2013 Legislative Update & Agenda: Safety, Schools, and Growing Bicycling Statewide

By Blake Trask | Published December 11, 2012

With the start of the 2013 legislative session beginning in January, Washington Bikes is gearing up to represent you in Olympia. Just prior to the November 6 election – the Alliance’s Legislative and Statewide Issues Committee met to provide direction and recommend legislation to the Alliance’s Board of Directors.

The Committee’s recommendations reflect an understanding of the uncertainty and change that can occur after elections and in advance of the legislative session.

Leaving last year’s Senate Transportation Committee hearing on SHB 1217 with former WSDOT Secretary Doug MacDonald

The election didn’t disappoint with big changes to transportation leadership in the state House and Senate. Notably Senator Mary Margaret Haugen (Camano Island) lost her reelection bid.

As of this writing, the Republican caucus along with two Democrats have announced a “Majority Coalition” that would install Republican and Democrat co-chairs to lead the Senate Transportation Committee, but negotiations on sharing power are likely to continue up to the beginning of the 105-day legislative session on January 14, 2013.

Washington Bikes’s legislative agenda takes a proactive approach to addressing health and safety, growing bicycling in our schools, supporting economic development, and providing more awareness for those bicycling on Washington’s roads. Policy priorities include:

  • Local Government Control and Safe Neighborhood Streets. The Bicycle Alliance again will lead the Neighborhood Safe Streets Bill to make safer streets and neighborhoods by allowing cities and towns the authority to set speed limits to 20 miles per hour on non-arterial streets.
  • Making Washington’s Kids Safer. We will explore policy to grow Safe Routes to School and policies that support it. Currently staff and our lobbyist are working with legislators about specific solutions to improve our school transportation investments while growing biking and walking to schools.
  • Adding Health as a State Transportation System Policy Goal. The Bicycle Alliance will again support legislation that adds human health to the policy goals of our state transportation system —alongside existing goals such as economic vitality, mobility, and the environment.
  • Potential safe passing legislation. Looking toward the future, the Bicycle Alliance will be exploring legislation for this session or next that supports safe motor vehicle passing of bicycles on Washington streets.

Through the transportation budget, as well as any local transportation options or new revenue legislation, the Bicycle Alliance will be working with the Transportation for Washington Campaign to expand funding to give Washingtonians the freedom to get around, safer streets for our children, and more complete streets for our towns and cities.

We cannot succeed without your help. As critical votes come up, Bicycle Alliance staff will be reaching out to membership via emails and social media to ask for you to contact your state elected officials. Thanks in advance for your support and advocacy in 2013!

Posted in Advocacy, Complete Streets, Funding/Policy, Issues & Advocacy, News, Politics, Safe Routes to School, Safety, Share the Road, Transportation | Comments Off on 2013 Legislative Update & Agenda: Safety, Schools, and Growing Bicycling Statewide

Construction Update: Hood Canal Bridge Bicycle Safety Improvements

By Blake Trask | Published December 8, 2012

After July’s agreement between Washington Bikes, local bicycle clubs and advocates, and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), construction work began in November on improvements to make crossing Hood Canal Bridge on bicycle safer.

To recap, over $1 million in improvements will be made by filling in bridge grating on the area used by bicycles with elastomeric concrete and by improving bridge plates that cover the floating bridge’s joints. For the recap of the campaign for improvements, see our  press release from the summer.

In the case that you are headed across the bridge for a winter weekend excursion or excuse to spend the holidays on your bicycle, stay alert as the construction to the shoulders of the bridge will impact your ride.

Washington Bikes has been checking-in with WSDOT on access issues to report out to the larger community.

From WSDOT Olympic Region Project Manager, Jeff Cook:

During the day, the contractor implements lane shifts to create a work area which leaves two 11-foot lanes and a 3’ path for pedestrians and bicyclists…  The 3’ shoulder is on the opposite side of the bridge from the work area.  Signing at each end of the bridge directs bicyclists to the side with the 3’ path and requires them to dismount and walk.

During the night time, the contractor may restrict traffic on alternating, one-way, flagger control movements.  Bicyclists using the shoulder will be stopped at the same place as vehicular traffic and move through the one-way traffic segment simultaneously.  The “night time” duration when this can be in place is approximately 10pm to 6am.

During hours when the contractor is not working there will be times when an area in the shoulder will be coned off and protected.  Most of the time this will be when the elastomeric concrete is curing, but there are other times this will occur as well.  In these instances the shoulder will be reduced to 3’ (from the fog stripe to the delineation cones).

12/10/12 UPDATE: WSDOT’s Jeff Cook has provided some additional helpful information:

1)      The posted speed limit will remain at 40 mph.

2)      The contractor will be working on two sections at one time (typically).  For example, the current work is on the south side shoulder of the east lift span and the east truss.  Each work segment is approximately 300’ however the traffic control may extend between the two sections making the 3’ shoulder closure to 2500’.  If the 2500’ lane shift is in effect is prevents traffic from moving over, then back, just to move over again (weaving).

3)      If the bicyclist is moving in opposition to traffic then they must walk.  The signing routes them to the side of the bridge with the 3’ shoulder section, however if they inadvertently miss the sign and approach the work are then someone will assist them in getting through the workzone safely.

4)      For night time work, a bicyclist riding east would ride on the shoulder or in the lane in the same direction as traffic.  When all traffic (motorized and non-motorized) is stopped by the flagger at the one way alternating traffic zone, then the bicyclist would stop with traffic and proceed through the one way are along with traffic.  We have also spoke with our contractor and there should be no problem assisting a night time bicyclist in walking or slowly riding inside the delineation (work side of the traffic control).

Thus far we have had no reported or observed issues with non motorized traffic moving through the work areas.  I have seen several cyclists ride the bridge during our work and they flowed well through the work.

Here’s what things looked like out on the bridge in late November. Photos courtesy of Don Willott of the North Kitsap Trails Association.

Posted in Advocacy, Infrastructure, Issues & Advocacy, Kitsap County, Olympic Peninsula, Safety, Transportation, WSDOT | 1 Comment

Join by Dec 31, and You Could Win a Bike!

By Jack Hilovsky | Published December 5, 2012

For 25 years Washington Bikes—the state’s first organization focused on bike advocacy—has led the charge to shape statewide policies to make riding a bike in Washington more convenient, safe, and enjoyable whether you’re just starting or have been rolling for years.

But now, with Congress’s drastic cuts to funding for bike and pedestrian projects in the recent federal transportation bill—over 30% cut and no dedicated federal funds for Safe Routes to School!—the action in bike transportation policy moves to the state level, where we have a track record of success. We can’t quit now—we have some steep hills to climb.

With the help of people like you—bicyclists who care about making riding even better—through the years we’ve made a real difference.

  • Statewide Reach: We’ve provided inspiration, technical assistance, and fiscal administration to groups around the state to help local advocates grow bicycling in their communities, supporting new organizations, new trails, and new events.

  • Funding: Washington Bikes and our partners successfully alerted and supported key legislators to affirm and restore funding for bicycle and pedestrian safety projects. Building on our groundbreaking push, which began in 2005, in the 2011 legislative session we secured $2.25 million in additional state funding for Safe Routes to School. We began working immediately after the passage of the new federal funding bill to protect that funding.
  • Education: Washington Bikes collaborated with pedestrian advocates, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the State Department of Transportation to train teachers in 31 school districts and 4 colleges, resulting in 20,000 future bicycle riders with knowledge and love of the road.

  • Livability: With support from a diverse coalition of 35 organizations Washington Bikes introduced bipartisan legislation unanimously passed by the House in the 2012 session that empowers cities and towns to reduce speed limits in neighborhoods. We’ll be back in 2013 to get that bill all the way through the process.

  • Advocacy: We have many more such accomplishments: WSDOT event guidelines protecting the right to hold rides on state highways, the  Ann Weatherill Safe Passing Act, bike education in driver’s license requirements, safer bridge designs and bike-triggered traffic signals in the future, protection of the right to use bike trailers on roadways—on and on.

These victories—large, small, and still underway—show how bicyclists can win BIG, when we work together!

Here’s your chance to support important work that will grow bicycling statewide. We’ve got a special offer for New Members who join during the month of December.

Spread the word to friends, neighbors, and work colleagues: if you join now,  you’ll get a chance to win a 2013 Specialized Daily 2 city bike from Gregg’s Cycle in Seattle.  Visit:  http://wabikes.org/index.php/support-us/become-a-member/ and sign up today!

And while you’re at it, check out the bike  that could be yours by year’s end:
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/globe/daily/daily2

Let’s all ensure we do our part to make Washington truly the most bike-friendly state in the nation!

For current members you will be in the drawing if you refer a friend who joins and the new member includes “referred by [your name]” in the comment field of the membership application. Good luck to all!!

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Join by Dec 31, and You Could Win a Bike!

Board Announces Candidate Slate

By Louise McGrody | Published December 4, 2012

Washington Bikes’s Board of Directors has announced its slate of board candidates for the upcoming election.  The five candidates—two newcomers and three returning directors are running for terms through 2015.

Meet the new candidates:

Angela Jones, Spokane, is the Director of Employment & Conciliation Services for Spokane Public Schools.  She currently serves on the Washington State University Alumni Association executive board and is the president of the WSU African American Alumni chapter.  An avid recreational cyclist, Angela embraced bike riding 5 years ago after a chronic knee injury sidelined her from other sports.  She is interested in encouraging more people of color to ride bikes and promoting the healthy benefits of bicycling.  When she’s not on the bike, Angela enjoys gardening and participating in triathlons.

Tim Hennings, a Seattle resident, is founder and President of the software company Catalog-on-Demand.  A lifelong cyclist, Tim previously served on boards for Cascade Bicycle Club and Laurelhurst Beach Club.  He bikes for recreation and transportation, and shares the joy of riding a bike with his daughters.  Tim would like to see the cycling movement grow in rural communities and sees bicycle tourism as a potential tool for making this happen.  Off the bike, Tim likes to cross-country ski and is an active member of a book club.

Returning board candidates are Sarah Gelineau (Tonasket), Jeff Petersen (Richland), and Andy Pryor (Dixie).  You can find their bios on the Board page of our website.

We also bid farewell to board members Ben Robinson and Jennifer Campos, who are stepping down from the board at the end of this year.  Thank you for your service to growing bicycling in Washington!

Alliance members should watch for an upcoming email with voting instructions.  There will also be information in the December issue of The Advocate.  The deadline to submit your ballot is January 4, 2013.

Posted in News, People | Comments Off on Board Announces Candidate Slate

Island Tour: Eating our Way through the San Juan and Gulf Islands

By Administrator | Published November 22, 2012

Photos by the author except as noted

Gratitudes 

In this week’s spirit of sharing gratitude, I bring you this vacation journal from our late summer bike tour through the San Juan and Gulf Islands. Now that the soggy season is here in the Pacific Northwest, the halcyon days of summer can feel like a dream—but you can vicariously enjoy the scenery and sunshine through this post. As Northwesterners, we can thank the seasonal ebb and flow of water for honing our appreciation of sunshine and daylight.

I began writing this post the first day back in the office after this glorious tour, though i have rewritten and revised it over a period of months with it sitting on the back burner a few times as my teaching work load and other demands got in the way.

Back in the office: September 6

Having just returned from my first bicycle tour of the San Juan and Gulf Islands I am still in a dreamy state of bicycling bliss. We spent six days and five nights travelling by train, bicycle and ferry making a big loop from Seattle and yesterday i went on a sweet mountainbike ride. As multi-modal travelers we only biked about 160 miles, though we covered several times that distance in less than a week. We were blessed with perfect weather, excellent trip planning, fantastic scenery, beautiful food, birds, sea mammals and sunsets. My better half, Tiva, took care of the logistics planning which really helped our trip go smoothly.

DAY 1: August 29  And…We’re Off (circa 35 Mi)

After leaving home in the dark on Wednesday August 29th 2012 we departed Seattle on an early morning train to Mount Vernon. Looking out the train windows, the foreboding clouds made me a little anxious about the weather.

foreboding clouds as seen from the train

getting ready to leave the train station

From there we rode the twenty plus miles to the Anacortes Ferry Terminal after picking up a few extra food items at the local grocery. Following a short ferry ride we arrived on Lopez Island. After a one mile ride from the ferry terminal we pulled into the Odlin Park camp ground, where we would spend two nights. Given our early start, we made camp and still had time to change for dinner and ride into town to have a fantastic dinner at the modestly-named Bay Café. The Bay is your place for an island fine dining experience. We celebrated Tiva’s recent birthday with an amazing meal of salmon, crab cakes, pinot grigio, coffee and a huge piece of flourless chocolate cake. We returned to camp for an amazing sunset and were off to bed early.

DAY 2: August 30 Progressive Dining on Lopez (circa 35 Mi)

Waking up to hear the waters of the Upright Channel lapping the rock beach  just a few meters below our tent, we were pleased to see clear skies and contentedly snoozed like we were on vacation. As planned, we had a couple of cups of tea and ate a simple breakfast in camp and geared up to ride the Tour de Lopez loop.  Our first stop was at Spencer Spit State Park, a delightful spot on the east side of the island.

looking south from Spencer Spit (Tiva Brown photo)

From there we rode beautiful country roads to our lunch spot at the South Island Bistro—a terrifically unassuming restaurant in the back of the gas station and convenience store. I ate what may very well be the best burger I’ve ever tasted, and of course it had been made with beef grown by the Jones Family farm, which we had just passed only a mile before the bistro.

From there we pedaled out to Iceberg Point where we spent a couple hours basking in the sun, eating fruit and watching and listening to the sea lions and seals.

horrible scenery

Tiva Brown, intrepid explorer

Iceberg Point marker

Tiva basking in the sun at Iceberg Point

From there we rode back to Lopez Village, showered at the public showers and then stopped by Vita’s for a light dinner.

just riding along on Lopez Island (Tiva Brown photo)

Determined to sample as much of the excellent food as we could, we moved along to Vortex Café and Juice Bar for a carrot, orange, lemon and ginger juice.

sitting in the sun behind Vortex (Tiva Brown photo)

Since Vortex did not have decaf coffee we then rolled on over to The Love Dog Café for some decaf and as it turns out we were compelled to get another rich chocolate desert. After a quick stop at the grocery we returned to camp and enjoyed another gorgeous sunset.

DAY 3: August 31 Crossing the Border (circa 15 miles)

I woke up to the rude squawking of Tiva’s alarm clock. We broke camp quickly, loaded the bikes and pedaled the mile up the hill to the ferry terminal. Shortly after checking with the ferry staff, there was an announcement that the boat we were planning to catch was cancelled. After some back and forth and a waiting game, arrangements were made for a different ferry to make a non-scheduled stop at Lopez to pick us up and take us to Friday Harbor and on to Sidney, British Columbia. This re-arrangement was a bit nerve wracking as we needed to make it to Sidney with time to ride up to Swartz Bay to catch our ferry to Salt Spring Island.

island idyll

The sun was literally and figuratively shining on us—and we easily made our connections. We even had time to stop for Greek food at a restaurant in Sidney and to make another stop for groceries and beer.

Once the ferry was underway we enjoyed the ride from an open deck.

on the ferry to Salt Spring Island from Swartz Bay

When we arrived at Fulford Harbour we opted to get burgers at the Rock Salt Restaurant, underwhelming though they were. While we were mentally prepared for the hilly terrain on Salt Spring, it was still a bit of a grind to ride out to Ruckle Provincial Park where we made camp.  The campground layout was unusual.  It had around 80 densely packed first-come-first-served walk-in sites near the shore.  Tiva figured that getting a spot wouldn’t be difficult with so many sites, and who does walk-in camping, anyway?  Canadians!  The place was busy for the holiday, but once again we made camp in a spectacular spot overlooking the water. 

DAY 4: September 1 Ganges, Mayne Island and Saturna Island in the dark (circa 25 miles)

After a night of rest listening to the lapping waters of Long Harbor we awoke to a glorious sunrise. Our tent was in dappled sun but even so it was a bit chilly, so we moved our kitchen setup to a table in the direct sun and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with two rounds of black tea.

picnic breakfast (Tiva Brown photo)

the great out of doors (Tiva Brown photo)

After breaking camp and loading the bikes, we had a challenging climb ahead of us. The pavement on Salt Spring Island is quite good, which was a treat after riding almost exclusively on chip seal on Lopez. The climb from sea level up to the divide really woke us up. By the time we got warmed up we weren’t too far from our day’s high point. From our high point we had a delightfully fast descent and traversed rolling and descending terrain before we reached Ganges. At some point on the ride I realized that I had not thought about work at all for a couple of days. I sure like my job, but it is always nice to clear the head of the practical concerns of typical everyday life. When we pulled up around noon the Ganges Saturday Market was in full swing.

harvest bounty

Folks were selling crafts, prepared food and produce and a friendly social atmosphere prevailed. We spent a few hours shopping, people watching and lounging in the sun.

Once we packed up and rolled out it was just a short ride to the Long Harbor ferry terminal where we would catch the ferry to Saturna Island via Mayne Island. While we were waiting for the ferry a handful of local bike enthusiasts rolled up and we had an entertaining conversation about bikes and differences between the U.S. and Canada. Once the ferry arrived the sailing time to Mayne Island was pretty quick.  We landed at Village Bay in the late afternoon and pedaled up and over the headlands to Miner’s Bay where there are a couple of restaurants and a grocery. We bought some groceries and had a meal at the local pub. The scenery and local flavor made the lackluster food more palatable. After dinner we remounted our bikes and rode back up and over the headlands to the ferry terminal at Village Bay. The ferry was running late and we weren’t underway to Saturna until the sun had set.

The ferry ride was gorgeous as the waning light of day presented us with a colorful sky.

Mayne sunset (Tiva Brown photo)

We were left to ponder the chill in the air and our ride in the dark to the other side of the island. The shower and beer that awaited us at the Four Winds B&B just hit the spot.

Day 5: September 2 Saturna Islad—Echo Bay and East Point (circa  25 miles)

After sleeping in we awoke to a magnificent vista from the bed, looking East Northeast out onto the Strait of Georgia, peeking around the corner we could see Mt Baker looming above the clouds. The marine life and bird activity added a lively dimension to the seascape and the peaceful and rhythmic lapping waves. After a round of tea we took a stroll on the beach and then had a tasty breakfast of Salt Spring goat cheese, tomato, lemon cucumber, bell pepper, tri-color carrot, and salmon.

 

the inimitable Tiva Brown!

We spent our one full day on Saturna exploring the island by bike with rather light loads, Leaving the bulk of our gear at the Bed and Breakfast. From the B&B we pedaled northwest to the Saturna General Store, where we bought provisions for a picnic lunch. From there we rode into the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve on Narvaez Bay Road. We parked our bikes and walked out to the point separating Narvaez Bay from Echo Bay where we sat and ate a leisurely lunch overlooking the water.

Echo Bay rocks (Tiva Brown photo)

Echo Bay

what a vacation!

After lunch we rode back to the B&B, ate some dinner and then we pedaled out to East Point to watch the sunset and look for sea mammals. East Point is known as one of the best whale watching spots in the Gulf Islands. While gazing into the changing currents, receding tide and swirling eddies we saw seals and what may have been an otter, but we did not see any whales. The glow of the sunset was delightful and we savored our last night of vacation.

East Point sunset

trusty steed at sunset

Mt Baker from East Point, Saturna Island, British Columbia

dusky East Point

Tiva and I were both so pleased by our time on the islands and the sunset made for an incredible last night of vacation.

Day 6: September 3 Cascadia is a small town (circa 25 miles)

The morning of our last day on Saturna we got up, ate, packed and washed dishes. We left our B&B and rode to the ferry terminal with enough time to spare for a cup of coffee and some local blackberry cake and to chat with other folks waiting for the ferry. After boarding along with the dozen or so bike riders we sailed to Mayne Island where we unloaded and waited about an hour.

While in the queue to load at Village Bay I noticed a woman with a Velo City 2012 logo on her helmet. I asked about the conference, which I had been unable to attend. We ended up chatting for a while about bicycle transportation—turns out she is a bike planner for the City of Vancouver, BC and that we have at least one mutual acquaintance. As we loaded bikes on Mayne Island there were about 50 bicycles. At each of the stops on Pender and Galiano Islands we added a dozen or so bikes and riders. The ferry was really not set up for so many bikes, so there was quite a bike pile.

Once we were underway across the Strait of Georgia it took less than an hour to arrive at Tsawwassen. The large number of bicycles and riders unloading from the ferry for the holiday weekend presented a problem for catching a bus into the city as we had planned. The bike rack capacity of the four buses waiting to take folks through the tunnel into Vancouver was overloaded and we were not going to catch a bus for hours. We thought that we might be able to catch another bus a mile or so away, but we were beaten to that stop by another pair of bike riders. Tiva and I decided to ride the ‘bike route’ recommended by Google from Tsawwassen through Delta and then catch the sky train to the central train station. The bike route follows the shoulder of a busy secondary highway and goes through a series of construction zones. Using the printed Google directions was challenging because at some point they stopped specifying the street, just “turn right after .2 miles”.  So, we lost and found the route a few times along the way.  The harsh conditions for biking threw me off, as I was still on ‘island time’ and not quite ready for the slap in the face of being a second class citizen on the roadway. Surely I have ridden more challenging roads, even by choice, but with the stark contrast to the island idyll I was cranky. Tiva handled it like the trooper that she is—rock solid. Tiva’s great attitude was inspirational, though I was not so inspired in the moment.

Once we got to the sky train we were on easy street and I was able to get over myself. Getting to the Amtrak station was straight forward and we had plenty of time to fill out our paperwork and get through passport control. While we were filling out paperwork and waiting in a long queue to check in I saw a couple who made me do a double take. Sure enough it was two of Tiva’s rowing buddies, Karen and Clint. I hollered out to Clint and Karen, who were surprised to hear their names called from across the room. The train and bike ride home were pleasantly uneventful.

After some initial unpacking, a shower and a couple of beers it was time for bed. In the immediate afterglow of our vacation, I had the stunning realization that Tiva and I could bike tour just about anywhere we wanted to go, bad bike routes and construction zones or not.

Want to get ideas for more great rides in the #1 Bicycle Friendly State? Sign up for our monthly e-news.

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Posted in Adventure, Attitudes, Bike Culture, Ferries, Northwest WA, People, Travel | 2 Comments

Let the Washington State Transportation Commission Know About Biking!

By Blake Trask | Published November 15, 2012

Ever wonder how to get the word to Olympia that Washington needs more bike-friendly policies and more transportation investments to grow bicycling statewide?

Now’s your opportunity.

This month the Washington State Transportation Commission will begin conducting a new statewide survey on transportation taxation options, priorities and other topics utilizing over 17,000 Washington state residents who are part of the Voice Of Washington State (VOWS) survey program.

Sign-up and join those 17,000 VOWS participants to let the Transportation Commission and other state leaders know we need investments in a more balanced transportation system that gives Washingtonians the freedom to bike, walk, drive, or take transit.

Your input now is especially timely. The 2013 legislative session beginning in January will spend considerable time discussing new transportation revenue options. Information showing public support for Washington Bikes priorities like Safe Routes to School, Complete Streets, and Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety and Mobility is invaluable to make the case to the Transportation Commissioners, WSDOT, legislators, and the Governor.

Without your voice, how can we expect better bikeways, bike-friendly legislation, and leadership that gives our children safer neighborhoods to bike and walk to school?

To sign up for the VOWS, go to: http://www.voiceofwashingtonsurvey.org and get started!

Posted in Advocacy, Complete Streets, Funding/Policy, Infrastructure, Issues & Advocacy, Politics, Transportation, WSDOT | 1 Comment

Join us in Bellingam this Thursday!

By Louise McGrody | Published November 14, 2012

Meet Washington Bikes’s new Executive Director, learn about our exciting work to grow bicycling statewide, and hear about bicycling abroad in Turkey

Join executive director Barb Chamberlain as she discusses bike-friendly improvements across the state, our new initiative to develop the US Bicycle Route System across northern Washington, and our legislative successes and plans for 2013 this Thursday, November 15 at 7 p.m.  at Whatcom Middle School. Barb’s appearance is arranged by everybodyBIKE and precedes a bicycle travel presentation.

Barb’s conversation and Q&A will be followed by a presentation from a Whatcom County couple who will share stories and photos about their bicycle travel through Turkey.  The evening begins at 7 p.m. on November 15 at Whatcom Middle School, 810 Halleck Street in Bellingham.  Light refreshments will be served.

Posted in Northwest WA, Whatcom County | Comments Off on Join us in Bellingam this Thursday!

Recap: 20th Annual Auction

By Louise McGrody | Published November 10, 2012

Last Saturday was Washington Bikes’s 20th annual fundraising auction—and what a fundraiser it was!  Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, donors, volunteers and the 285 friends of bicycling in attendance, we raised over $95,000 that evening.  Eric Mamroth and Chris Cameron returned as our auctioneer and master of ceremonies respectively.  Here’s a photo recap of the festivities:

Guests browsed the silent auction tables for choice items.

Volunteers roamed the room selling Split the Pot raffle tickets.

These delectable desserts raised over $8000.

Bidding was lively and plentiful all evening.

The “wizards” entered auction data all evening.

The auction is a huge volunteer effort and we are grateful to the 70+ volunteers who help make this event a success.  These folks helped us with everything from data entry, packing and event set-up to registration, closing, check out, and tear down.  Thanks, guys!

We also want to thank and recognize this year’s auction sponsors:

John Duggan, Cycling Attorney

Seattle Children’s Hospital

SvR Design

Adobe

Cascade Bicycle Club

Sportworks

REI

Creative Accomplice

Zipcar

H4 Consulting

Cyclists of Greater Seattle

Pike Brewing Company

We also wish to thank the following for their additional support:  Zeitgeist, Jones Soda, Wheatland Wheelers, Lone Canary, Mercer Estates, Woodward Canyon, Lost River, and Bicycle Barn.

 

Posted in Auction, Events, News | Comments Off on Recap: 20th Annual Auction

Federal Transportation Bill Update: The Right Choice for Washington’s Kids

By Blake Trask | Published November 1, 2012

Like many advocates for safer streets and healthy communities, we at Washington Bikes were dismayed when Congress cut funding and eliminated dedicated programs for walking and biking in the two-year federal transportation funding bill signed into law this July.

To recap, the new federal transportation bill, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) as its authors call it, diminishes direct funding for walking and biking by a minimum of 35%. Those dramatic cuts could skyrocket to 70%, if state leaders exercise opt-out options to divert funding elsewhere.

For Washington state, the ramifications of MAP-21 were clear: progress in growing investments for a popular and oversubscribed Safe Routes to School program was at risk, overall funding from the state’s two biking and walking grant programs would be cut, and last year’s legislative victories to garner a larger state commitment for Safe Routes to School would be nullified by the reduction in federal investments.

To add to the challenge, the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) quickly proposed distributing the state’s allocation of Transportation Alternatives (TA) program monies, including those previously allocated to Safe Routes to School, to the local level.

The WSDOT proposal represented a one step forward, two steps back approach for walking and biking. In Washington state we are lucky that federal money sent to the Spokane Regional Transportation Council, Puget Sound Regional Council, and other regional planning organizations often leads to investments for biking and walking, but in this context it would likely end most federal Safe Routes to School investments since many local governments lack the know-how or experience to fund these projects.

As the October 1 deadline approached for states to decide how to allocate new federal transportation funding, Governor Christine Gregoire convened an advisory stakeholder committee made up of varied transportation interests. Unfortunately, walking and biking interests did not get a seat at the table.

Charging into the uphill battle, we collaborated with our state allies at the Transportation for Washington Campaign, and nationally at the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, Advocacy Advance, and America Bikes to learn more about MAP-21 and other states’ strategies. We spoke to stakeholders on the committee, heard their input, and made the case for continued federal investments in Safe Routes to School.

Quickly a strategy emerged: Use Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding – slated to almost double under MAP-21 – as a new source. It made sense: 14% of all serious injuries and deaths in Washington occur when walking or biking and yet HSIP funds expend less than 1% to fix this problem. Similarly, walking on Washington state streets constitutes the third leading cause of death for our kids.

Over the course of the governor’s steering committee meetings, passionate testimony from advocates, parents, and experts highlighted the need for continued federal money for Safe Routes to School. At the first meeting, Washington Bikes board member King Cushman, who served on a similar state steering committee in the 1990s, noted that cost-effective investments for walking and biking made sense for the state’s fiscal bottom line, as well as for the safety of our state’s children.

Despite opposition from some at WSDOT, legislators and other stakeholders around the table saw the nexus between Safe Routes to School and HSIP. Our outreach to state leaders effectively outlined that their choice could help or hurt kids’ safety. At those meetings a majority of steering committee members expressed their interest to continue federal investments in Safe Routes to School. Elected leaders like House Transportation Committee Chair Judy Clibborn voiced strong support for Safe Routes to School. Senate Transportation Committee Chair Mary Margaret Haugen noted the importance of linking Safe Routes to School to the Highway Safety improvement Program and smartly observed that Safe Routes to School are a rural safety issue, as well.

We are proud that these leaders made the right choice for Washington’s kids.

As a result, the MAP-21 letter to the Governor recommends funding the Safe Routes to School grant program will at the same dollar level as in 2009 (this $3.3 million is actually more than was funded in 2011) by providing one-third of federal funds from HSIP and two-thirds from TA and we have established a critical policy nexus connecting biking and walking to road safety dollars.

As the Washington state strategic highway safety plan update commences in 2013 the Bicycle Alliance will continue to highlight the lack of safety investments for those that bike and walk.

The Bicycle Alliance will continue to engage stakeholders as the lead point of contact for the bicycling community on MAP-21 implementation. We foresee future challenges and opportunities as we work to expand recognition of bicycling as a critical element of transportation worthy of investment. With MAP-21 a great deal of the action has moved to the state level, making our role as the statewide bicycle advocacy organization more critical than ever. The success stories we can tell as we improve infrastructure and safety and grow bicycling statewide will then help our friends in national organizations make the case for the next federal transportation bill to do much more to enhance bicycling and walking across the nation.

Posted in Advocacy, Funding/Policy, Issues & Advocacy, Kids, Politics, Safe Routes to School, Transportation | 1 Comment

Tomorrow is PARK(ing) Day!

By Louise McGrody | Published September 20, 2012


Tomorrow, September 21, people around the world will be transforming street parking spaces into mini-parks and public space.  Yes, it’s the return of International PARK(ing) Day!
PARK(ing) Day Tacoma – Downtown on the Go
PARK(ing) Day began in 2005 when Rebar, an art and design studio, converted a single metered parking space in downtown San Francisco into a temporary public park for two hours—the allotted time on the parking meter.  A photo of the temporary on-street park circulated on the internet and PARK(ing) Day was born!
Last year, metered parking spots in 162 cities in 35 countries were transformed into 975 temporary parks.  People were invited to use their streets in a fun and different way, and the public was encouraged to rethink the value of a metered parking space as public space.
If you live in Tacoma, check this map to find out where the dozen plus PARK(ing) Day mini-parks will be in your community.  They even suggest a PARK(ing) Day walk route for you!  Downtown on the Go and a host of others are the organizers for this year’s events.
Seattle also has a dozen plus spots reserved tomorrow.  Here’s the map for Seattle’s PARK(ing) Day sites.  The Bicycle Alliance is co-hosting a Summer Lawn Party PARK(ing) Day site in Pioneer Square.  Drop by for some games, hang out in the lawn chairs, watch members of The Guardians put on a bike polo demonstration, and more!
Posted in Events, Infrastructure, Seattle, Tacoma | Tagged | Comments Off on Tomorrow is PARK(ing) Day!