold Creek.

We ended our first day at Cold Creek, across the trail from Keechelus Lake. We settled into a small backcountry camping site, which included a vault toilet and smoothed out pads for tents. We unloaded our tent, sleeping pads, and dinner and made quick work of set-up and relaxing. There are a handful of these little backcountry camp sites along the trail, but no running water aside from creeks. Luckily, after water shortage trouble last year, we brought a Grayl purifier with us. It works easily, like a french press, and gave us unlimited access to water through the mountain creeks. It was a real life-saver!

After packing, breakfast and a cup of instant morning coffee, we dove into day two on the trail. Hyak is the next trailhead on the route, and we made a visit to the chairlifts at Snoqalmie summit, then took a few mile uphill detour to a lovely little business called Red Mountain Coffee. Their delicious pizza makes the extra uphill travel worth it! We continued on to Snoqualmie Tunnel, which is a big highlight of traveling this trail. The tunnel was built in 1912-1914 and is the nation’s longest tunnel open to nonmotorized traffic. It’s always a thrill to ride 2.3 miles through a mountain! After emerging on the other side, it was an easy 21 miles downhill to Rattlesnake Lake in North Bend. A quick dip on it’s rocky shores, a little food, and it was time to head back uphill to find a camp for the night. By this time in the trip we were sporting some sore backsides, although nothing like the previous year. The 10 miles back uphill were slow going and we were happy to reach Alice Creek as evening was setting in.

Dev, Jenny and Sara at the Snoqualmie Tunnel.

Day three started off with about another 10 miles uphill to be covered. Even though our legs were getting tired, we ended up making better time than we were expecting. Sometimes you are stronger than you think! We took a break to play around at the West entrance of Snoqualmie Tunnel before heading back through the mountain again. The scenery all around us was breathtaking. Rugged mountains, glistening waterfalls, and fields full of fireweed. On the other side of the tunnel, we stopped at the Hyak trailhead to recharge phones, as this is the one place with running water and electricity in the area we covered. We wrapped up the day of riding and ended back at Cold Creek, which turned out to be our favorite gem of the trail. We sprawled our gear out, bathed in the creek, and dubbed our plot ‘Camp Condo’. It was a little slice of heaven.

We were all a bit sad to leave Cold Creek on our final day. Taking a shower and eating real food sounded great, but our trip had been an escape. An adventure of fantasy and discovery of self and strength. We weren’t quite ready for that to end just yet. We set out for the last 16 miles of our route. It was a beautiful day as we crossed trestles and looked out over spectacular valley vistas. It was a quiet ride as we all pedaled along, immersed in our own thoughts. We reached our car, did a little celebration dance, and packed everything away in the trunk. We made a stop in Cle Elum and stuffed our faces with food, then headed back to responsibilities, families, and society.

Even though it was only four days away from civilized, day-to-day life, it was a little hard to readjust. For a moment in time, we had nothing to worry about but our bikes, camp gear, and water. It was glorious. We have since decided to make this a twice yearly tradition, with as many day rides in between as we can. Everyone needs an adventure in life. Everyone needs an escape to the REAL world around us. We are lucky here in Washington State to be surrounded with access to so much beauty. Break out your bike and go explore it!

Ride, relax, repeat.

Check out the following links to some gear we couldn’t do without:

Water filtration- http://www.thegrayl.com/
Montague Folding bike- http://www.montaguebikes.com/
Water boiling for food- http://www.jetboil.com/
Trail map- http://www.parks.wa.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/885

In our Washington state bike tour book: Escape from Seattle: Riding the John Wayne Trail: Bring your gravel bike for this one. Towns: Seattle, Issaquah, Fall City, North Bend, Easton, Cle Elum, Ellensburg.

Posted in Adventure, Guest Blogger, Trails, Travel | Tagged bikepacking, camping, John Wayne Trail, travel | 1 Comment

We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident: There Is No “Right” to Speedy Travel

By Barb Chamberlain | Published September 2, 2014

One of the underlying and unspoken assumptions in discussions about streets is the idea that if it weren’t for people on bikes, traffic would flow merrily along with no bumps or wrinkles. That’s certainly the tone of many a comment on any story about bicycles.

With back-to-school season upon us, it’s time to examine this. I suggest a different and far more reality-based way of thinking about how street traffic moves.

Funny — they never show THIS shot in ads for cars.

NOTE: This post really belongs on a site like Car and Driver Magazine or Motor Trends to reach the right audience, but if you’ll share it on your Facebook page you’ll at least get it to your non-driving friends.

My main point, in case you’d miss it if I buried it further down the post: There is nothing guaranteeing any street user anything like “unimpeded speedy passage with no need to slow down, ever.” There just isn’t. Get over it.

[Tweet “Your right to speedy traffic? Doesn’t exist. Get over it.”]

For the record, this attitude adjustment applies equally to someone on a bike who grumps about vehicles in your way, although our more flexible mode of transportation often helps us avoid the worst of it.

In response to comments like this —

— let me point out that typical street traffic includes all of the following, every single day (well, except maybe for item #1, which probably doesn’t happen every day):

Drivers who drive the actual speed limit rather than letting their speed creep up by 2-3 miles per hour. Or 4-5. Or….
Buses stopping to let riders get on/off
Drivers making left turns across oncoming traffic
Passing through a school or park zone, or an area that has adopted the Neighborhood Safe Streets 20mph limit we made possible by getting a new law passed
Big semis or buses that have to swing wide to make a turn
Drivers concerned about their declining abilities to see and hear clutching the steering wheel and peering over it while they travel down the street at slightly under the speed limit
Pedestrians crossing at any intersection (in Washington every intersection is a legal crossing even if there’s no painted crosswalk, unless signage forbids crossing there)
Having to veer around some kind of hazard in the street: part of a blown-out tire, an item that fell off the back of an unsecured load, a pothole
Emergency vehicles for which everyone has to pull over
A driver hitting the brakes because someone’s pet — or child — is in the street
People slowing to look for an address or read the sign name on a cross street
A train passing through and making everyone on both sides of the tracks wait
People causing collisions — everyone waits while the wreckage is cleared and the ambulance takes away the bodies

This is just a sampling and you probably have your own favorite story about something that hung you up when you were in a hurry.

[Tweet “What causes MOST traffic slow-downs you encounter? Not bikes.”]

People in traffic have many causes for slowing, stopping, and sometimes even choosing an alternate route. Someone riding a bike is only one of many such things you’ll encounter in your driving day.

You never had any reason to expect that you could just barrel straight to your destination without anything slowing you down.

Your complaints about conditions to the contrary are grounded in that alternate mythic world created by the makers of TV commercials who put a lone car on an empty, closed course amid striking scenery. (And if that’s the world you drive in, it’s pretty easy to pass the person on the bicycle with more than three feet to spare.)

If you drive as if nothing can slow you down, it’s only a matter of time before you personally administer the death penalty or serious injury to a vulnerable user of the streets we all own and share.

[Tweet “Do you really want to hand down the death penalty just for biking or walking? No? Drive w/care.”]

Real Time, Not Imagined Time

Realistically, for how many minutes or seconds does someone riding a bike hold a driver back for more time than it takes to traverse a city block?

I’m serious when I say “seconds;” as anyone watching a really bad commercial can tell you, seconds can drag on for what seem like hours. (See a travel time comparison in the footnotes on this post about attitudes.)

Arterials have multiple lanes allowing a driver to get past a bicycle. The true elapsed time you’re “stuck” just isn’t that long if you time it. The 3-5 seconds you’re behind the bike before you can safely pass feel far longer than they really are.

If you’re in incredibly heavy traffic and can’t change lanes, in an urban setting you’re not going fast anyway and the person on the bike is probably keeping up with traffic just fine. I know I do and I’m not any kind of athlete. Sure, I’m going slower heading up Seattle hills than on the flat streets of downtown Spokane, but even so when motor vehicle traffic is heavy I may well pass cars if I have a bike lane since I take up less space than a car.

Your Challenge, Should You Choose to Accept It

If you’re going to complain about someone on a bike, what if you kept track of everything that creates a change of speed in your driving? You might be surprised.

Then when you get where you’re going and you can’t find a parking spot, imagine that a couple of the cars ahead of you weren’t there because those people chose to ride a bike instead. As a little reminder, take a look at the video in If Bikes Were Cars and Cyclists Were Drivers.

You might also get a very different sense of the passage of time if you rode a bike, but I already wrote that post.

Your Turn

(A Miss Bikey Manners request: Refrain from “all people who drive do X” or “all people who bike do Y” in your response. That’s lazy and fails the test of basic logic.)

Do you think drivers notice people on bikes more than other traffic elements because bikes are in the minority, because they themselves haven’t ridden and thus biking is an oddity, or for some other reason?
Answer quickly: When you think of a traffic slowdown what’s the first image that comes to mind?
How can this point best be made when people complain about bikes? It’s so obvious, and yet so often overlooked.

Posted in Attitudes, News, Transportation | 7 Comments