Sarah Gelineau Steps Down From Board

By Louise McGrody | Published June 5, 2014

 

Sarah checks out Beaver Lake.

Sarah checks out Beaver Lake.

Sarah Gelineau of Tonasket has stepped down from the Washington Bikes board of directors after ten years of service. In addition to her board service, Sarah also co-chaired the annual auction for two years. We will miss her leadership.

Sarah’s involvement with Washington Bikes began when she was living in Kitsap County and attended a Transportation Advocacy Day in Olympia. She recalls that it inspired her to take action and become an advocate.

“Bringing significant issues to my legislators at Transportation Advocacy Day helped me realize what a vital and respected organization Washington Bikes is and the kind of impacts it makes on the larger community,” stated Sarah.

A member of West Sound Cycling Club when she first joined the WA Bikes board, Sarah felt she had the opportunity to represent the club and West Puget Sound in a larger arena and to convey important cycling issues and information back to her community.

These days, Sarah’s time is devoted to the care of her elderly mother and to serving on the board of the Community Cultural Center in Tonasket. She is the treasurer for the organization and is involved with fundraising efforts to renovate the building. She is also exploring her creative side through stained glass and fused glass projects. She organized an Art in the Park event for Tonasket and is now helping to set up an art gallery for local artists at the Visitor Center.

Sarah assures us that she is still passionate about bicycling and plans to remain active with Washington Bikes in other ways. She and husband Paul continue to explore the Okanogan Highlands and eastern Washington by bike. Be sure to look for Sarah if you decide to pedal the recently approved US Bicycle Route 10—you’ll be in her territory!

Posted in Advocacy, News, People, Volunteer | 1 Comment

Washington State’s First US Bicycle Route Designated

By Louise McGrody | Published June 4, 2014

USBR 10 crosses Washington, links towns for bike travel

North Cascades Hwy

Cyclist climbs to Rainy Pass on USBR 10.

Bicycling in the nation’s #1 Bicycle Friendly State just got a boost: official designation of Washington’s first interstate bike route in the nationwide US Bicycle Route System. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has approved official recognition for USBR 10. It will be designated in future updates of the highway design manual followed by transportation planners and engineer at all levels of government, providing the basis for maintaining and improving the route over time.

The 407-mile route follows the northern, cross-state-highway corridor, State Route 20, from Newport, Washington, at the Idaho border to Anacortes, Washington’s international ferry terminal. 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.

Bike Travel a Booming Business

“This bike route designation is an example of what can be accomplished by working with partners like Washington Bikes and local communities,” said WSDOT Secretary Lynn Peterson. “It’s estimated by the Outdoor Industry Association that Washington could see as much as $650 million annually from bike travel statewide. These are benefits that will be shared throughout the route.”

When fully developed, the United States Bicycle Route System will contain more than 50,000 miles of interstate bicycle routes crisscrossing the country and providing route guidance to touring cyclists, commuters and recreational riders.

The USBRS effort in Washington state is being coordinated by Washington Bikes, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Transportation.  The project depends on volunteers from Washington Bikes to collect and harmonize input from bicycle clubs, tour groups, cities, tribes, counties and regional transportation organizations.

Washington Bikes executive director Barb Chamberlain said, “Washington Bikes works to promote bike travel across the state, and the USBR mapping effort is helping us develop detailed information on a fantastic set of major connections. Identifying the best route provides value not just for those who go on bike tours of Washington state, but also for those seeking everyday bicycle connections town to town.”

Chamberlain also serves as co-chair of Gov. Inslee’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Parks and Outdoor Recreation, which includes promotion of Washington’s outdoor economy as one of its focus areas.

Echoing Sec. Peterson’s emphasis on the economic value of bicycle travel, Chamberlain noted, “Bike travel is particularly good for small towns, since bike travelers are fueled by calories and stop many times along the way. We just helped publish a guide to multi-day bike tours in the state, Cycling Sojourner Washington; some of those tours make use of parts of USBR 10 and all of them identify great places to stop, stay, and spend. Bike-friendly towns that welcome visitors are good for the people who live and ride there every day, too.”

Farmers Markets, like the one in Twisp, are popular stops for bicycle travelers.

Farmers Markets, like the one in Twisp, are popular stops for bicycle travelers.

Along the route, local businesses and communities have recognized the opportunity, adding cyclist campsites and other services. North Cascades National Park has added two bike-in, no reservation campsites at Newhalem and Colonial Creek Campgrounds, and refurbished Bingham Park in Sedro Woolley will include bike-in campsites. Tonasket has long supported touring bicyclists with free wi-fi and showers at their information center, and Okanogan is rebuilding its riverfront Lyons Park to accommodate cycle-in touring.

Transportation planners are integrating the new USBR 10 route into local planning to align and enhance bicycle touring in their individual jurisdictions. Washington Bikes will connect with local destination marketing organizations, businesses, and communities along the route to help them include USBR 10 in their promotional materials and reach out to welcome biking customers and visitors.

Mapping the Route

Washington Bikes board member and route coordinator John Pope noted that Washington started with what may be the most mountainous and scenic interstate bicycle route in the state through what some call the “North American Alps.”

The scenic alpine climb over Rainy and Washington Passes in North Cascade National Park will inspire and challenge cycling tourists. USBR 10 summits Loup Loup Pass near Twisp, scales the Okanogan Highlands at Wauconda, and crests the Kettle Range at the 5,575-foot Sherman Pass—the highest paved mountain pass in the state, and crosses the Selkirks at Little Pend Oreille Lakes.  It follows the Skagit, Methow and Okanogan Rivers, crosses the Columbia River at Kettle Falls, and follows the beautiful Pend Oreille River from Ione to Newport.

Route suggestions from area bicycle clubs and the Adventure Cycling Association, along with input from city and county engineers, introduced many quiet and beautiful byways to this route. Staying within the SR 20 corridor but selecting quiet back roads when the highway becomes narrow or overly trafficked, the route offers miles of quiet pastoral cycling mixed with incredible views and scenic roads.

WSDOT Special Programs manager Paula Reeves coordinated the state effort. Washington Bikes’ former executive director Barb Culp, who still volunteers with the organization, worked to obtain route approvals from Okanogan cities. Pope did the route verification, drafted the nomination, and harmonized route options with road managers/engineers, bike clubs, and regional transportation organizations.

Future Routes 

Plans are under way to start the mapping and nomination process for other significant route corridors in the state. Bicyclists interested in helping with the process may contact Louise McGrody, Washington Bikes, louise@WAbikes.org, 206-224-9252 ext 303.

The nomination by Washington has helped the Idaho Transportation Department further their efforts on USBR 10 across the panhandle and opened valuable links with route organizers in British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and Oregon.  Washington Bikes and WSDOT will continue to support this route with travel tips and information and work toward future signage.

Facts About USBR 10 

  • Total length of the primary route: 407 miles
  • Length including all alternate and side routes: 579 miles
  • Elevation climbed and coasted: Over 25,000 feet
  • Washington counties along the route: Skagit, Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille
  • Cities and towns along the route, west to east: Sidney, BC, Anacortes, Burlington, Mount Vernon (by spur), Sedro Woolley, Lyman, Hamilton, Concrete, Rockport, Marblemount, Newhalem, Mazama, Winthrop, Twisp, Okanogan, Omak, Riverside, Tonasket, Wauconda, Republic, Kettle Falls, Colville, Park Rapids, Tiger, Ione (by spur), Usk, Newport and by juxtaposition, Oldtown, ID
  • Mountain passes: Rainy Pass, Washington Pass, Loup Loup Pass, Wauconda Summit, Sherman Pass (5,575 feet—highest paved mountain pass in the state), Little Pend Oreille Summit
  • Rivers along the route: Skagit, Methow, Okanogan, Columbia, Pend Oreille
  • Scenic Byways: North Cascades Scenic Byway; Cascade Loop; Sherman Pass Scenic Byway; International Selkirk Loop

Resources

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Posted in Adventure, Economic Impact, News, Tourism, Transportation, Travel, USBRS, WSDOT | 7 Comments

Great Guide to Bike Touring in Washington State: The Reviews Keep Coming!

By Barb Chamberlain | Published June 3, 2014

We rounded up the first wave of rave reviews for Cycling Sojourner: A Guide to the Best Multi-Day Tours in Washington. The kudos keep coming and we’re sharing some more.

Two women doing yoga along a guide rail on their bike tour -- not something you see every day.

Yoga makes a good chance of pace from bicycling, although not all of us would venture tree pose where Ellee is doing it.

“Ellee Thalheimer has created Cycling Sojourner, the perfect guide book for me, and for anyone who wants to explore Washington from a whole new vantage point…. It’s a given among the cycling community at-large that Washington has some of the best cycling culture and infrastructure in the country. So if you’ve considered parking the car, locking up the house, and taking on a new adventure, a bicycle tour in Washington is a world-class way to do it. I recommend Cycling Sojourner for the valuable guidance it offers any cyclist planning a tour in Washington.” — Cycling Nirvana

“For the aspiring bicycle adventurer whose career or family responsibilities render an epic tour across the country or around the world at least temporarily unfeasible, Cycling Sojourner Washington provides an attractive and achievable palette of mini bike tours that fit into an extended weekend.  This guide hand picks some jewels of the Pacific Northwest:  the Olympic Peninsula, the San Juan Islands, the North Cascade Highway, the wine country and rolling wheat fields of Eastern Washington, and takes care of the advance planning so all you have to do is pack & pedal.” — Twin Rivers Cyclists

“Cyclists of all levels and means will find vacation adventure in “Cycling Sojourner: A Guide to the Best Multi-Day Tours in Washington. Author Ellee Thalheimer’s small but information-packed, 240-page book does the grunt work of planning short tours around the state. It offers maps, historical information, lodging, restaurant tips, extra curricular activities and packing lists; along with specific information about terrain and weather for each tour.” — Inland.com

“Making bicycle touring accessible to anyone, she begins with “Which Tour is Right for You?” to get you started. She also highlights all of the unique, fun little “must-do’s” as if she’s telling you a secret. This is a must-have guide if you are interested in cycling in Washington, including the San Juans.” — San Juan Island Update

Cover of Cycling Sojourner: A Guide to the Best Multiday Bike Tours in Washington. Bike touring travel guide to Washington released May 1, 2014. Available online at WAbikes.org. Royalties benefit bike advocacy nonprofit.

Also listed on Book Dilettante with a brief description, no review. Comments from readers of that blog: “Wish I were a cyclist. Seems there are so many scenic tours one can take!” (Harvee) and “I love my bike and this would be a great book to have if I ever visit Washington!!! Might have to check this series out!!” (Vicki)

Royalties from the book support our work in bike advocacy to make bicycling even better.

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How to Get Your Copy

    • Order from us online
    • Ask your local bookstore to carry it; they can get the book through IPG Distributors
    • Check the nearest REI; they plan to carry it
    • Available via Amazon
Posted in Adventure, News, Travel | Tagged , | Comments Off on Great Guide to Bike Touring in Washington State: The Reviews Keep Coming!

Personal Privilege and Biking: It Takes More than a Bike Lane to Start Riding

By Barb Chamberlain | Published June 2, 2014

The way I used to tell the story of  how I started bike commuting, it was an infrastructure story: I started riding because the city put a bike lane in front of my house. Short, sweet, simple — and grossly oversimplified.

Riding my bike at the official opening of Martin Luther King, Jr. Way in Spokane. The city's official plans for the opening didn't involve bikes but when I started rolling and headed past the police officers who were there, no one challenged me. That's privilege.

Riding my bike at the official opening of Martin Luther King, Jr. Way in Spokane. The city’s official plans for the opening didn’t involve bikes but when I started rolling and headed past the police officers who were there, no one challenged me. That’s privilege. If you could jump into an official event with the mayor and have no one question you, you have it too.

Infrastructure Does Matter

Granted, infrastructure and other visual cues are incredibly important tools to build bicycling — perhaps more so for women than for men because of the greater attentiveness to possible risk that shows up in studies of women across many realms.

The bike lane certainly worked to suggest the idea. I bought my house on a bus line to provide transit access, I had walked the 3.5 miles to work a few times, and I occasionally rode my bike for fun on weekends. The bike lane cued me to put all that together and try biking to work. Infrastructure does matter to help people start biking on city streets.

But when I started unpacking the invisible bag that I carry with me through life I found many other factors beyond infrastructure that made it possible for me to get on two wheels and stay there.

[Tweet “More than bike lanes: Privilege plays a role in bicycling we don’t often acknowledge. #bikes4all”]

Privilege Matters

If this seems like a really long list, that’s the point. If you hold privilege in this world you take a lot of things for granted that others don’t have. They can’t get the same things without thinking about it and working to overcome barriers you’ll never notice because they don’t exist for you. (You don’t need to feel guilty — it’s not that you deliberately set up this system — but you do need to do something about it.)

A list of the advantages I have thanks to privilege (primarily arising from my race and socioeconomic status) that made it possible for me to start bike commuting:

  • I already owned a working bike. Simple, right? But the #1 reason people don’t ride a bike is that they don’t own one.
    • In some cities a community bike shop like Pedals2People in Spokane or The Recyclery in Port Townsend makes it possible for people to learn how to build and maintain their own bikes but that wouldn’t have interested me at the time I started riding.
  • I knew how to ride a bike because my parents taught me when I was a little kid — when I also had bikes that they provided for me, moving me up to bigger bikes as I grew so I went from tricycle to banana bike to 10-speed.
    • We learn a lot of our outdoor activities from our families, whether it’s riding a bike, cleaning a fish, going camping, or finding the North Star. If your parents don’t ride a bike, odds are good they didn’t make sure you learned how.
  • Physically, I was completely capable of riding a bike, with no disabilities that would prevent me from riding or make it difficult (and more expensive) to find a special bike.
  • I’m of average size so if I wanted to purchase any bike-specific clothing it would be easy to find it at a local bike shop, and I’m not so large that I would require a special bike built to hold my weight or fit my height.
  • I am of the predominant skin color in my community. Should anything happen along my route, I could count on law enforcement to be reasonably accepting of my explanation of what happened. I’m the same skin color as most (probably almost all) of the officers I might encounter.
  • I speak the dominant language of American culture so all the signs are in my native language, all the materials in the traffic skills course I took later were in my language with no translation required, and I could rely on my language being spoken by almost 100% of the people I would encounter along the way if I needed to ask for help or directions.
  • I lived close enough to work that a ride was pretty simple, because I hadn’t purchased a house in the “drive until you qualify” outskirts and suburbs.
  • I had chosen that house specifically for its location on a transit line so I had a fallback transportation option available.
  • I felt confident enough about my personal safety along the route between home and work that I wasn’t afraid to set off that first day. This goes back to my financial ability to purchase a nice home in a good neighborhood.
  • I had the ultimate fallback: A partner with a motor vehicle who would come pick me up if anything went really wrong, and a cell phone to place that call immediately.
  • I’m married to a man. Even with the passage of marriage equality in Washington, referring to “my husband” as a woman means I fit into the mainstream assumptions about gender roles. If I’m talking to a police officer after an incident and say I need to call my husband, I don’t need to worry about what the officer might be thinking and how that will affect my treatment. (No offense intended toward hard-working police officers — just addressing the possibility of inherent biases.)
  • I worked in an executive-level position with enough flexibility that if I ended up 15 minutes late to work because I had to fix a flat, I wouldn’t get fired. Everyone would accept my apologies and take my explanation at face value, not question it as something indicative of a fundamental character flaw.
    • In fact, my employer at the time I started riding (WSU Spokane) took part in Commute Trip Reduction, had a guaranteed ride home program, and gave me a reduction in the cost of my parking pass for every day that I rode my bike, took the bus, or walked to work (a funny incentive system when you think about it, but still).
  • If anything went wrong with the bike, thanks to that job I had the resources to pay for gear and repairs, a good thing too since at that time I lacked the ability to so much as fix a flat tire. I could afford bike gear such as a headlight (required by law) and a better bike when I was ready for it. This became particularly important when I had two different bikes stolen; I could replace them.
  • I already had a regular exercise habit (yoga). Getting on a bike did not mean stepping very far outside my normal range of exertion, as I was already reasonably fit.
    • You may not think of an exercise habit as a form of privilege, but consider that I had both leisure time and money that enabled me to take classes in the activity of my choice and my kids were old enough that I didn’t need to ensure they were directly supervised. I wasn’t working two or three jobs to feed my kids. (When I was a divorced mom with a baby and a toddler working as a freelance editor and eating a lot of ramen, I wasn’t going to yoga studios.)
  • I had personal motivations for riding like environmental concerns and personal health that are highly correlated with educational attainment, and I had two bachelor’s degrees, a master’s degree, and some doctoral-level coursework then under way.

The Sixth E: Equity

When Washington ranks as the #1 Bicycle Friendly State in the US (a spot we’ve held 7 years in a row), it’s based on the League of American Bicyclists system of looking at 5 Es: Education, Encouragement, Engineering, Enforcement, and Evaluation.

In our office and in the offices of many bicycle advocates across the country you’ll hear discussion of another E: Equity. The League has an Equity Initiative led by Dr. Adonia Lugo, whose research into Seattle bike justice was supported by Bike Works and WA Bikes.

In your city, in our state, and in our nation, we need to examine our transportation systems through an equity lens to see the effects of disparate access to many kinds of resources. Owning and driving a car has long been a symbol of personal financial success — how about looking at access to everything it takes to ride a bike?

[Tweet “We need to examine our transportation systems through an equity lens. #bicycling #bikes4all”]

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Your Turn

  • Have you ever thought about the barriers — and lack of barriers — that made a difference in your decision to ride?
  • Can you do anything to decrease the barriers for someone else to make it possible for her or him to consider riding?
  • What am I missing on my list of the ways that privilege enabled me to start bicycling? I continue to learn about it and I’m sure I don’t see every form of it that benefits me.

[Tweet “After reading this I’m pledging to work on bike equity. RT if you believe in #bikes4all”]

In September 2012, about a month or so after I became the executive director at Washington Bikes, I delivered the keynote address at a conference in Tacoma on Equity and Health in Transportation, put on by the Seattle-King County Public Health District. I wrote a post on my personal bike blog, Bike Style Life, to capture some of the story I told in that speech. This is an updated version of that post.

Posted in Advocacy, Attitudes, Equity, News, Women | 25 Comments

Cookies & Muffins & Cupcakes, Oh My! A Bike Trip to Lake Forest Park

By Barb Chamberlain | Published May 31, 2014

On a sunny weekend day, my sweetie and I rode to Honey Bear Bakery inside Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, a great unexpected destination if you’re looking for a pleasant day trip bike ride in Seattle and a useful stop if you’re on a longer bike tour and need a few things.

As newcomers to Seattle we didn’t realize how iconic the original Honey Bear in Greenlake was. When I posted our destination on Facebook a friend who used to live in Seattle asked, “Was it as busy as it always is?” Nice to stumble across something everyone else already knows is awesome!

The Food

A few bakery case pictures should have you getting on your bike immediately.

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Cakes, pie, cookies, croissants, cupcakes with thick swirled frosting…. They have long been known for the amazingness of their cinnamon rolls, although I can’t (yet) personally attest to those. The menu of sandwiches, soups, and weekend breakfast scrambles sounds delicious. We’ll definitely head back there for a weekend breakfast bike date one of these days.

A sampling of the bike supplies available at the Ace Hardware in Lake Forest Park Town Centre mall. Good stop if you're bike touring--grab some tubes or patches, then head into Honey Bear Bakery for fuel.

A sampling of the bike supplies available at the Ace Hardware in Lake Forest Park Town Centre mall. Good stop if you’re bike touring–grab some tubes or patches, then head into Honey Bear Bakery for fuel.

Restaurants, Groceries, & Bike Supplies

Additional points for Lake Forest Park as a destination if you happen to be on a bike tour of the Seattle area and find yourself on the north end of the Burke Gilman Trail:

  • The Ace Hardware next to Third Place, which stocks tubes and a few other bike things
  • An Albertson’s if you need to stock up on basic groceries
  • Lake Forest Bar & Grill if you want a pub atmosphere
  • Not in Lake Forest Park Town Center, but a source of far more bike supplies and expertise: Bothell Ski and Bike, 2.8 miles farther north on Bothell Way (go back to the trail for a more pleasant riding experience; Bothell Way is wide, fast, and busy).

Parks

You have your choice of parks nearby if you want to take your food somewhere to eat outdoors:

  • The tiny half-acre Blue Heron Park just off that same intersection where you cross Bothell Way, with McAleer Creek running through it,
  • Lyon Creek Waterfront Park on Lake Washington just north of the intersection (go back to the Burke-Gilman Trail and look to your right/east)
  • Ride one mile north on the trail to Log Boom Park in Kenmore, where your inner child can find expression on the playground and you can swing your legs from the dock and gaze at Lake Washington.

Bike Touring — To a Mall?

Barb_Bike-Rack_Lake-Forest-Park_Honey-Bear-Bakery_forwebIf you were bike touring through the north end of Seattle anywhere near the Burke-Gilman Trail you’d want to know about this spot. Malls aren’t usually on anyone’s list for a bike travel destination but this one has locally owned businesses with atmosphere, bike supplies and groceries, and is worth the stop.

Getting to Honey Bear Bakery

Your destination: From the Burke-Gilman Trail northbound, cross Bothell Way NE (which is also Hwy. 522) at the 170th NE Place traffic light where you see the Lake Forest Park Town Center mall. Third Place Books/Honey Bear is toward the back of the overall mall.

Option 1 — Direct route coming from the south: This map starts from the Washington Bikes Seattle office in Pioneer Square, which is just four blocks from King Street Station and the light rail stop in the International District.

We’re open Monday-Friday and always happy to have biking visitors stop in to pick up the Seattle bike map and other bike maps from around the state. (We also have a bike gift shop if you’re in the mood to shop before heading to the bakery.)

This route uses Fourth to Pike. You’ll have a left-side bike lane much of the way, then need to move to the right lane to turn right onto Pike. This can be busy during standard business hours; you have a slight downhill helping you keep up with the cars as you change lanes.

Alternatively, you can stay on First Ave. from our office to Pike and turn right. Move to the left lane before Seventh for your turn. (Urban traffic note: If you ride in the far left lane on Pike you’ll keep getting hung up behind left-turning cars waiting for pedestrians to cross. Take the second left lane and you’ll cruise. This takes you through the Convention Center traffic so you’ll see lots of taxis, buses, and pedestrians.)

Heading north this route makes use of the Melrose Trail above I-5 and the trail shortcut under I-5 to get you to the University Bridge. This is a quieter option with lower traffic volume than taking Fairview/Eastlake to the bridge. It’s more direct than the first suggested route on Google Maps, which makes more use of trails but routes you out of your way.

After crossing the bridge you’ll head right and pick up the Burke Gilman Trail.


 

If you’d rather take trails for almost the entire route, you’ll double the miles and have a very pleasant ride along the waterfront, past the Seattle Great Wheel and other attractions, and through the Olympic Sculpture Park. You’ll get hit with a bracing wind off the sound as the trail curves right away from the water that becomes a tail wind as you head east.

From Woodinville

If you’re taking advantage of the great trail connections in the region and coming from the East Lake Sammamish Trail, it’s easy. You could also come south from Snohomish County on the Interurban Trail.

 

No matter where you’re starting from, you’ll want to end up at Honey Bear. Be sure to comment here on the goodies you ate. Cinnamon roll, anyone?

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Your Turn

  • If you’re a long-time Honey Bear fan (or just discovered them), what’s your favorite baked good?
  • Malls aren’t usually written up in glossy travel magazines. Any others you’d recommend that have the kinds of places bike touring folks might want to check out?
  • Essential question! What bakery should we make a future destination on a weekend?

 

Posted in Food, Gear/Maintenance, Lake Forest Park, Travel | 3 Comments

Tacoma Treat: Car-Free Five Mile Drive

By Louise McGrody | Published May 30, 2014

Tacoma File Mile Drive Dalco Passage

Tacoma Open Street Event Occurs Every Weekend All Year Long

Seattle has its seasonal Bicycle Sundays, but do you know that Tacomans can enjoy a similar car-free experience on Five Mile Drive in the city’s Point Defiance Park? But wait—it gets better. Five Mile Drive is closed to motor vehicles until 1pm on Saturday AND Sunday. Hold on—there’s more. This open street event happens YEAR ROUND.

I have wanted to experience this car-free route for some time and I spontaneously went for it on a recent Saturday morning. My journey to Tacoma was car-free as well, but I wasn’t interested in biking the distance to Tacoma. I left my residence in West Seattle in time to catch the 8:35 Fauntleroy ferry to Vashon Island.

vashon marketVashon is a rural oasis in Pugetopolis. As I pedaled up the big hill to the village, my senses were teased by nature: the smell of salty air, the melody of thrushes and the croaking of frogs, and the rainbow of spring colors in the trees and flowers.

The village of Vashon was bustling when I arrived. A couple of yard sales were underway and farmers were busy setting up their stands for the Saturday market. Islanders were arriving at The Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie for their morning fix of caffeine.

I pedaled onward to the little shoreline community of Burton, then up and over another hill to the Tahlequah ferry terminal. I arrived just in time to roll on this ferry for its 15 minute sailing to Point Defiance in Tacoma.

???????????????????????????????Point Defiance Park is Tacoma’s crown jewel of public spaces. Granted to the city in 1888 by President Grover Cleveland, the park is an interesting mix of natural areas, historic buildings and developed recreation sites. Point Defiance is home to the zoo and aquarium, old growth trees, public gardens, and more.

The views begin as soon as you roll off the ferry. I immediately took a detour to pedal the shoreline promenade to Owen Beach and back, then meandered my way through the park until I found Five Mile Drive. Metro Parks Tacoma has a downloadable map of Point Defiance Park that is helpful in guiding you directly to Five Mile Drive and lists the viewpoints and points of interest you will encounter on the route.

???????????????????????????????I wasn’t alone on Five Mile Drive. I saw plenty of bicycle riders, joggers and families savoring the car-free atmosphere of this route. No one seemed to be in a hurry on this lovely Saturday morning. I often met the same folks at various viewpoints taking in vistas of Vashon Island, Dalco Passage and the Narrows. I pedaled through old growth trees, along high bluffs overlooking the water, and past the preserved structures from Fort Nisqually.

As I neared the Pearl Street park entrance, I stopped an approaching cyclist and asked him where the new Ruston Trail connection was. He said he couldn’t explain it to me, but he could show me. We biked through a parking lot to the start of an unmarked trail. My guide assured me that this path would lead me down to the waterfront and connect to the older segment of trail that follows Ruston Way. He was right!

???????????????????????????????I followed the new trail segment to its junction with Ruston Way, then returned back to Point Defiance and the ferry for my return home. I had other things to do that day, but I intend to make this trip again and allow for more time to explore Tacoma!

Metro Parks Tacoma has a pilot program underway through October 31, 2014 that closes the outer loop of Five Mile Drive to motor vehicle traffic until 10 am Monday thru Friday. You can share your input about the pilot program through their online survey.

Posted in Family biking, Ferries, Tacoma, Trails | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Tacoma Treat: Car-Free Five Mile Drive

Snohomish County Bikes: The Centennial Trail

By Josh Cohen | Published May 30, 2014

Debora Nelson

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

Location: Snohomish County [Trail Map]
Distance: 1-60 miles (choose your own adventure!)
Best for: beginners, families
Highlights: Car free, scenery, restaurants, shopping

The Centennial Trail is a gem of a multi-use path in Snohomish County. The paved trail runs from the City of Snohomish to Nakashima Farm, 8 miles north of the City of Arlington. At 30 miles, the Centennial is longer than the Burke Gilman and the Sammamish River Trails combined, making it one of the longest continuous paved trails in Washington!

Centennial Trail Crosses the Stillaguamish River at the convergence of its North and South Forks. Photo courtesy of Debora Nelson

Crossing the Stillaguamish River at the convergence of its North and South Forks. Photo courtesy of Debora Nelson

The Centennial Trail winds its way past old-fashioned farms with horses and cows out to pasture, through green forests, along the Pilchuck River and Little Pilchuck Creek at times, and across Stillaguamish River at the convergence of its North and South Forks. On a clear day, the trail offers the occasional views of the North Cascades looming in the distance. The diversity of scenery helps keep things fun and interesting as you pedal your way down the trail. The county has installed interpretive signage at various key points and intersections on the trail explaining the history of Snohomish County’s farms, industry, and more.

The Centennial Trail’s first section opened in 1989 in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of Washington’s statehood. The newest section of the trail, from Arlington north to Nakashima Farm was just completed in 2012. An additional gap in Arlington will be completed in June 2014.

Centennial Trail Sound Garden - a Great Place for Children

Arlington’s Sound Garden – a Great Place for Children

With the recent acquisition of 12 miles of the Eastside Rail Corridor in Snohomish County, planning is now underway  to extend the Centennial 12 additional miles south to the King County border, and then on to the Burke Gilman Trail.

With 11 trailheads spread out along the 30 miles, Snohomish County has made it exceptionally easy to create a ride suited to your needs. Want to ride the entirety of the route? Park in the City of Snohomish and do an out and back on all 60 miles of trail. Want to take a short ride with the kids? Park at Bryant Trailhead, ride four miles south to Arlington, play in the sound garden on the trail, then pedal back north. The options go on and on.

Josh Cohen is a freelance writer, editor of The Bicycle Story and a contributing author to the newly released Cycling Sojourner: a Guide to the Best Multi-Day Tours in Washington.

Top photo of bike by the Stillaguamish River is courtesy of Debora Nelson.

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Posted in Adventure, Arlington, Economic Impact, Family biking, Kids, Rides, Rural, Snohomish County, Tourism, Trails, Travel | 4 Comments

Washington’s Great Outdoors: Task Force Meeting June 10 in Spokane

By Barb Chamberlain | Published May 28, 2014

What do you think?

  • How can we help activate Washington’s innovative outdoor gear and clothing businesses?
  • How can/should we be marketing and promoting outdoor recreation in Washington as an incredible asset of the state?
  • What does access to recreation and opportunities for physical activity do for the health of individuals, communities, and the state?
  • What types of outdoor activities appeal to the people who represent our changing demographics in age, national origin, and other human characteristics?
  • Are we doing the right things with our city, county, and state parks and other recreational assets and green spaces to inspire and engage people in getting out there?
You'll spot this old trestle over the Spokane River if you hike or bike in Riverside State Park.

You’ll spot this old trestle over the Spokane River if you hike or bike in Riverside State Park.

These and other questions are being pondered and researched by members of the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Parks and Outdoor Recreation and the many residents of Washington who are commenting on our online townhall and attending our public meetings.

We’re working into the fall to address three important issues:

  • finding stable solutions to state park funding challenges
  • getting kids outdoors so our future generations become healthier and connect with nature (proven to improve health, scholastic performance, and much more that we value)
  • recognizing, promoting, and leveraging the value of the outdoor economy in the state.

Opportunities to provide input:

  • Online at engageoutdoorwashington.com
  • June 10, Spokane: Riverpoint Campus, Nursing Building, Room 205, 9am-1pm. Panels will focus on youth and on health, followed by a public comment period.
  • July 8, Wenatchee: Wenatchee Valley College campus, 1300 5th St, Van Tassell Center Café, 9am-1-pm.
  • August 19, Port Angeles: Location to be determined.

Think big. Think bold. Give us your inspiration and your creativity. Tell us what we should do for the future of Washington’s great outdoors.

Related Reading

Your Turn

  • What ONE thing would make it easier for you to get a friend to join you in riding a bicycle?
  • What ONE thing would make it easier for you to try a new outdoor activity you haven’t yet done?
  • Now that you’ve narrowed down your answers on these to your top priority, what are your other thoughts and ideas?
  • Now that you’ve told us here, go check out the questions and other people’s comments at engageoutdoorwashington.com

 

Posted in Accessibility, Advocacy, Family biking, Funding/Policy, Health, Legislature, Rural, Tourism, Trails, Travel | Comments Off on Washington’s Great Outdoors: Task Force Meeting June 10 in Spokane

Ride your bike to work, and you too can acquire ESP!

By Kevin Henderson | Published May 27, 2014

stewart3I began bike commuting for purely economic reasons. In 2004 I was working a low-paying job with wildly unpredictable hours in an area not well served by public transit. As gas prices soared, I realized I couldn’t continue to drive each day and still afford things like food and shelter.

So, I started riding my bike to work. Twelve miles each way, North Seattle to Boeing Field. Like so many, I was surprised to discover unexpected benefits above and beyond saving money. First, I noticed I was beginning my day fresh and energized. I am not a morning person, but here I was actually relishing my mornings. I began to view my trips to and from work as a part of the day I looked forward to rather than just a wasted time span to be endured.

In fact, though my current boss does not like to hear this, my commutes are often the best part of my work day. There is something about being active in your surroundings, senses engaged, that allows the mind to wake up and work creatively. It’s an environment that more and more is missing from the workplace as digital displays we type into seemingly replace people to see and talk to. But I digress (slightly).

As the weeks and months of riding to work passed, I noticed other things, like the fact that along my route, I had pretty much learned every bump, crack or pothole in the roads. I could anticipate and navigate them without a lot of thought. Further, I noticed that traffic had certain behaviors depending on where I was and what time of day, sometimes even what day of the week it was.

One of my favorite stretches on the morning ride in is surprisingly one of the busiest. Stewart Street, beginning by REI where both the I-5 main line and express lanes empty out, is four one-way lanes of commuter rapids that lead to the core downtown area. Many streams of cars, buses and bikes converge for a few blocks before scattering to their respective destinations. When Stewart is busy, the traffic speed slows enough that, especially with the downhill grade going west, it is relatively easy to move at “bicycle speed” in the center of whatever lane I need. If traffic is more sparse, then things open up so much that even though motorist speeds increase, I have plenty of room along either the left- or right-most lanes, once again depending on my needs.

Here is where the really fun stuff began.

I’m sure everyone has experienced the situation where a lane change or turn happens with no signal, or, where the turn signal is going and yet the person just continues on for blocks. As bicyclists, we generally learn not to place too much trust in signals, activated or not. Look for eye contact, watch to see what happens before committing. Always leave a way out just in case.

I began to try and predict, as much just for my amusement as for my safety, what my co-commuters were up to. And I noticed gradually that my abilities of precognition were becoming better and better with time. I was pretty impressed with myself, at least until I realized where the “magic” was coming from. If you haven’t already picked up on this, when you’re in city traffic, listen carefully to the sounds around you. Before the blinker comes on (if it ever does) when that driver next to you first thinks of making a change in course, the pitch will almost always change as they either let off the gas or step on it to make their move. When I hear the pitch change, it’s like a message: that driver is thinking of doing something. This game of “guess their move,” while entertaining is also quite valuable, since we can use as much advance warning as possible. And of course, it’s not extra-sensory at all, it’s just the normal senses, getting put to use for a change.

Give it a try!

Posted in Bike to Work, Commuting, Encouragement, Humor, Infrastructure, Safety, Seattle, Transportation | Comments Off on Ride your bike to work, and you too can acquire ESP!

Riding in the Rain Shadow: Day 3 – Olympic Discovery Trail to Sequim Bay

By Guest Blogger | Published May 26, 2014

Olympic Disco Trail PA

Today we present the final installment of Riding in the Rain Shadow. Tim Hennings describes his bicycle adventure on the Olympic Discovery Trail between Port Angeles and Sequim Bay.

Sunday Breakfast: Nutritious!

The morning brought blue skies, but we took our time getting going. Top priority was a first rate Sunday breakfast. We picked First Street Haven. It was as good as promised by the glowing reviews. They even include a fresh pastry with their tasty omelets. That is probably over the top, but we could reasonably claim a calorie deficit for the weekend.

Sunday Riding: Olympic Discovery Trail (ODT) to Sequim Bay

The amazing thing about the Olympic Discovery Trail is that it exists at all. Hats off to the heroes who have accomplished so much already, with many more miles in the works. It is so striking because Port Angeles has a mostly industrial waterfront with paper mills dating back about 100 years. It is not the first place you think of when considering where to go for a scenic bike ride.

We wondered what to expect as we headed east out of town. The ODT starts out going past a gritty former mill site, and for about a quarter mile is rough gravel (hopefully temporary). It looked iffy. We were glad to see the trail quickly evolve into a nice, paved path. It goes for 4 miles along the Strait of Juan de Fuca. For the first half mile or so, there are lots of benches and tree plantings on the water side of the trail. The ODT is well-suited to road bikes.

This first flat stretch on the ODT out of Port Angeles is recommended for anyone looking for a short, easy ride with great views.

Olympic Disco Trail Bridge - croppedThen the trail turns inland for a couple miles, zig zagging for a climb of about 200 feet, nothing noticeable. Then it suddenly plummets 100 feet to a covered bridge over Bagley Creek, requiring a climb (or walk!) back up. Over the course of our day on the ODT we encountered a few of these ravines along the trail. Each of them was a small challenge, but also scenic and interesting with cool bridges. Variety is a good thing!

Before starting out, we were worried that some of the trail might go along 101. That was not at all the case. It came close a couple times, but hardly worth mentioning. Mostly it meanders through woods and farms. It has stretches of gradual incline or decline — punctuated by the ravines.

Mossy ODTThe trail uses some residential roads when passing through Sequim. This wouldn’t really be a big deal except that it is not well marked. More than once we missed a turn. You have to keep a sharp eye out for the small signs. The locals were happy to point us in the right direction, and they also commented about the poor markings. It seems strange that the community would invest so heavily in the trail itself, but then cut corners on budgeting for trail signs. Maybe some merchants could be persuaded to help with signage in exchange for some exposure. It would certainly make the ride more fun if it was always clear which way to go!

One other interesting note about the ODT concerns moss on the trail. This happens on some of the forested stretches and is quite picturesque — but disconcerting to a road cyclist with skinny tires. Isn’t moss slippery? However, neither Catherine or I had any problem at all. And that was after a day of rain. It seemed to be a non-issue.

Sequim BayWe rode past Sequim to Sequim Bay State Park. It has nice views of the Bay, plus drinking water and places to relax. That was a turnaround point for us.

On the way back, we lunched at the Black Bear Diner in Sequim. It is very close to the trail. I wonder if the manager there has thought about adopting a trail segment, and pulling in more riders? It sure seems like a natural supply of ravenous travelers! The food was good, too!

ODT crossing Dungeness RiverOur ride back to Port Angeles was quick, and seemed even easier than coming the other way. Maybe it was because we didn’t stop so often, and we were more relaxed because we knew the trail. We did make one notable stop on the way home at the Railroad Bridge State park. It is an unusually impressive bike/ped bridge. It crosses over the scenic Dungeness River west of Sequim. As a bonus, Catherine spotted a pair of Wood Ducks on the river, which are among the most beautiful waterfowl in North America. We wished we’d had time to visit the Audubon Center, which is supposed to be terrific. Next time!

For details on the trail segments that we traveled, visit the official Olympic Discovery Trail site.

The day was 52 miles, with 1,600 feet of climbing. Here is the Garmin link: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/476182927

Related Posts:

Riding in the Rain Shadow: Exploring the Port Angeles Area by Bike

Riding in the Rain Shadow: Day 2 – Zig-Zag to Lake Crescent

Congrats to Sequim for Becoming a Bicycle Friendly Community!

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Posted in Adventure, Guest Blogger, Olympic Peninsula, Port Angeles, Rides, Tourism, Trails, Travel | Comments Off on Riding in the Rain Shadow: Day 3 – Olympic Discovery Trail to Sequim Bay