Bike Month Event Calendar Pg. 2 May 2014 / Vol. 44 No. 5
cascade.org
You did it! The Seattle City Council passed the Bike Master Plan By Anne-Marije Rook, Communications Director
You did it! On Monday, April 14, the Seattle City Council approved the new Bicycle Master Plan! In its community outreach, the Seattle Department of Transportation received tens of thousands of comments and responses with an overwhelming unified message: Seattle streets need to be safer for all users. The city heard your comments and Seattle City Council members unanimously voted to move ahead with the Bike Master Plan. In the works for more than two years, the new bike plan is a transformative document that will fundamentally reshape how the city plans and builds bike routes to connect its neighborhoods. The plan focus is to make bicycling a convenient, integral part of daily life and to quadruple ridership between 2014 and 2030. The plan includes more than 470 miles of new or upgraded bicycle infrastructure, including off-street paths, bike bridges, protected bike
lanes and neighborhood greenways. The Citywide Network will feature an impressive 608.3-mile network of bicycle facilities including both neighborhood destinations and cross-town connections. Whether you’re an 8-year-old kid or an 80-year-old grandparent, getting around Seattle on a bike should be safe, easy and comfortable. When fully implemented, Seattle’s ambitious new Bike Master Plan will make that vision a reality. A huge debt of gratitude goes out to Councilmember Tom Rasmussen for his steadfast leadership as Chair of the Transportation Committee and shepherding the Plan through to adoption. In addition, Councilmembers Sally Bagshaw, Sally Clark and Mike O’Brien have been great champions for building a complete network of protected bike lanes and neighborhood greenways across Seattle. We also thank the Seattle Department of Transportation for their tireless dedication to the Bicycle Master
Seattle City Council members Mike O’Brien and and Tom Rasmussen celebrate with cake after the Bike Master Plan was passed through council.
Plan and Mayor Ed Murray and his staff for quickly resolving a lawsuit that had held up the plan’s adoption. Last but not least, we want to thank YOU. You and the thousands of Seattleites who attended SDOT’s open houses, spoke up at public hearings and sent letters to council members. We couldn’t have done it without you. So what’s next?
Truth is, our work is only beginning. To realize the Plan’s priorities, the city council will need to re-prioritize budgets and voters will need
to approve new funding through ballot measures. In addition, there are important projects like the Westlake and Downtown protected bike lanes, completion of the Missing Link, and neighborhood greenways in Montlake and the Rainier Valley that need our special attention this year. We’ll need your advocacy to make it happen, so stick around to make sure Seattle funds and builds the new bike network. Visit cascade.org/connect-seattle to get involved.
May is Bike Month: Go Anywhere! coworkers, community members or friends. Invite a friend to join your team and help them fall in love with two-wheeled transport. commutechallenge.cascade.org
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Bike to School
Whether you’re a beginner or a lifelong rider, May is the best time of year to hop on your bike and go anywhere—to work, school, the farmers’ market or wherever your day takes you. Celebrate National Bike Month by participating in Cascade’s great lineup of events. Whether you’re biking to the Mariners game or to the library, this month’s events will help you experience your community from a new
view and give you the confidence to go anywhere by bike. Riding a bike for transportation will get you out of traffic and on the path to a healthier, happier you! Where will you go by bike? Adobe Commute Challenge Presented by F5
Challenge yourself and others to ride as much as possible during May in this fun, friendly trip-tracking contest. Ride solo or form a team of
National Bike to School Month is a time for kids across the country to engage in active transportation. We encourage students to begin their school day with a safe, active commute and to continue these healthy habits throughout the year. Cascade Bicycle Club hosts friendly Bike to School competitions to reward elementary, middle and high school students who track their bicycle trips. cascade.org/bts Find a calendar of events on page 3
IN THIS ISSUE: Elizabeth’s column........................................................................................................................................................................................................ p.2 Heard at the front desk................................................................................................................................................................................................. p.2 Bike Month Events Calendar....................................................................................................................................................................................... p.3 Bikenomics...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... p.7 Commuter Corner........................................................................................................................................................................................................... p.8 Marking the Way..............................................................................................................................................................................................................p.9