Advocacy Update: Safe Routes to Schools in the Balance

By baw_admin | Published September 17, 2012

As the new federal transportation bill, MAP-21, comes to life on October 1, the next two weeks are pivotal for Washington as Governor Gregoire will decide whether Safe Routes to Schools will receive direct federal investments to make it safer to walk and bike to school.
 

www.pedbikeimages.org /Mike Cynecki

In June we announced that a new federal transportation bill was poised to slash funding for projects that grow bicycling statewide and give kids the freedom to walk and bike to school. Since then Washington Bikes has worked with local, state, and national partners to develop a strategy ensure that freedom with improved streets and crossings, options for physical activity, and tools and knowledge to safely walk and bike.

To recap, the new federal bill, or 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%. Unfortunately, those cuts could skyrocket to 70%, if Governor Gregoire chooses to divert federal funds to other transportation projects.

The funding stream most vulnerable to these cuts? Safe Routes to School.

Since the state began an innovative Safe Routes to School pilot project in 2004, Washington schools afforded these opportunities have seen a 34% increase in safe walking and biking to schools, better student compliance with safe crossing behaviors, more choices for healthy living, and no collisions occurring at completed project locations. In Washington, reducing bicycle and pedestrian fatalities just 5% per year over the next 10 years, consistent with our state’s adopted goal, will save us over $130 million.

If Governor Gregoire chooses to deplete Safe Routes to School investments by shifting previously allocated federal funds elsewhere, it would damage the state’s long-term commitment to walking and biking made at the start of her administration. Such a reversal could cut the state Safe Routes to School coordinator position, reduce the geographic equity in funding for this popular program, and would stymie the state legislature’s recent effort to grow Safe Routes to School funding in 2012.

To respond to reductions in Safe Routes to School, the Bicycle Alliance has mobilized to ensure Washington keeps making these critical investments. We serve as the Washington state coordinator on the Alliance for Biking and Walking and League of American Bicyclists efforts’ to maintain funding. We’re working with our friends on the Transportation for Washington Campaign to coordinate and make recommendations as Governor Gregoire moves to decide the future of Safe Routes to School in Washington. Similarly, we’re collaborating with our friends at the Safe Routes to School National Partnership on fact finding and information sharing to learn best practices and how other states are combating the threats to diminished Safe Routes to School funding.

This morning in Olympia the Bicycle Alliance and our partners under the Transportation for Washington banner, including Transportation Choices Coalition, Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition, and Feet First attended the first of two steering committee meetings meant to provide the Governor recommendations for how to allocate MAP-21 dollars.

At today’s meeting, we offered our simple but compelling proposal to retain statewide funding for Safe Routes to Schools by using a small portion of new road safety funding, which doubles under MAP-21. This is an approach that California and Florida are taking to maintain their commitments to Safe Routes to School. This proposal to support Safe Routes to School meshes with what is contained in Washington’s own strategic highway safety plan for reducing pedestrian injuries and fatalities.

Bicycle Alliance Board member King Cushman gave compelling remarks to steering committee members on the state of safety for Washington roads. Walking constitutes the third leading cause for death for Washington kids, but cost-effective safety improvements and educational programming for safety, such as what Safe Routes to School provides can make all the difference to improve safety on our roads.

We heard other compelling reasons to support the proposal that we have made to the Governor to save federal Safe Routes to School funding and it’s clear from remarks made by many steering committee members that safer routes for kids are important to them, too.

The second and final steering committee meeting will be held next week and we’ll again be there to work with our partners to make our case for continued Safe Routes to School. The Governor will make her decision on MAP-21 allocations by October 1.

Want to help? Email Governor Gregoire now to keep Washington moving forward in its progress for Safe Routes to School and keep in touch by signing up to Washington Bikes action alerts for news and next steps about protecting Safe Routes to School.

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Olympic National Park Opts for Better Spruce Railroad Trail Alternative

By Louise McGrody | Published September 13, 2012

ODT MarkerThanks to public comments from citizens and advocacy groups like Washington Bikes and Peninsula Trails Coalition, Olympic National Park has announced that an 8-foot asphalt trail with 3-foot gravel shoulders is the selected alternative for the Spruce Railroad Trail improvements.  This trail segment is part of the larger Olympic Discovery Trail.

This is a change from last fall when the park first identified its preferred alternative for trail improvements as a 6-foot paved surface.  Read our earlierblog post for more info.

Unhappy with the preferred alternative, the WA Bikes and Peninsula Trails Coalition coordinated efforts to push for a safer multi-use trail design with 8-10 feet of paved surface.  A paved trail surface of 8-10 feet provides sufficient space for two bicyclists to pass each other and is consistent with the existing trail design.  It also meets the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) requirement to make this trail accessible and usable by people with disabilities. The park’s preferred alternative would not have met those requirements.

In an announcement released this week, Olympic National Park Acting Superintendent said:

This project illustrates the value of public and community collaboration, as important issues and concerns have been raised throughout the process and have helped shape the final decision.

We are pleassed that park officials have listened to public comment and revised their final selection to reflect the safety concerns. You can read the park’s announcement here.

A completed Olympic Discovery Trail will traverse approximately 130 miles of the Olympic Peninsula.  The trail begins at the Victorian seaport of Port Townsend and will end at the Pacific Ocean in the Quileute Nation village of La Push.  The segment utilizing the Spruce Railroad Trail through Olympic National Park will allow bicyclists to avoid a dangerous portion of Highway 101 along the shore of Lake Crescent.

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12 Million Miles Pedaled in National Bike Challenge

By Louise McGrody | Published September 6, 2012


The Get up & Ride National Bike Challenge ended August 31 with 30,000 riders, representing all 50 states, pedaling 12 million miles!  While the NBC fell short of the 50,000 riders they hoped would participate, they exceeded their goal of 10 million miles.

This was the first year the challenge was organized as a national event.  Washington State had 594 riders participating in the NBC and logging in over 228,000 miles.  We had bike riders in communities large and small, urban and rural.  People logged their miles in Seattle, Spokane, Bellingham, Port Angeles, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, Pullman, Moses Lake, Walla Walla, Ellensburg, and more!

One of the cool things that emerged out of the NBC was the online encouragement and camaraderie.  Each state had its own Challenge page and Washington riders regularly posted questions, comments, and words of encouragement to each other.  Many are already looking forward to next year’s event.  Posted one participant:

I enjoyed riding with you all during this challenge. I am already thinking about next year and hoping to see our WA participation go to 1,000 or more. I hope we all keep riding and promoting bicycling in our great state.

The Bicycle Alliance also held a random drawing of prizes for August participants and the winners are:

Corrie Rosetti (Lewiston-ID-WA) – Tifosi sunglasses

Tammy Neslin (Tri-Cities) – Tifosi sunglasses

Josh Miller (Seattle-Bellevue) – AG wallet

Tiffany Ostreim (Longview) – AG wallet

Winners need to email Louise McGrody by September 15 to claim their prizes.

 

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Biking for Bicycle Alliance on Bainbridge Island

By baw_admin | Published August 29, 2012

Last June Vega and Lula Piper, thirteen year old twins living on Bainbridge Island, still hadn’t completed the community service project assigned by their middle school teacher. Then it occurred to them:  Instead of performing a typical community service assignment like volunteering at a nonprofit organization, “why not do something we love?” 
That realization led them to do a bike-a-thon for a bicycle organization. With assistance from their dad, they browsed the internet and discovered Washington Bikes.  They thought our organization looked the “coolest” and liked our campaign for Safe Routes to School.  Building bike routes to make travel safer made sense to them. Consequently they chose to contribute to Washington Bikes.
 
Lula (l), Vega (r) after their trek in California
They asked for sponsors after school at pick up time. Their goal was to try to ride their bikes, in a school week, the distance that they commuted each day to and from school by car. They recruited 30 contributors and raised nearly a thousand dollars! 
Former Executive Director Barbara Culp praised the girls saying, “Vega and Lula demonstrated that everyone can make a difference, no matter how large or small, in their community. The Bicycle Alliance membership, board, and staff thank them for hosting their own bike-a-thon and finding people to donate to their efforts.”
So what does the sister bicycling team plan to do next? During the months of July and August they accompanied their father on a road trip to California and brought their bikes. “It’s definitely not as bike-friendly in California,” they said. On the brighter side, “it was very flat, a good thing if you’re touring.”
Vega and Lula have been riding bikes since they were three or four. They currently get around on Raleigh mountain bikes. When asked how it feels to ride on a bike rather than in a car, they responded, “It’s more scenic, you get to enjoy the view more than if you’re zipping by in a car.”
The girls agreed they enjoy biking because it’s a fun way to get exercise. They’d also like to extend a big thank you to all their sponsors, because without them “this would not have been possible.”
If you’re dreaming of a fun, creative way to raise awareness and support for bicycling in your community, and benefit Washington Bikes in the process, we welcome your ideas. Contact Fund Development and Membership Manager Jack Hilovsky with your idea at jackh@BicycleAlliance.org!
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New Ride Supports Bicycling in Washington

By baw_admin | Published August 24, 2012

The American Lung Association celebrates 30 years of cycling in Washington with its inaugural Ride Around The Sound event on September 15!  This fully-supported ride around the Puget Sound region features spectacular water and mountain views and beautiful scenery.  Ride length options vary from a 12-mile family ride all the way up to a full century, offering something for everyone!   The course winds from West Seattle to Southworth, ending with a ferry ride back to West Seattle for a finish line celebration!  Bicycle Alliance members can save $10 off the registration fee by using Discount Code “BAW”.  (Minimum fundraising/donations of $125 required to participate, but the ALA provides outstanding fundraising support!)

For every new rider who registers using the “BAW” Discount Code, a $5 donation will be made to Washington Bikes! 

Ride Around The Sound
September 15, 2012
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Spokane Bike Board Looking for Members

By Louise McGrody | Published August 23, 2012

There are many ways to be an effective bike advocate.  Hopefully you’re a member of Washington Bikes and respond to our calls for action with a letter, email or phone call to your elected officials.  (If not, you can join now.) Perhaps you’ve attended Transportation Advocacy Day in Olympia and met with your legislators.
Another important role for a bike advocate is to serve on his/her local bike advisory board.  And if you live in Spokane, you have an opportunity serve your community in this capacity now.
The City of Spokane is accepting applications from citizens interested in serving on the Spokane Bike Advisory Board.  Members of SBAB provide advice and direction to city council and all city departments on matters of bicycling.  The board meets monthly and SBAB members take their duties seriously as advisers and advocates.  They have their own website and Facebook pageto communicate with others who care about biking in Spokane.
If you’re interested in making Spokane a better community for riding a bike, consider applying for an open seat on the bike board.  Follow this link to an application.
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The Value of Playing With Bikes

By Louise McGrody | Published August 21, 2012

It was pretty tough to be bored when I was a kid as long as I had my bicycle because my bike was often not a bike.  When I donned my cowboy hat, fashioned some bridal reins out of a piece of rope and attached it to my handlebars, my bike became a horse.  My sister and I galloped our horses across the prairie all morning and paid visits to our neighbors.  Around high noon, we turned our steeds homeward for some lunch. 
If some of the neighborhood kids joined us in the afternoon, we became pioneers and formed a bicycle wagon train to journey westward to a new homeland.  Along the way, we’d gather our wagons in a circle to protect us from outlaws, cougars, and other unseen danger.
Sometimes my sister and I used our bikes to help us construct a kids-only clubhouse.  Our bikes formed two parallel walls that we draped with an old quilt.  We spent hours playing games, coloring, reading, and—on more than one occasion—fighting in our clubhouse.
There were times when we used our bike props with disastrous results.  I still recall the day my sister, the kid next door and I used a bicycle to assist us in climbing a tree.  With my sister steadying the bike, the neighbor kid and I managed to reach the first limb of the tree.  Lacking a spotter, my sister’s attempt to climb the tree led to a fall and a broken collarbone.
Fortunately, most of my bike adventures turned out just fine.  With a bike and a little creative thinking, I kept myself occupied and happy.  And this made my mom happy too because we weren’t in the house and under foot all the time.
I am pleased to report that in this age of smart phones, DVDs and over organized recreation, the creative art of bike play survives.  I’ve watched my neighbors’ children hold a bike jousting tournament in the alley, tow each other down a snowy street on sleds and saucers, and build a clubhouse similar to the one I built in my childhood.  And yes, they also just pedal around the neighborhood for fun.
These kids are playing creatively and actively on their own.  They are learning how to be resourceful, set their own rules, interact with each other, and structure their own play time.  Those are some pretty handy skills to develop with the aid of a friend/sibling, a couple of bikes and a few low-tech props.
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Bike Rides to Carry You Into the Fall

By Louise McGrody | Published August 15, 2012

Labor Day may be approaching, but biking season is far from over!  These upcoming rides support the Bicycle Alliance’s work to grow safe, enjoyable bicycling in communities across the state:

Camp Korey’s Camp Challenge Ride on September 8 is a new ride.  With a start and end in Carnation, this ride takes you through scenic Snoqualmie Valley on a 25- or 64-mile loop.  This ride is a fundraiser for Camp Korey, a program that serves children with serious and life-altering medical conditions.  There is a gourmet BBQ at the end of the ride.

Ride the South Sound, also on September 8, is a new event organized by Capital Bicycling Club.  Routes vary from family-friendly to challenging.  This ride offers spectacular views of south Puget Sound, the farmlands and forests surrounding Olympia.

Cycle the WAVE returns on September 16.  This all women’s non-competitive ride has something for all levels of riders, and benefits domestic violence programs.  The ride starts and ends at Issaquah High School.

WaCanId begins on September 17 and is a fully supported six-day ride along the International Selkirk Loop.  You’ll pedal an incredible scenic byway through Washington, Idaho and British Columbia.  WaCanId starts and ends in Sandpoint, Idaho. This event is organized by the International Selkirk Loop and Rotary Clubs of the Selkirk Loop.

The Boneshaker Bicycle Festival, October 26 & 27, is another new event this year.  This is a fun-filled, family oriented, Halloween inspired celebration of all things bicycling and showcases the Skagit Valley.  The event includes organized bike rides, bike swap and expo, kid’s bike rodeo, music and entertainment, and more.

Our Ride Calendar is a unique list of events that support our mission to grow bicycling statewide.  When you sign up for one of these rides, you are supporting policies to promote bicycling, safer streets for riding, Safe Routes to School programs, and much more.
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Call for Auction Donations!

By Louise McGrody | Published August 14, 2012

The Washington Bikes is gearing up for its Annual Auction Gala and we have a lot to celebrate!  We are marking our 25th anniversary as a leader in growing bicycling around the state, celebrating the success of Safe Routes to School, and looking ahead to a future when folks of all ages and abilities can safely ride their bikes to work, play, learn, shop, get healthier, and have fun.

But there is more work ahead.  We need to shift the transportation balance, alter the political climate, and sway attitudes in favor of bicycling and its benefits for everyone–whether or not they ride.  The auction is our primary fundraiser and we hope you will support it by making a donation today.

We look for a range of items that will generate spirited bidding and represent the whole wide world of bicycle riding.  Our attendees are active folks who appreciate adventures, getaways, and unique experiences.  A private weeklong sailboat charter, a customized and catered weekend bike tour, a stay at a Maui condo, and a gourmet Mediterranean dinner for six have been highly prized offerings in the past.

Other popular donations include theatre and sporting event tickets, gift baskets, ski passes, handcrafted jewelry, private winery tours, massage/spa packages, and recreation opportunities.  Restaurant and retail gift cards are also welcome.  And so is a cash donation.

Please use our online donation form to submit your auction donation, and contact Louise McGrody if you have any questions.  To ensure that your donation makes the printed and online catalogue, we need to receive the information by October 15.  

Check our auction page for more information about the event, then save the date–November 3–and join us at the auction!  The event is a ton of fun–read about last year’s auction here.

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Projects will make it safer to bike in Spokane Valley

By Louise McGrody | Published August 9, 2012

It will soon be safer and easier to travel by bike or on foot around Spokane Valley.  After gaining council approval of its Bicycle Pedestrian Master Program (BPMP) last year, the city is now busy implementing it.
Nine bicycle and pedestrian projects are slated to be completed this year, including the Evergreen Road rehabilitation project.  This project will take advantage of a water line replacement project by VERA Water & Power to reconstruct Evergreen from 24th to 32ndAvenue and improve sidewalks and add bike lanes.
Marc Mims, Bicycle Alliance board member and Spokane Valley resident, pointed out this project will complete an important north-south bicycle route through the Valley and give cyclists safer access to Highway 27, a popular recreational bike route south of town.
In addition to the construction projects, the city has ten bicycle and walking projects in the planning and design stage.  According to Marc, two of them are especially significant to people who bike:  the University/I-90 Overpass Study and the Spokane Valley/Millwood Trail.
“We don’t have safe bike routes across I-90 anywhere in Spokane Valley,” stated Marc.  “The University Road/I-90 Overpass study could provide that.”
The Spokane Valley/Millwood Trail will provide the planning and design of a 6.5-mile trail from Spokane Community College to the Spokane Valley Mall, using a former Great Northern Railway corridor now owned by Spokane County.  The trail will provide a great east-west route through the Valley reaching destinations that are currently difficult to access by bike, Marc noted.
The BPMP was Spokane Valley’s first effort to plan for biking and walking, and the Bicycle Alliance provided technical assistance and input for it. Learn more about the city’s other planned bike and pedestrian projects and the BPMP here.
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