Blog & News - Page 83 of 116 - Washington BikesWashington Bikes

Try Bike-and-Bus for Bike to Work Week!

By Louise McGrody | Published May 14, 2012

Have you shied away from biking to work because your commute seems too long or a little too hilly? Consider a bike-and-bus trip! You can bus to work and bike home, or you can bus through a difficult segment and bike the rest. Our friends at King County Metro and Sound Transit are offering a great promotional deal (as in FREE) on bike-and-bus trips during the week of May 14-18 in King County. Here’s their announcement:

King County Metro and Sound Transit encourage people to try bike-and-bus trips during Bike Month. During the week of May 14-18, any cyclist loading a bike on a Metro bus or ST Express bus operated in King County will ride free. ST Express routes included are: 540, 542, 545, 550, 554, 555, 556 and 560.

Each bus has three spaces on its bike rack, which are available on a first come/first served basis. If the bus bike rack is full, cyclists should be prepared to wait for the next bus or consider leaving their bike parked in a bike rack at a transit facility. Bike lockers are also available at many Metro and Sound Transit facilities.

Metro has display bike racks available at five locations around the county for new cyclists who want to try loading their bike in a pressure-free environment. Practice racks are available at North Seattle Community College, the University of Washington, Bellevue College, Alki Bike and Board in West Seattle and at the offices of Washington Bikes in Pioneer Square. Detailed information on hours and locations can be found at http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bike/rackfaq.html

Posted in Bike to Work, Seattle, Transit | 1 Comment

GiveBIG=BigSUCCESS!!

By baw_admin | Published May 11, 2012

Washington Bikes is delighted to announce our BigSUCCESS during the GiveBIG campaign. Our first year participating in the one day online philanthropic event we raised $6,720 from 63 donors, surpassing our goal of raising $4,000 from 40 donors!

Our entire staff kept the momentum going as we updated our supporters on Facebook, Twitter, and e-mail. Thank you to our staff and Board members for their generous contributions, many of which came in as challenges to raise more money from multiple Bicycle Alliance donors. We are still awaiting news from The Seattle Foundation about how many dollars we received from the “stretch” pool and from employer matching funds.

We thank Seattle Foundation and all the sponsors of GiveBIG for supporting such a well-received charitable event. Overall giving more than doubled from 2011 with a total $7.43 million in contributions raised and more than 37,800 individual online gifts.

GiveBIG attracted donations from all 50 states and 23 foreign countries.

Posted in News | Comments Off

Farewell to my job at the Bicycle Alliance, but not Goodbye

By baw_admin | Published May 11, 2012

After three years as our Office Manager and Membership Coordinator, Donna Govro is moving on. She looks back on her time with the Bicycle Alliance with some fond memories.

I have decided to leave my job at the Bicycle Alliance to pursue other interests of an entrepreneurial nature. It’s with mixed feelings that I say goodbye, as the Bicycle Alliance has not only been an employer to me but an organization that supports my views on bicycling as a way to promote a healthy lifestyle.

From the very beginning, I knew that the Bicycle Alliance was not going to be a typical, quiet office job. After only a few weeks on the job, I volunteered to participate in the Gay Pride parade and found myself in the office practicing the hand signals to the tune of the pop song “YMCA” and then bicycling down 2^nd Avenue next to my new boss on his folding bike dressed in a clown costume. Then there was the Tour de Fat bicycle event where everyone donned zany costumes. We had volunteers dressed as the “Lunch Ladies” serving beer and the President of the Bicycle Alliance wearing a beer tap vest and beer cap construction helmet as he carried the cash to the safe! Or on a more serious time when everyone in the office pedaled to Golden Gardens park one brisk, sunny morning to plant a memorial Susie Tree. There were many times that I traveled to various events during the work day or on weekends not by bus or car but by bicycle, giving me an even greater appreciation for our mission.

Looking back, I am sure that these are the things that I will miss the fun and quirky times. I might even some day miss the administration and organization that it took to support them. But most of all I think that I will miss my co-workers and the volunteers. I also have to say thank you to everyone at the Bicycle Alliance, the staff, volunteers, members and the board. Through my association with the Bicycle Alliance I have learned many things, but mostly that I can bicycle anywhere I please.

Posted in News, People | 3 Comments

USBRS: Build it. Bike it. Be a Part of it.

By baw_admin | Published May 10, 2012

Thanks to Scott Chilberg for assistance with this post.

Imagine an interstate highway system for bicycles…officially recognized and signed bike routes that crisscross our country, connecting urban centers, parks, landmarks and other popular destinations, and traveling through some of the most spectacular scenery this country has to offer.

This is no pipe dream, friends. I’m talking about the US Bicycle Route System (USBRS), an ambitious project led by the Adventure Cycling Association. Presently, more than 40 states are working on U.S. Bicycle Routes. Last year, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials approved six new U.S. Bicycle Routes : USBR 1 in Maine and New Hampshire, USBR 20 in Michigan, and USBR 8, 95, 97, and 87 in Alaska — the first official U.S. Bicycle Routes to be established since 1982. Several more approvals are expected in the upcoming month.

Washington Bikes is partnering with Adventure Cycling to create the routes in our state that will be part of the USBRS. Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is working with us on this effort and we hope to have our first officially recognized US bike route–USBR 10 across the northern tier of the state–in a few years.

Adventure Cycling is doing a fundraising campaign for the USBRS during the month of May. We are participating as Team Washingtonand we hope you will make a donation to our team. Twenty percent of the money that we raise as Team Washington will come back to support the local effort.

Use this link to our fundraising page to make a contribution to the USBRS and Team Washington today. Everyone who makes a donation to our team will be eligible for a drawing for some cool gifts, including a Share the Road jersey.

Build it. Bike it. Be a part of it.

Posted in USBRS | Comments Off

Ale-Liance IPA: The Story Behind the Beer

By Louise McGrody | Published May 9, 2012

May is the month that beer and bicycles share the stage. It is National Bike Month, a time to celebrate all things bicycling – and we do it up in a big way in Washington. May is also the month for Seattle Beer Week, a collection of events celebrating local beer culture.

Erinn and Barb sample some Ale-Liance IPA at Schooner Exact.

This year, the two cultures have come together in a unique and exciting way. Washington Bikes and Schooner Exact Brewing Companyhave partnered together to present Ale-Liance IPA. This specially created beer celebrates bicycle advocacy in a popular Northwest way – the IPA.

The idea for such a beer was hatched one evening at a party hosted by Bicycle Alliance Executive Director Barbara Culp. Some guests were discussing how there seemed to be a natural affinity between bikes and beer, and wouldn’t it be cool if a local brewery produced a special beer that promoted bicycle advocacy.

“I think I can make it happen!” exclaimed Erinn Hale and she promptly volunteered to take it on as a project.

Erinn was the perfect person for the assignment. She combined her knowledge of the local beer culture with her creative marketing skills and interest in bicycling, and called upon the bike friendly folks at Schooner Exact. Ale-Liance IPA was born!

Schooner Exact has produced 30 kegs of Ale-Liance IPAfor Bike Month and launched the first keg at the Bicycle Alliance’s open house on May 3. Kegs of this limited edition beer will be available at select Puget Sound locations during the month of May, and a portion of every keg sold will benefit the Alliance’s work to grow bicycling statewide. Serving locations will be posted on the Bicycle Alliance and Ale-Liance IPA Facebook pages.

Tour de Pints – a pub crawl on bikes – is also an opportunity to sample Ale-Liance IPA. Three pubs on the route will feature the beer: Fiddler’s Inn, Ravenna Alehouse, and Wurst Tavern. The Bicycle Alliance will be on hand at Pike Brewery – the start of the ride – with a $20 membership special that includes an Ale-Liance pint glass and beer!

Happy Bike Month and cheers!

Posted in Bike Culture, News, People, Volunteer | Comments Off

North Cascades Highway Ciclovia

By Louise McGrody | Published May 8, 2012

Open streets, a.k.a. ciclovias, are events that temporarily close streets to vehicle traffic so people can use them for biking, walking, playing and socializing. These events are gaining traction nationally and, in Washington, the cities of Seattle and Spokane organize open streets events in the summer.

Last Sunday, Steve and I participated in a ciclovia of sorts. We biked the scenic North Cascades Highway, which is currently closed to vehicle traffic until WSDOT crews clear it of winter snow. The highway is closed from milepost 134, east of Diablo Lake, to milepost milepost 171, 14 miles west of Mazama in the winter.

In the spring, bicyclists have a window of opportunity to ride portions—sometimes all—of the closed highway before the road is opened to vehicle traffic. (And yes, it is legal to bike this highway during its closure.) Sunny skies, combined with a WSDOT report indicating that they hoped to reopen the North Cascades Highway late this week, convinced us to bike it on Sunday.

We pulled into the Diablo Lake overlook in time to watch a group of bike riders depart for a ride up the road. We leisurely pedaled the couple of miles to the gated closure at milepost 134. There were more cyclists readying themselves for a ride, and a couple of pedestrians too. In total, we encountered 25 cyclists and two pedestrians taking advantage of the car-free highway.

The ride was amazing! Lacking a steady procession of cars and RVs, I could enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the mountains.

We weren’t relegated to shoulder riding, but you should stay on your side of the road as you may encounter approaching cyclists, heavy equipment (except Friday-Sunday), or an occasional official vehicle.

We discovered that Bigfoot had been here!

We stopped at waterfalls along the way to quench our thirst.

We witnessed where avalanches had crossed the road.

We reached the end of our climb and the end of the snow plowing at Rainy Pass.

We hung out with other cyclists to take a break and check out the fancy snow removal equipment before facing the long descent back to the car.

There’s also an east side version of the North Cascades Highway ciclovia via Mazama, as posted on the Methow Valley Sport Trails Association’s Facebook page.

Before you head out, be sure to get the latest report from WSDOT and check the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center for current conditions. The highway passes through avalanche terrain.

Posted in Adventure, Rides, WSDOT | Tagged open streets | 2 Comments

National Bike Challenge Kicks Off!

By baw_admin | Published May 7, 2012

This post was prepared by intern Scott Chilberg.

The 2012 Get Up and Ride National Bike Challenge kicked off on May 1 and 324 Washington bicyclists logged in nearly 4800 miles last week! It’s not too late to sign up! You can set up an account at any point in the Challenge, so just because it’s already started doesn’t mean you’ve missed your chance to join in! See our previous posts hereand herefor a reminder of the rules and the procedure for setting up an account.

Many of you are already participating in local bike challenges in honor of May being National Bike Month, and there’s no reason why you can’t count those miles toward the National Bike Challenge as well. There are all kinds of ways to participate, whether you decide to bike every day as your primary means of transportation or ride recreationally a few times a month. In fact, we’d love to hear your personal story! Send an email to Louise McGrody and describe your Bike Challenge experiences – how you’ve chosen to participate, what motivates you to bike, or even just a personal anecdote related to biking – and we might post your story on our blog.

So, if you haven’t already, register for the Bike Challenge, download the smartphone app, and start cycling!

Posted in Bike to Work, Commuting, Encouragement, Events | Comments Off

Friday Fun: Max – Bike Pump

By baw_admin | Published May 4, 2012

Another fun video for Friday. Enjoy!

Posted in Commuting, Humor | Comments Off

It’s Official!

By baw_admin | Published May 3, 2012

May is Bike Month in the State of Washington as proclaimed by Governor Gregoire. Check it out!

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

We’re busy with Bike Month!

By baw_admin | Published May 3, 2012

May is National Bike Month and many Washington communities have Bike to Work and Bike to School events planned. Check our website for a list of communities hosting Bike to Work activities.

The Bicycle Alliance is organizing and/or participating in a number of Bike Month activities:

We’re kicking off Bike Month with an Open House and Alley Party on May 3. We’re featuring Tour de France photos by Mike Hone and serving Ale-Liance IPA, a limited edition beer crafted by Schooner Exact Brewery especially for us!

Look for us at Cascade Bicycle Club’s Bike to Work breakfast on May 4.

We’re handing out bagels and bike information with Commute Seattle for Bikes & Bagels on May 12

Drop by the Bicycle Alliance office on Bike to Work Day – May 18 from 7-9am – for treats, info and bike maps! Our friends at Back Alley Bike Repair will be on hand to do bike safety checks.

We’re co-sponsoring the Interagency Bike Ride in Olympia – also on May 18.

The first National Bike Challenge launches May 1 and runs through August 31 and we’re bringing it to Washington. The Challenge gives bicycle riders who don’t have a local Bike to Work event an opportunity to log their miles and compete for prizes. For those in a Bike to Work event, the National Bike Challenge keeps the biking momentum going throughout the summer! Read a previous blog post about the Challenge.

Now get out and ride!

Posted in Bike to Work, Encouragement, Events | Comments Off