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One Week Left for 5th Grade Poster Contest

By Seth Schromen-Wawrin | Published March 3, 2014

By Mackenzie of Port Angeles

There is only one week left for 5th grade students to submit their entry for the National 5th Grade Bicycle Poster Contest! One lucky student from Washington State will be winning a bike for their inspiring artwork, and many other prizes for school winners.

This year’s theme is the John F. Kennedy quote “Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.” The full rules of the contest are here. School winners must be mailed to Washington Bikes by this Friday, March 7th.

Submitted posters will be on display at our office in Pioneer Square, Seattle for the months of April and May. Come by to look at all the entries. During the month of April, people can vote on their favorite poster for the People’s Choice Award.

The state winner will continue to the National contest, run by Saris Cycling Group. Voting for the national winner will be done on Saris’ Facebook page April 10th through 15th. Let’s all support a Washington State national winner!

Posted in Encouragement, Kids, News, Safe Routes to School | Comments Off

WSDOT Announces Safe Routes to School Grant

By Seth Schromen-Wawrin | Published February 19, 2014

New multi-use trail built through a Safe Routes to School grant.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) recently announced the next cycle of their Safe Routes to School Grant. If your community has a school that needs safety improvements for students to walk and bike to school, this is an opportunity for you.

Perhaps your community needs to improve a crossing of a busy street to allow an area to safely access the school. Perhaps your community needs a protected bike lane along an arterial that borders a school. Perhaps your community needs a multi-use trail and bridge cutting across a ravine to create a short and direct route from a neighborhood to the school. The possibilities are near endless!

Public agencies can apply for funding from WSDOT for projects that will increase the number of students walking and biking to school safely, and are within 2 miles of a school. Components of the grant can include engineering, enforcement, encouragement, and education (like our Bike and Pedestrian Safety Education Program). This is a good opportunity to bring together school and city staff to plan how they can work together to make it easier and safer for students to walk and bike to school.

Applications are due May 5th, 2014. WSDOT will host a webinar on March 3, 2014 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m to provide an overview of the grant and answer questions. Go to the Pedestrian and Bicycle and Safe Routes to School Programs Call for Projects Webinar Page to register. The full announcement of the grant can be found here.

Currently, funding for this grant and the accompanying Pedestrian and Bicycle Program grant is $8 million in total. This is significantly less than the $30.45 million funded in the 2013-2015 biennium, and a fraction of the approximately $60 million in requests WSDOT received for the last cycle. The state government is currently working on a supplemental budget that may be able to address this shortfall. You can read about that, and what you can do, in this blog post.

Posted in Advocacy, Education, Encouragement, Infrastructure, News, Safe Routes to School, Safety, WSDOT | 3 Comments

Bike Clark County, Vancouver Housing Authority Team Up

By Guest Blogger | Published February 13, 2014

Partnership brings bicycling to low income kids

Today’s post is written by guest blogger Amy Horstman of Vancouver. A year round bike commuter, Amy is a dedicated volunteer for Bike Clark County. She serves as their newsletter editor and helps with their bike safety and maintenance programs. This article first ran in the Bike Clark County February 2014 newsletter. Photo credits: Marcus Griffith.

Bike Clark County’s shop was bustling with energy and excitement last month as a handful of pre-teen boys learned the fine art of bicycle repair from BCC volunteer mechanics. Vancouver Housing Authority (VHA) staff brought ten kids from their Vancouver Heights Skyline Crest low income housing facility. Each kid brought their bicycle to the shop and was paired with an adult for a hands-on bike repair learning opportunity. At the end of the day each young person left with a tuned-up bicycle, some new repair skills, and a brand-new properly fitted helmet. In return, they helped clean and organize the shop, strip tires from wheels, and test out tubes for leaks. The repair day was a successful lead-off in what will clearly be a longer term partnership.

VHA Community Family Resource Coordinator Sharon Linn and Community Health and Wellness Advisor Sara Angelo are based out of the Skyline Crest Rise and Stars Community Center (RSCC) which provides a variety of programs to encourage community building, healthy activity, and self-sufficiency for residents of this community. Over 50% of the residents are kids, which provides a host of opportunity and challenges. The RSCC’s website highlights a variety of programs for youth, adults, and families.

Bicycles are a part of the vision for Skyline Crest according to Sharon, “Our advocates try to encourage families to ride together every summer. But sometimes the bikes are broken or too small or they don’t even have them.” This led Sharon and Sarah to connect with Eric Giacchino and Bike Clark County in a very promising partnership.

We hope to establish a long-term relationship between Skyline Crest and BCC given the high degree of overlap in goals. Additional events are being planned with this same group of enthusiastic youth, including future bike repair skills training days as well as bicycle riding skills and safety training events. A larger scale vision is being developed and could include summer bike camps, ‘earn a bike’ programs, and junior mechanic training to create an internal mentorship program within the Skyline Crest community. “I really like the idea of residents leading residents,” said Sara, “Learning what people’s gifts are and helping them share those.”

The goals are initially focused on youth, but could easily be expanded to include adult focused activities such as bike commuting tips and safe route finding, bicycle repair, and even avenues to earn a bicycle for those who lack this efficient and inexpensive mode of transportation.

Skyline Crest hopes to get more adults on bicycles, “A mom may not have a car, but if she has a bike she can get to the store or to an after school program. We also want to do a ‘Rent a Bike’ program in the neighborhood. So people can use them for 12 or 48 hours or whatever they need so that parents can ride with their kids,” said Sharon.

BCC Shop Manager Aaron Gibson shares this vision, “Another program aspect we want to look into is helping veterans and other adults get around to work or to look for jobs and helping college kids get to school.”

Sara, who initially moved to Skyline Crest in 2006 and assumed her position with VHA in 2011, has noticed a positive change in the community dynamics. “It was a different feel back then. It’s much better now. I can’t get over how friendliness changes people”. Working directly with youth and families, she says that, “You really find that they want to be here. We want to capitalize on that. Learning to be self-sufficient is definitely in the motto” and bicycles can be a big part of that.

“These are the kids that are going to grow up and either be the next generation in the cycle or we’re going to branch out and not be in housing. I think giving kids in any way possible a broader sense of what is beyond is important. ‘Here is your bike and here is how to fix it’. A chance to open up their eyes to possibility is essential to breaking the cycle,” said Sara.

It seemed that the kids felt that as well. In a large poster ‘thank you’, they include messages such as, “We break it, we fix it!”; “The bike guys”; and, “This is a great thing your organization does for the children of our community.”

“This event was the epitome of what Bike Clark County is all about – getting kids safely on bikes. If our volunteers can find partnerships to help grow and expand what we did on this day I would be so happy. The kids were great and so thankful – they wore their bike helmets in the van the whole way home! I also have to thank all the amazing volunteer mechanics – without their help and generous donation of their time, none of this would be possible,” said Eric.

Next steps will be to continue to engage this same group of age 10-14 year old boys and to expand participation to additional children including older teenagers and girls. We will also be hard at work developing an outline of specific events, fleshing out an entire at-risk youth bicycle mentorship program, engaging more adult mentors, and identifying potential funding sources. If you would like to volunteer to be a part of this effort, or would like to donate to this effort please email us.

You can follow Bike Clark County on Facebook.

Posted in Accessibility, Advocacy, Education, Encouragement, Guest Blogger, Health, Vancouver | Comments Off

Celebrate the Past and Present of Snohomish County’s Centennial Trail

By Blake Trask | Published February 12, 2014

Looking for a way to celebrate and show that Washington Bikes in Snohomish County? This Saturday, February 15 at 9 am, Snohomish County leaders will join in Snohomish to celebrate and officially sign the purchase agreement with the Port of Seattle to extend the Centennial Trail another 12 additional miles south as a multimodal connection for bikers, walkers, and rail.

The extended trail will link the city of Snohomish with Woodinville, Redmond and Renton. It will serve as a major next step in connecting the region’s trail network, ultimately including the Burke Gilman, Eastside Rail Corridor and East Lake Sammamish Trails.

The 12 mile extension creates a 42 mile trail stretching across the entirety of Snohomish County and reaching the borders of King and Skagit counties. The extension will grow the trail and the County as a destination for both locals and visitors, alike. Bicyclists are wallets on wheels – biking customers are fueled by calories and typically stop – and spend – in every town they pass through.

Centennial Trail. Photo by Joe Mabel

The signing ceremony begins at 9am at the southern terminus of the Centennial Trail (504 4th St., Snohomish).

Afterwards, the party heads north to unveil Snohomish County’s new PASTforward program at the Machias Trailhead (1624 Virginia St., Snohomish).

“The PASTforward program is a fascinating look at our county’s history,” said Parks and Recreation director Tom Teigen. “Our industrial and agricultural roots are incredibly diverse, and I think people will be amazed at some of the stories they discover. It’s worth a walk down the trail this spring just to check out these new interpretive signs.” Snohomish County is hosting a new website on the Centennial Trail that features this rich history: http://www.centennialtrail.com/

Hope to see you there!

Blog Posts to Inspire Your Snohomish County Bicycle Trip

Sign Up to Receive Updates on Biking in Snohomish County

Posted in Alert, Economic Impact, Everett, Infrastructure, News, People, Rides, Tourism, Trails, Transportation, Travel | Comments Off

WAbikes in Olympia: 5 things to watch in week 5

By Blake Trask | Published February 11, 2014

Exactly 30 days into session, here are five things Washington Bikes is watching as the second half of the Washington state legislature’s 2014 session begins:

#1 – Supplemental Transportation Budget: Supporting Mobility and Safety. Now with the policy bill cutoff behind us, discussions are transitioning into addressing the supplemental budgets for the 2013-15

Washington State Capitol – courtesy of Cacophony

biennium. With approximately $30.45 million, the 2013-15 transportation budget represented the best budget ever for the Safe Routes to School and Bicycle and Pedestrian state grant programs. Unfortunately, due to federal funding uncertainty (2014 represents the end of the federal transportation reauthorization, MAP-21) and state funding ties to these grant programs expiring, only $8 million in state funds is programmed for the 2015-17 biennium for both grant programs.

A supplemental budget for the 2013-15 biennium (essentially, a budget that corrects for changing forecasts, and adjustments in policy priorities halfway through the two-year budget) represents a first step in bridging the significant drop in funding for these two grant programs that provide education and training to over 10,000 kids every year, improvements in tens of schools and neighborhoods, and critical trail connections that improve accessibility and safety statewide.

#2 – SB 6227: Distracted Driving. This commonsense legislation, sponsored by Senate Transportation co-chair Tracey Eide builds on previous legislation championed by Washington Bikes and passed in 2010. By bringing Washington state up to federal standards around portable technology use while driving, the Distracted Driving bill would make Washington state eligible for federal safety funding.

#3 – HB 2123: Adding Congestion Relief to the State Mobility Goal. This legislation takes a clear state transportation mobility system goal and adds unnecessary specificity that could actually skew how state spending is directed at the 99.2% of congestion that occurs in the Puget Sound region. It passed out of committee with concerns from a number of Washington Bikes’ legislative champions. For more about the specifics of the legislation, Sightline Institute authored an informative blog post on the legislation.

#4 – State Transportation Revenue Package. The statewide revenue package conversation slowly continues. Now it appears an MCC Senate proposal will be released next week – over halfway through the session. Even with a package proposal, it has been suggested that any action could be delayed until a special session following the November 2014 elections.

Washington Bikes has been a longstanding supporter of new transportation investments that support a balanced, multimodal transportation system that also invest in fixing our existing transportation infrastructure for real.

#5 – Transportation Advocacy Day on February 27. With transportation project cost overruns looming, increasing uncertainty about how to fix our bridges and roads, and a growing need to invest in biking and walking statewide, the state legislature needs to hear from YOU.

Join us for Transportation Advocacy Day on Thursday, February 27 to tell Olympia Washington Bikes. This is your chance to let your elected representatives know that Washingtonians want priorities that:

Support balanced revenue solutions to support transit, local governments, and more biking and walking
Fix our crumbling infrastructure for real
Create healthier communities through transportation investments that foster active and safe cities and towns statewide

The day-long event in Olympia connects you with others who share your transportation priorities for better biking. Be a part of the solution and serve as a citizen lobbyist for the day.

Join us!

Posted in Advocacy, Funding/Policy, Infrastructure, Issues & Advocacy, Legislature, News, Safe Routes to School, Safety, Transportation, WSDOT | Comments Off

Black History in Bike History

By Louise McGrody | Published February 10, 2014

25th Infantry Bicycle Corps

February is Black History Month and I have been searching for a story about African American contributions to bicycling. I found the story in my bike love: bicycle travel. In my mind, the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps are trailblazers of bike touring.

In 1866, Congress created the first peacetime all-black Army regiments—the Buffalo Soldiers. There were four regiments in all and members of the 25th Infantry stationed at Fort Missoula became the Bicycle Corps.

Bicycling caught the eye of the US military in the late 1800s. In 1896, Fort Missoula’s Lieutenant James Moss, a white officer (African American regiments were historically commanded by white officers), was granted permission to establish a Bicycle Corps with soldiers from the 25th Infantry. Their job was to test the bicycle for possible military applications.

What resulted was a journey of epic proportions. After shakedown rides to Lake McDonald (126 miles) and Yellowstone National Park (800 miles) in 1896, the men rolled out of Fort Missoula on June 14, 1897 at 5:30 in the morning. Forty-one days and 1900 miles later, they pedaled into their destination, St. Louis.

The Iron Riders — as they were dubbed — tackled the mountains, the plains and racism, in every kind of weather, without the benefit of paved roads (or any trails at all sometimes), modern route finding or the latest bicycle touring equipment and gear. Each member of the Bicycle Corps was outfitted with a Spalding military bike, knapsack, bedroll, tent, a leather case to carry food and personal effects, a rifle and 50 rounds of ammunition. Fully loaded, each rig weighed about 76 pounds!

Although the Bicycle Corps never gained military prominence and was eventually eliminated, bicycle travel remains popular today and we should recognize them as our early pioneers. In 1974, two Black Studies professors from the University of Montana and eight of their students were inspired to honor the Iron Riders by retracing their historical journey on bikes.

Jerry M. Certain’s parcel carriers

Interest in bicycling and bicycle travel continued to grow and I’m sure it was in part to the media attention the Bicycle Corps garnered from their amazing ride. In 1899, an African American inventor by the name of Isaac Johnson filed a patent for a unique bike frame. Johnson’s frame was designed to be folded compactly for storage or transport—a bike you could take with you on a vacation!

1899 was a good year for bike-related inventions. Jerry M. Certain filed a patent for “parcel carriers for bicycles” intended to be attached to the frame to carry items. Today we refer to those carriers as panniers, a necessity for bicycle travelers. And yes, Jerry Certain was an African American.

There are many intersections between Black History and bike history. Another interesting one for the bicycle tourist is the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route. Developed through a partnership between Adventure Cycling Association and the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Minority Health, the UGRR memorializes the network of clandestine routes used by African Americans as trails to freedom before and during the Civil War.

Bicycle travelers are natural explorers and there is much to explore in Black History. Here are a few links to get you started:

25th Infantry Bicycle Corps

African American History Month

African American Firsts

Posted in News | Comments Off

The January Project

By Kevin Henderson | Published February 6, 2014

Today’s blog post was written by Kevin Henderson of Seattle. We’re delighted that he agreed to share his January Project with our readers, and we hope that it will inspire others get on their bike more often–even if it’s only to ride around the block. All photos by the author.

1 of 31

Somewhere in the middle of the night this recent New Year’s Eve, I lay awake dreading the fact that soon my holiday break would be over and I’d be heading back to work, back to the old weekday routine.

I knew it was coming, and though I had tried to make my time off pass as slowly as I could, the end was drawing near. Here I was on the cusp of a new year about to return to the same old battles. Arrive at work in the dark, head home in the dark. Repeat as necessary. I told myself: “I need a project.” Something to occupy my mind for a few days that would ease the transition. Or at least pass the time until I can imagine Spring is getting closer.

Slowly the idea emerged that maybe I would try to ride my bike at least once on each day of January. I know, for some people this is every day life, but I’m no purist. Although I enjoy riding, I try not to be a slave to it, and I sure do enjoy reading a good book while lolling around on the bus. But I thought, if the objective is simply to use my bike, no minimum mileage, then it becomes a fun diversion. So long before dawn, I settled on these simple rules for January:

19 of 31

1: Ride somewhere each day, even if just around the block.

2: Take one photo somewhere along the route and post it.

Because of the “going back to work” part, most of these would likely be somewhere along my commute, but on weekends I figured I might even be able to get some daylight photos. I soon realized that this game was going to provide dividends beyond just passing the time. Scouting out the next day or two of shooting possibilities on each ride, looking for interesting views or other backdrops, I found myself rediscovering the available variety that exists even in my brief six-mile commute. Even on the bike, it’s possible to fall into the tunnel vision of “just getting there.” By slightly varying my route for example, I discovered that just a block or two east of my route on Harvard Avenue, there are stunning views of Portage Bay to be had on 10th. Even in the alleys or on the bridges I travel through each day, once you isolate a particular set of doors or girders, it becomes sort of picturesque and mysterious. Add in the darkness, occasional rain, available street lighting, and it became a fun break in each ride to stop, set something up and shoot before continuing on.

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30 of 31

I just labeled them sequentially “1 of 31”, “2 of 31”, etc., without further explanation, which I guess may have annoyed some, but also sparked questions from others. “What are you doing?” “Where are you?” I guess because I enjoy planting surprises, I tended to answer a little opaquely to draw out some guesses. However, by month’s end there seemed to be an audience anticipating the next days installment. For some of my Seattle expat friends, the series was causing them to miss Seattle life. I guess my game worked out, because look, it’s already February!

If you’re connected to Kevin on Facebook, you can view all 31 images.

Related Posts:

30 Days of Biking Washington

Posted in Commuting, Encouragement, Guest Blogger, Seattle | Comments Off

Bring a Parklet to Your Seattle Neighborhood

By Louise McGrody | Published February 3, 2014

Seattle Department of Transportation is extending its Pilot Parklet Program and will accept applications until February 28, 2014. The Pilot Parklet Program, launched in the summer of 2013, will permit five new parklet locations in 2014. The City’s first parklet debuted on Capitol Hill last fall and, most recently, the International District funded its planned parklet with the help of a Kickstarter campaign.

Parklets, a spin-off of the popular Park(ing) Day international event, are small extensions of sidewalks into parking spaces. They convert parking spaces into community gathering places and commonly feature public seating, greenery and bike parking. New York, San Francisco and Philadelphia are examples of other US cities that have launched parklet programs.

Consult SDOT’s Pilot Parklet Program page to learn more about parklets and to download application guidelines and application form.

Haven’t seen a parklet before? Check out this slideshow of parklets in San Francisco:

Posted in Bike Parking, Complete Streets, Infrastructure, Seattle | Tagged Park(ing) Day | Comments Off

Josh Miller Moves On

By Louise McGrody | Published January 30, 2014

Josh rides Tiger Mountain.

Josh Miller, our Go By Bike program manager, has had a lifelong love affair with bicycling. His riding interests—and bikes—have spanned the spectrum from BMX riding and mountain biking, to urban commuting, bicycle touring and, most recently, fat tire snow biking.

It was his passion for biking that originally brought Josh to Washington Bikes nearly three years ago. It is that very same passion that is prompting him to move on at the end of this month when he assumes a new position at Cascade Bicycle Club so that he can continue to work in bike advocacy and education.

Building the Go By Bike program from the ground up is Josh’s proudest accomplishment with WA Bikes. He forged relationships with the participating colleges in the Puget Sound region, acquired bike fleets, developed course curricula and classroom materials, recruited and trained instructors, and co-taught GBB at the colleges.

“We observed great gains in students’ bike handling skills as well as safety practices on the road,” noted Josh. “In follow-up survey responses, many students reported that they felt safer and more confident biking on the road and that they were safer car drivers around bike riders. Many students also reported that they were riding their bikes more often and for more types of trips after taking the course,” he added.

Some of Josh’s fondest WA Bikes memories involve the students that he met in the GBB classes.

Co-teaching at Olympic College.

“There was one student who insisted that she would not be able to take her right hand off the handlebar in order to signal a turn. She was resistant to riding one-handed with her left hand,” Josh recalled. “After some extra one-on-one coaching and an extra dose of encouragement, she got to be steady riding with her left hand in the course of half an hour.”

Josh’s service at WA Bikes went beyond the Go By Bike program. He sat on the Safe Routes to School National Partnership Steering Committee and represented us on the Puget Sound Regional Council’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Josh was also one of the lead organizers of the 2013 UW Bicycle Urbanism Symposium. He has provided technical assistance to Cowlitz County communities regarding the implementation of the Neighborhood Safe Streets law that was our #1 legislative priority (enacted in 2013), and gave numerous presentations at conferences and major workplaces.

“We really benefited from Josh’s expertise, the knowledge he brought from his master’s in planning and his Ph.D. work on the built environment, and from his willingness to be an all-around resource. All of his work was in keeping with his commitment to great bike education,” said WA Bikes executive director Barb Chamberlain. “We’re sorry to lose such a great team member who was always sharing interesting resources that made us think (and sometimes made us laugh).” She added that the grant funding for GBB as a pilot program was drawing to a close–otherwise Josh would keep contributing his talents at WA Bikes–and went on to say, “It helps to know that he’s with our partners at Cascade and that we’ll have the chance to keep working with him to get more people on bikes more often.”

The next chapter in Josh’s service to the bicycle community starts when he assumes the role of Classes and Camps Coordinator for Cascade Bicycle Club. His work will include developing curriculum, recruiting instructors, and marketing and evaluating bicycle skills and maintenance classes for adults and youth. Josh looks forward to collaborating with WA Bikes staff on education projects and issues.

When asked if he had any parting thoughts to share, Josh noted how appreciative he is for the opportunities presented to him at WA Bikes. He is also grateful to the level of support given by members, volunteers, the Board and staff.

“A hearty thanks to all and keep sharing the joy of cycling!” he declared.

Ditto, Josh!

Related posts:

Meet Josh Miller

Posted in Go By Bike, News, People | Comments Off

Remaining Active in the Golden Years

By Louise McGrody | Published January 27, 2014

On Christmas Day, my partner Steve and I assembled an adult tricycle for his 88-year-old father.

“I’ve come full circle,” mused Steve. “Forty-five years ago, my Dad would have been putting a bike together for me. Now I’m assembling one for him.”

Steve’s Dad has always been an active man and he shared his love of outdoor pursuits with his children. He taught his kids to hike, bike and ski. He himself skied until he was 70, hiked into his early 80s, and gave up his bike only a couple of years ago when he felt balancing became an issue.

Concerned that their Dad’s lifestyle was becoming too sedentary, Steve and his siblings bought him a trike to ride around his neighborhood in Yuma, Arizona for recreation and short errands. And riding it he is! The flat, low-traffic neighborhood streets offer him a comfortable place to ride his trike.

The National Institutes of Health tell us that seniors benefit from remaining physically active. Moderate levels of activity can improve the health of people who are frail and can prevent or delay diseases associated with aging. Exercise and physical activity can help older Americans increase their stamina and muscle strength, improve their balance and flexibility, and help maintain their independence.

According to US Census data, the number of Americans 65 and older increased by 15% between 2000 and 2010 to 40,267,984. In Washington State, the 2010 census shows 827,677 senior residents, or 12.3% of our total population. We can expect that number to grow in coming years as more baby boomers reach the golden years. As more of us live longer, an increasing number of us can expect to live beyond our ability to drive safely. Biking and walking can help older Americans remain active, mobile and independent in their communities.

Safety on our streets is a major concern for older Americans according to a 2009 AARP report Planning Complete Streets for an Aging America:

In a poll conducted for this study, 40 percent of adults age 50 and older reported inadequate sidewalks in their neighborhoods. More sobering, 50 percent reported they cannot cross main roads close to their home safely. Half of those who reported such problems said they would walk, bike or take the bus more if these problems were fixed. These concerns are borne out by statistics showing older adults are more likely to be victims in both motor vehicle and pedestrian fatalities.

If we make our streets safer for the most vulnerable users, children and their grandparents, then we make our streets and neighborhoods safer for everyone. Many communities, including places in Washington, have established Safe Routes to School programs and Washington Bikes is a leader in this effort. We also worked hard to pass the Neighborhood Safe Streets bill so communities could have another tool available to them to make local streets friendlier to people.

Some US communities, like New York City, Chicago and Santa Barbara, have launched Safe Routes for Seniors programs. These initiatives work to improve pedestrian safety for older Americans and encourage them to maintain active lifestyles.

In 2012, with guidance from the World Health Organization, AARP introduced its Network of Age-Friendly Communities. This program encourages states, local cities and towns to prepare for the needs of an aging population by focusing attention to the environmental, economic and social factors that influence the health and well being of older Americans. AARP provides a toolkit that gives participating communities a framework for creating and implementing an action plan that addresses local needs and circumstances. Twenty-one communities have signed on so far, including the city of Portland. There is no Washington community on the list yet.

The next time you are out and about on your neighborhood streets, imagine how it might feel to an elderly person to make his/her way on foot or by bike. Do crosswalk signals allow enough time for a slow moving person to safely make it through the intersection? Are sidewalks and paths wide enough (and smooth enough) for someone using a walker or wheelchair? Are curb ramps present at intersections? Are street signs and other directional signs easy to spot and read? If the answers are no, then it’s time to ask your city officials to complete your streets for older citizens.

Posted in Accessibility, Attitudes, Complete Streets, Health, Safety, Seniors | 1 Comment