I was traveling through the Columbia Gorge recently and encountered this adrenaline event: the Maryhill Freeride! This two-day event near Goldendale offers downhill skaters, boarders and gravity bikers 2+ miles of winding, twisty pavement free of vehicles and all downhill. Over 100 riders from across the US and Canada flocked to the spring freeride. Now here’s your chance to experience the Maryhill course from the perspective of a gravity bike. Enjoy!
Volunteer Spotlight: Jim Hunt
Let me introduce you to Jim Hunt. He’s a Bicycle Alliance volunteer and stalwart biker—wait until you read about his graveyard commute! He also gives a technical set-up preference for getting around the Seattle topography, and tips for getting comfortable on a bike again!
Thanks for your time Jim, and happy trails out there!
What is your first memory of biking?
As a child, bicycling through the woods and crossing a small creek. I had to go through at just the right speed – too fast and you would not be able to handle traversing the creek bed and if too slow you would get stuck in the creek.
What roles have you filled as volunteer for the Bicycle Alliance over the years?
A few monthly work parties, a few Fat Tire beer festival events, a couple of auctions, some office work, and assistance with the strategic planning summit.
When and how did you become involved with the Bicycle Alliance?
In 2004 after I was unemployed I was interested in meeting some new folks and helping out. Bicycle advocacy for me has involved attending city transportation committee meetings, volunteering for bike/ped annual counts and stopping on my commute to move a fallen tree branch out of the bicycle path. I try to say hello to folks on my morning commute and try to stay calm with motorist.
What is your favorite ride, in the Seattle region or elsewhere?
Fall City to North Bend area with a stop at George’s Bakery for lunch.
What are you riding these days?
To and from work – started a new job on the graveyard shift and have yet to find many folks interested in riding together after midnight.
What is your winter riding gear set-up?
Light & Motion Seca 800 front light, DiNotte 120r back lite, a safety vest from Western Safety Products and an old Burly rain cape and gators. Fenders, rack and panniers to carry lunch and rain gear when not in use.
What is your strategy for tackling the topography of the region?
A modified front triple crank with a 26t small chain ring and mountain rear cassette with a 32 tooth cog that allows me to spin up most hills.
How does biking improve your quality of life?
I enjoy the exercise, seeing other folks out running, walking the dog or pushing baby strollers. It is nice to see the seasons change and observe what trees and plants are blooming. If I am lucky, I will see a bald eagle in the Juanita Marsh park area.
Lastly, any tips for people who may be tentative in dusting off that old bike in the garage?
Load the bike up in the car (if necessary) and head down to the Burke Gilman or Sammamish River Trails after work on a nice spring or summer relaxing ride. Turn around before you get tired. When starting out try to pedal into the wind, if it is windy. Don’t overdo it and practice shifting and braking. Before tackling the city streets read Bicycling Street Smarts at www.bikexprt.com. Some air in the tires always helps.
I agree Jim! Thanks so much for your dedication to integrating biking into your everyday life. If you too are interested in volunteering with the Bicycle Alliance, visit our website to get involved!
USBRS: Inspired to Get Involved
Thanks to intern Scott Chilberg for preparing this post.
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| Portions of SR 20 may become part of the USBRS. |
The reasons behind Washington Bikes’s support of the US Bike Route System (USBRS) are obvious. USBRS’s astounding and seemingly idealistic mission, to create an interstate bike highway connecting urban centers with some of the country’s most idyllic natural environments, would be a dream come true for many of our state’s avid bicyclists. Even more impressive is the progress that’s been made toward achieving that dream; over 40 states are currently working on the project with several more in the works.
So, with this clear alignment of interests, it was only natural that the Bicycle Alliance would agree to partner with Adventure Cycling Association to create US Bike Routes in Washington. With the support of Washington State Department of Transportation, it was decided to tackle a cross-state northern route first.
Several of our individual members, however, have extended their involvement with USBRS beyond the professional realm, and their reasons for doing so are, as stated by Bicycle Alliance Executive Director and soon-to-be USBRS volunteer Barb Culp, “purely selfish.”
“Washington is a great place to bicycle, with diverse climates and breathtaking views,” said Barb. “My husband Andy and I want to both explore the state from the seat of our bikes, and then share our experiences so that others will see the state in a new way. The cool thing about the USBRS is that we’ll be able to keep right on riding into Idaho on the bike route system, or down the coast into Oregon. Eventually we’ll be able to follow signed routes all over the country just like we did in Scotland. We rode for days just following the signs.”
Barb celebrates the fact that the US Bike Route System will focus on a 50 mile swatch on either side of the road, “thereby giving the bicyclist a reason to explore off the beaten path and visit the sights and communities along the way.”
Bicycle Alliance Board Member John Pope, of Anacortes, has also committed his personal time to assist with the US Bike Route Project. John first came into contact with USBRS in the 1990s while doing bike map work with the Skagit Council of Governments’ non-motorized advisory committee, and was thrilled when the idea was rekindled and the Bicycle Alliance pledged their involvement in the past few years.
“I love the back-roads of Washington and the greater Northwest,” said John. “I grew up in eastern Washington, at a time when the North Cascades Cross-State Highway project captured our hearts and opened new avenues for adventure and scenic beauty. My early bike touring across that new highway and into the BC border regions got me hooked. The Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail and other interests over the years have convinced me that a small, dedicated band of volunteers can make an enduring difference.”
Both John and Barb hope that, by being part of that dedicated band of volunteers, they will be able to help the USBRS dream become a reality in the Pacific Northwest.
Become a part of the USBRS movement! Click here to make a donation to our May fundraising effort for building the USBRS. Twenty percent of funds raised by the Bicycle Alliance will be used for USBRS efforts in Washington.
We also need additional volunteers! If you live in northern Washington and would like to help us develop this route, please contact Louise McGrody. We need volunteers to assist with community outreach and researching routes.
Build it. Bike it. Be a part of it.
Washington retains top ranking as most Bicycle Friendly State
For the fifth year in a row, Washington leads the nation as the most Bicycle Friendly State. The 2012 ranking of Bicycle Friendly States was announced by the League of American Bicyclists in honor of National Bike Month.
“We’re encouraged to see significant progress in top states like Washington, Minnesota, Colorado and Massachusetts,” said Andy Clarke, president of the League. “But, as the scores clearly highlight, there’s much work to be done in critical areas like infrastructure and funding. Overall, we see states—and especially state Departments of Transportation and state legislatures—lagging behind cities and the expectations of local cyclists, despite the many well-documented benefits of a more active lifestyle.”
The 2012 Bicycle Friendly States Ranking marks the launch of an updated and improved evaluation process. Throughout 2011, the League held Bicycle Friendly America listening sessions across the country to understand the successes and shortcomings of the program. Based on public input, the Bicycle Friendly State survey was revised to give a clearer picture of a state’s accomplishments and next steps towards becoming more bike-friendly.
Even with a revised survey, Washington once again set a high bar in 2012. The state scored 4’s and 5’s (5 is the highest score) on the League’s report card, receiving top scores for Education and Encouragement, and Evaluation and Planning. The report also makes recommendations for improvement. One recommendation for Washington includes developing a comprehensive strategy for working with law enforcement on bicycling issues, including training for officers and targeted enforcement of bike safety laws. Other recommendations are to continue to increase bicycle ridership and to fully fund and implement the state bicycle plan, which was adopted in 2006.
Strong and active bicycle advocacy at the state and local levels contribute to Washington’s top ranking. An improved distracted driving law and a vulnerable user law were passed due largely to the efforts of Washington Bikes, Cascade Bicycle Club, and other bike groups. The Bicycle Alliance has also been instrumental in expanding bicycle skills training in schools around the state with its Safe Routes to School program.
“Thanks to the League of American Bicyclists for this award. This honor comes with much responsibility for the state, bicycle advocates and others to continue to strive for complete streets ordinances in every community and Safe Routes to every school,” stated Barbara Culp, Executive Director for Washington Bikes. “This is a call to anyone who rides a bike to hold your city, county and state officials accountable to an even more bike-friendly state.”
The Bicycle Friendly State announcement was preceded last week by the League’s announcement of its latest Bicycle Friendly Community designations. Tacoma and Snohomish are the newest Washington communities to receive this designation. In all, ten Washington communities have earned a Bicycle Friendly Community designation.
Click here to see how Washington scored in the five evaluation categories. Learn more about the League’s Bicycle Friendly State program at www.bikeleague.org/states.
Posted in Education, Encouragement, Funding/Policy, Infrastructure, Issues & Advocacy, News, Safe Routes to School, Transportation
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Biking for Baseball
Meet Steve Lunn, Chase Higgins and Adam Kremers. These three friends, along with pals Rex Roberts and Tim Sherman, are the Biking for Baseball team.
Biking for Baseball combines three interests that the five friends share—biking, baseball, and mentoring youth—into an ambitious goal. The team plans to bike to every Major League ballpark for a home game while raising awareness and funds for local Big Brothers Big Sisters.
They kicked off their tour at the Seattle Mariners’ season opener on April 13, which is when they dropped by the Bicycle Alliance office to say hello. They have since pedaled down the West Coast and made their way across the Rockies to Denver. The tour will wrap up on September 21 and 11,000 miles later in Boston.
You can check out their route, follow their progress throughout the summer, and support their effort at bikingforbaseball.org.
Friday Fun: Ride Your Bike!
This is a good message anytime, but it’s especially appropriate today–Bike to Work Day. With the many Bike to Work events happening around our state and the National Bike Challenge underway, we hope you’re riding your bike!
Posted in Humor
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Tips for Newbie Women Bike Commuters
This guest blog post was written by Wendy Wheeler of Seattle. She is a new bike commuter and a captain of a Bike to Work team for federal agency employees.
As a new commuter-cyclist, I want to share some tips that can make your ride more enjoyable, and thus more likely.
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| Wendy Wheeler bikes with style. |
If you’re like me, you have a list of “shoulds” as long as your arm. The trick for me was to take the idea of commuting by bike and make it as fun as possible. Now, it’s something that I really enjoy and I look forward to doing, rather than something that I’m trying to squeeze into my day.
Make it easier: Metro is your friend.
The bike racks on the Metro buses are really easy to use, once you’ve done it once. Try it first on a weekend for less pressure, just load it on at one stop and take it off a couple of stops later. With the bus, you have an infinite number of ways you can slice your commute. Any part that you don’t want to ride on a particular day, you don’t have to.
Keep it easier: Have a back-up plan for rain.
My back up plan is four-fold – I could leave my bike locked in my office’s parking garage, I could stop at any point and use Metro, my top layers are water-resistant, and almost all of my clothes are machine washable anyway. So I can choose how wet I’m willing to be. When I’m warm, it doesn’t bother me. Most days in Seattle this time of year, it’s not actually raining all day, just showers that may not coincide with the ride anyway.
Make it fun: Dress it up.
I am a big fan of visibility. I have a front light and a back light on the bike and smaller ones on helmet and my backpack. I also think having a bright-colored top layer is a good idea. But I don’t feel the need to look like I’m preparing to bike the tour de France. Spandex is not my friend these days. J So I turn the “what to wear” formula on its head and go for something nicer than my normal dark work pants.
If I’m striving to be visible, why not wear a bright top and cute skirt? Skirts are among the most comfortable riding wear there is – they move with you, they tend to be lightweight, they’re already up out of the chain area, and they don’t bunch and compress in the middle. You can get tons of inexpensive skirts to try for shape/size/flow at your neighborhood Goodwill or Value Village – get something with a pattern and then even if you get drizzled-on on the way to work it will still look great. The one in my photo was originally too long, so I chopped the ruffle and some length off the bottom, reattached it, and now it’s ready to go. For spring/fall, I wear the skirt with tights. When it’s warm (here’s hoping!), I’ll wear a pair of snug yoga shorts, or boy short style underpinnings underneath, and it’ll comfortable and modest enough for unexpected cross-winds.
Likewise, on shoes, try using that pair of work shoes that are good for walking. My faves are a pair of Naots – cork insoles, adjustable strap, low heel and a bow. They have enough support to be comfortable on the pedals, but are office perfect the minute I step off the bike.
Keep it fun, don’t worry much about your hair.
I have the gift of slightly curly hair. So my office mates know that it will never look tidy anyway. This gives me freedom with how it looks post- helmet. There are websites with tips on hair and cycling, check them out if you’re going for a specific look. My tip would be to try both the wet and dry options (as long as it’s not freezing out). You may find that starting with slightly damp hair actually gives you a more controlled look after your ride (less frizz/fuzz).
Above all, enjoy your ride.
I think you’ll find that you feel better after the fresh air and workout. Enjoy that you’ve made this time to treat yourself.
The Bicycle Alliance’s Go By Bike brochure also offers some good tips for getting started with biking for errands and commuting.
Posted in Bike to Work, Commuting, Encouragement, Guest Blogger
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Thank you to our Safety Education Trainers!
This blog post was submitted by our SRTS Training Coordinator Seth Schromen-Wawrin.
In mid April, our Safe Routes to School Bike and Pedestrian Safety Education Program finished the last training for our current grant. In the last 14 months, we conducted 25 trainings all over Washington State. This was possible due to the amazing talent and dedication of Eileen Hyatt and Katie Ferguson.
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| Eileen Hyatt |
Eileen Hyatt has been a member of the Bike Alliance since the 1990s and is currently a board member. She lives in Spokane where she has pioneered teaching bicycle safety skills in schools in Washington State. Katie is a former Americorp intern for the Bike Alliance. She has an unfaltering enthusiasm for teaching bicycling skills.
Together, this duo faired snowy mountain passes, long lonely drives to remote sections of the state, teaching outside in sleet and the blistering sun, and came back smiling. Teachers unanimously raved about their high quality teaching and knowledge. As one teacher said, “it is so great to have this training taught by someone experienced working with students.”
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| Katie Ferguson |
The training is a two-day training on how to teach the Bike and Pedestrian Safety Education curriculum to middle school students. The training “opened up my eyes and will keep kids safe and having fun,” one participant commented.
Most of the participants in the trainings were physical education instructors, yet the proficiency with riding was very varied. Often participants would come back from a road ride stating that this was the first time they felt safe riding with traffic. Through the skill and dedication of Eileen and Katie, we are growing safe, confident, and comfortable bike riders all over the state.
They trained 141 physical education teachers at 27 districts in 18 counties. This first statewide class of Bike and Pedestrian Safety Education teachers will continue teaching the curriculum in the years to come. About 15,000 students will go through the curriculum every year. Fifteen thousand students from two trainers. That is an impact!
Posted in Education, News, People, Safe Routes to School
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Tacoma, Snohomish join the ranks of Bicycle Friendly Communities
The League of American Bicyclists (LAB) announced its 2012 round of new and renewing Bicycle Friendly Communities and the Washington communities of Tacoma and Snohomish joined the ranks at the bronze level. Port Townsend improved its ranking from bronze to silver and Vancouver retained its bronze status.
Washington is currently ranked as the most Bicycle Friendly State by LAB’s Bicycle Friendly America program. Ten of our communities are now ranked as Bicycle Friendly Communities with Seattle holding the only gold award. Seventeen state businesses have earned a Bicycle Friendly Business designation and the University of Washington holds a silver ranking as a Bicycle Friendly University.
The Bicycle Friendly America program provides incentives, hands-on assistance, and award recognition for communities, universities and businesses that actively support bicycling, and ranks states annually based on their level of bike-friendliness. Learn more about it here.
Posted in Encouragement, Everett, Tacoma
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Bike to Work Day: Drop by our Energizer Station in Pioneer Square!
Friday, May 18 is Bike to Work Day and Washington Bikes is hosting an energizer station from 7 – 9 AM for bike commuters in our Pioneer Square neighborhood.Drop by to get your copy of the hot-off-the-press 2012 Seattle Bike Map, coffee courtesy of Zeitgeist, and some sweet treats thanks to Sugar Bakery & Cafe. The good folks from Back Alley Bike Repairwill be on hand to do bike safety checks, and we are generously giving out high fives and other goodies.
Look for our energizer table in front of our office at 314 First Avenue South.
Posted in Bike to Work, News, Seattle
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