March 2016 Cascade Courier by Cascade Bicycle Club

improving lives through bicycling

Experience history in the making p. 6-7 March 2016 / Vol. 46 No. 3

cascade.org

Family & friends ride in memory of Jerry Baker Group Health funding helps expand the By Briana Orr, Communications & Marketing Manager Major Taylor Project By Ed Ewing, Director, Major Taylor Project

G.S. Flash, aka Team Baker will ride in blue and orange jerseys like this one Jerry wore in 2009. Courtesy of Shane Willams.

Family and friends of the late Jerry Baker will ride in memory of him in the 37th annual Group Health Seattle to Portland (STP) presented by Alaska Airlines. A founding member of Cascade and Washington Bikes and founder of the Jerry Baker Memorial Velodrome (which was renamed posthumously), Jerry was truly the godfather of cycling in the Northwest.

Andy Baker, Jerry’s son, said the idea of riding the STP in memory of his father bubbled up amongst many of Jerry’s friends and family. After all, “what more appropriate way to celebrate Jerry Baker could there be?” asked Andy. Along with a handful of friends, Jerry founded and won the first (and only) time-trial race from Seattle to Portland in 1979. Now a common household acronym in the Northwest, 10,000 people complete the epic journey every year. Jerry finished his 36th STP in 2015. He’s the only person to have ridden every year, and in his honor, Cascade retired the number 36 bib. G.S. Flash, aka Team Baker, will pedal from Seattle to Portland, a 200+ mile journey — most completing it in one day. Jerry started G.S. Flash as a serious racing team back in 1991, but Andy said no one has been serious for a long time. They will wear bib numbers 3701, 3702, etc. in Jerry’s honor. And several will be riding the STP for the first time. The Group Health STP presented by Alaska Airlines is made possible with support from the local communities through which the route passes. The STP is a joint fundraiser between Cascade Bicycle Club and Washington Bikes. In addition to supporting Cascade and Washington Bikes programs, rider registration fees help give back to the communities we pass through and the organizations that thrive along the route.

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

7787 62nd Ave. NE Seattle, WA 98115 www.cascade.org

TIME DATED MATERIAL

PRSRT STD US Postage Paid Seattle, WA PERMIT No. 2172

Left to right: Deborah “Spot” Stephenson, the late Jerry Baker and their daughter Julia Baker, celebrate at the 2015 STP finish line. Julia will be riding STP this year with 20+ family and friends in memory of Jerry.

Whether you are riding in memory of a loved one or to challenge yourself, STP sells out every year, so be sure to register early! Public registration is now available at cascade.org/stp.

MTP will expand to six more schools and reach even more students, thanks to funding from Group Health.

The Major Taylor Project is a year-round, youth development cycling program produced by Cascade, integrating bicycling, healthy living, bicycle maintenance, road safety awareness and the importance of working toward individual goals. 2016 began with the Major Taylor Project (MTP) receiving very exciting news. This year MTP will add six new schools, partially through additional support from Group Health. Group Health has doubled its support of MTP, enhancing its investment in this initiative and deepening its support in the community. With the increased funding, MTP plans to increase its programming to two additional schools in Tacoma and four in South Seattle, reaching a total of 16 schools! We began our expansion plans by discussing ways MTP could further its impact in the community. Several Seattle and Tacoma communities have uniquely positioned middle and high schools where the middle schools function as “feeder” schools for co-located high schools. We identified an opportunity for MTP to partner with co-located middle and high schools to begin bicycle education early in youth development. This is also an opportunity to further invest in the neighborhood and better understand community goals and needs. In 2014 MTP piloted this approach at Seattle’s Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School. Denny and Chief Sealth are rather unique

in that both schools share a common campus. After school, Denny students see Chief Sealth students riding off campus and frequently ask, “Can we get bikes?” or “When do we get to ride?” Group Health values MTP as a community-based preventive initiative to ensure good health habits in diverse youth and immediately recognized the long-term health benefits of reaching youth early in development. Young people in diverse and/or low-income communities encounter an increased risk of diabetes, obesity and limited access to physical activity and healthy food. There are also limited opportunities to explore community green spaces and parks, not to mention the social and emotional effects of living in poverty. Probably the most exciting and impactful outcome of the MTP expansion is the opportunity for peer-to-peer mentorship. High school students will have the opportunity to volunteer as MTP ride leaders on weekly rides with middle schoolers. High school graduation requirements include a community service component, and students receive service hour credits for volunteerism. In its eight years of operation, a number of siblings have pedaled through MTP. We also see the opportunity for siblings to mentor and ride with each other— who would pass up the chance to ride with their kid sister or brother! Thank you, Group Health, for your enhanced and continued support and shared commitment to improving health!

March 2016

In gratitude & joy: Emerald City Bike Ride By Elizabeth Kiker, Executive Director

Big win for East Lake Sammamish Trail! By Robin Randels, Community Advocate and Jan Bird, Friends of the East Lake Sammamish Trail

East Lake Sammamish Trail, courtesy of King County Parks. From left to right: Lynn Peterson, Scott Kubly and Elizabeth Kiker out for a bike ride last June.

I briefly worked at Bike New York in 2013. During my time there, I was able to witness their biggest event, the Five Boro Bike Tour. Held every year with 35,000 riders, this event transforms the entire city of New York. I stood on scaffolding that year, and the waves of bike riders were all that was visible on the entire horizon. A veritable ocean of people gathered at 5 a.m., riding 40 relatively flat miles around the city — the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the Brooklyn Queens Expressway and several other bridges closed for the community. That ride, and the view of that many riders riding freely on that many streets and bridges, has inspired me ever since. Luckily, Governor Jay Inslee, former Washington Department of Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and Seattle Department of Transportation Director Scott Kubly worked together to allow Cascade to realize part of that vision with the Emerald City Bike Ride this April. While no one has (yet) agreed to make this an annual event, the idea of tying a ride like this to the grand opening of the 520 Bridge was Lynn Peterson’s, and it was widely applauded. The Emerald City Bike Ride — which will give bicyclists access to the longest floating bridge in the world months before the bike trail on the side opens — will cross the new 520 and then access the I-5 express lanes. We’ll come back via the International District and Lake Washington Boulevard. We hope to see thousands of bike riders, of all ages, types and styles, pouring through the streets of Seattle. Special thanks to our sponsors Group Health, Boeing, PROSports Club, Performance and Clif Bar. I am hoping the Emerald City Bike Ride will build on the success of city rides across North America (in addition to New York City, Chicago, Portland and Montreal have hugely successful events), while highlighting the specific beauty and awesome (floating!) bridges of the Pacific Northwest. My kids are taking the long way to school, up an extra hill, to prepare for the eight-mile route we’ll be riding together. I hope this is the first of many organized rides we’ll be doing together, and the first of many Emerald City Bike Rides. There is still time to sign up — Cascade member kids one to 12 years old ride for only $5! See you out there,

The results of a four-day hearing are in, and the East Lake Sammamish Trail (ELST) is now one segment closer to completion! A regional trail for people who walk and bike, the East Lake Sammamish Trail runs between Issaquah and Redmond. It follows an inactive rail line along the east shore of Lake Sammamish and forms a crucial connection in a 44-mile regional trail system that links the Puget Sound at Shilshole Marina to the Issaquah/ Preston Trail. Over time, segments of the trail in Issaquah and Redmond have been paved and finished to national standards — 18 feet wide, three feet buffers, landscaping and resting places along the way. The first section in northern Sammamish opened in June 2015 and provides a safe, comfortable place for walking and biking. Still to receive the finishing touches are two segments, A and B, of the gravel section between Redmond and Issaquah. These pieces have been disputed by trailside neighbors, consequently delaying the construction that was scheduled for October 2015. Thursday, Jan. 28 marked the final day of arguments at the hearing of

three appeals that challenged the trail’s progress. Among the issues were trail width, stop sign placement, tree preservation, right of way ownership and stormwater responsibilities. The final ruling, delivered in February, largely removed these barriers for the South Sammamish segment A from SE 43rd Way to SE 33rd Street (approximately 1.2 miles). Barring future appeals, King County will also move forward with design of Segment B from SE 33rd Street to Inglewood Hill Road (approximately 3.6 miles). The ELST has great potential to get more people out bicycling once it’s upgraded to the national standards and connects with the rest of our Puget Sound region. We’ll need your support over the next year to make this complete connection a reality. We will have several great opportunities for you to get involved with trail advocacy efforts. Join the amazing advocates at Friends of the East Lake Sammamish Trail Facebook page to learn more and add your support. Visit their website at http://eastlakesammamishtrail.org/ E-mail Robin Randels, Community Advocate at robinr@cascade.org to get involved.

SEPTEMBER 17

Elizabeth Kiker

www.cascade.org

Vol. 46, No. 3

Share breakfast with 1,000 friends from the bicycling community at bicycling’s biggest celebration of the year!

Join the annual Ride for Major Taylor on Saturday, April 16! By Ed Ewing, Major Taylor Project Director

The Group Health Bike Everywhere Breakfast Wednesday, April 20, 7-9 a.m. Seattle Sheraton

Students, parents and Major Taylor supporters will ride together this April on the second annual Ride for Major Taylor.

Celebrating Bicycling’s Game Changers Join President and CEO of REI Jerry Stritzke and other special guests for a morning you won’t forget. This breakfast is all about fun and raising money to support a bicycle-friendly Washington. Come in bike shorts or a bow tie — it’s up to you. Your support helps get more people on bikes and push for safer places to ride. Register today at cascade.org/breakfast.

KIDS LOVE BIKE

The Cascade Bicycle Club is pleased to bring back to our 2016 lineup the second annual Ride for Major Taylor! Come explore new communities and improve lives through bicycling with the Ride for Major Taylor on Saturday, April 16. A fundraiser for the Major Taylor Project, the Ride for Major Taylor will again take riders on a 25-mile urban journey through West Seattle, Delridge, Burien, Seatac, Tukwila and White Center. New this year, we’ll add a rest stop at Foster High School, one of the schools the Major Taylor Project is active in. With this ride we invite you to explore the culturally rich and diverse communities of South and Southeast Seattle where our Major Taylor Project is introducing youth to the joys, recreation and empowerment of cycling. Now in its eighth year, the Major Taylor Project is a year-round youth development program focused on introducing youth from diverse communities to cycling and creating an inclusive culture of bicycling that will continue to future generations. The Major Taylor currently serves 10 schools in South, Southeast Seattle and in Tacoma. This year, the

Major Taylor Project will expand to six additional schools! When asked what their favorite part of last year’s ride was, participants said: “Seeing the Major Taylor kids out and about — their excitement, enthusiasm, etc. — and riding through southend communities.” “Riding in West Seattle, White Center, Burien, other South end communities that Cascade does not usually visit, and supporting the kids.” “Getting to ride through areas of Seattle that I had never seen.” The Ride for Major Taylor is the biggest fundraising event for the Major Taylor Project. Donations and pledges are encouraged, and this year riders and supporters can launch your very own fundraising campaign! Gather support from your friends, family, coworkers, teammates and create your fundraising page at fundraise.cascade.org — it’s easy! Register today at cascade.org/ ride-for-mtp.

CAMPP NEW

All-Girls Camp Bike & Sail Camp Bike & Climb Camp

cascade.org/camps Improving Lives Through Bicycling

March 2016

Our Free Group Rides are riding SMART By Peter Hallson, Rides Committee & Free Group Ride Leader

Free Group Rides (FGR) provide anyone in the Puget Sound area the opportunity to improve their bicycle skills and learn how to ride in a group. The Rides Committee — which provides advisory oversight and organizational support to the Free Group Rides program — records statistics of rides, riders and ride incidents (among other things) to track progress of the FGR program. In 2015, FGR offered 2,676 rides with about eight to nine people per ride for a total of more than 22,460 participants. Of those riders, 99.8 percent completed their ride without incident! We think that’s a pretty good track record. However good this accomplishment, the goal of the club is to do even better! Zero incidents is our goal. Whether you’re on a Free Group Ride or one of our signature rides, make “ride SMART” your personal riding mantra, and you’ll enjoy a safer experience, too Enjoy the ride and ride SMART!

R I DE S MA R T S STAY ALERT

Momentary inattention is the number one cause of incidents. Watch for vehicles, bicyclists, pedestrians and hazards. Do not wear earbuds or use phones while riding.

MAINTAIN SPACE

Leave enough room in front of you to avoid other riders, vehicles and hazards. Ride outside the door zone, and move off the road or trail when stopping.

A ACT SAFELY

AND PREDICTABLY

Wear a properly fitted helmet. Make sure you can see and be seen. Ride a straight line and only pass on the left. Be courteous.

RESPECT THE RULES OF THE ROAD

Obey all traffic laws; stop for all red lights and stop signs. Signal turns whenever safe, ride no more than two abreast (single file is safer) and yield right-of-way when appropriate.

AHEAD AND TALK T THINK Scan ahead and anticipate what others will do. Communicate actions and hazards, tell others when passing and cross railroad tracks at a right angle when possible.

THE COURIER CREW Editor in Chief: Briana Orr Editor: Diana Bryant Layout: Sarah Kulfan Additional design: Tom Eibling, Kotis Design Photographers: King County Parks, Briana Orr, Heidi Schillinger, Shane Williams Contributors: Jeff Aken, Sam Alcorn, Diana Bryant, Barb Chamberlain, Andrea Clinkscales, Mary Collins, Ed Ewing, Peter Hallson, Meghna Jaradi, Elizabeth Kiker, Tarrell Kullaway, Andrew Kopp, Morgan Michel, Briana Orr, Ariana Rundquist, Rebecca Sorensen, Stacey Williams

We welcome your contributions!

Advertising:

Got an inspiring story or a great photo? We welcome submissions. The editorial calendar is planned one month in advance. If you wish to contribute an article to a future issue, contact the editor as early as possible. Articles and photographic submissions are due by the 10th of the month prior to publication. Articles submitted after that will be considered on a space-available basis. All submissions are subject to editing for content and space.

We welcome ads and inserts. To check availability and inquire about prices, please contact Briana Orr at brianao@ cascade.org.

Queries can be emailed to: brianao@cascade.org.

Let’s be social! Follow Cascade Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. cascade.org facebook.com/cascadebicycleclub @cascadebicycle @cascadebicycle

Got multiple copies of the Courier? By Ariana Rundquist, Membership & Development Manager

When Cascade Bicycle Club merged with Washington Bikes on Jan. 1, 2016, we became the largest statewide bicycle nonprofit in the country. We were so excited to welcome Washington Bikes members to the Cascade membership community! As it turned out, many of you were already here. About half the active members at Washington Bikes also had existing Cascade memberships. Many households received multiple copies of the January Courier and their membership card. Some may even be looking at duplicate copies of this very issue, at this very moment! If you suspect you have a duplicate membership at Cascade, rest assured we are working hard to correct your

membership and not fill up your mailbox so much next month. There is no need to contact us at this time. As we merge your two memberships into a single Cascade membership we will retain your lowest member number and your latest membership expiration date. Only one question remains: what to do with that extra copy of the Courier at your home? Cascade members support the bicycle movement. That’s why many of you were also members and supporters of Washington Bikes. So we suggest you pay that extra Courier forward to a friend, a coworker or anyone you want to experience a little slice of Cascade Bicycle Club.

Cascade Bicycle Club 7787 62nd Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98115

www.cascade.org Office phone: 206-522-3222 Email: info@cascade.org

SENIOR STAFF Note: All email addresses are @cascade.org Elizabeth Kiker, Executive Director (202) 425-0627 • elizabethk@ Barb Chamberlain, Chief Strategic Officer (509) 869-2949 • barbc@ David Douglas, Senior Director of Events & Rides (206) 939-4323 • davidd@ Shannon Koller, Senior Director of Education (206) 939-4335 • shannonk@

Tarrell Kullaway, Senior Director of Development & Membership (206) 939-4312 • tarrellk@ Kathy Mania, Senior Director of Finance & Operations (206) 939-4321 • kathym@ Brent Tongco, Senior Director of Communications & Marketing (206) 939-4307 • brentt@ Blake Trask, Senior Director of Policy (206) 310-4762 • blake@

BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Catherine Hennings • catherine. hennings@ Vice President Nate Glissmeyer • nate.glissmeyer@

Secretary Sandi Navarro • sandin@ Director at large Charles Ruthford • charles.ruthford@

Treasurer Alexa Volwiler • alexa.volwiler@ DIRECTORS George Durham • george.durham@

Help us transform Washington State! Renew now at cascade.org/renew

Marie Dymkoski • maried@ Ted Inkley • tedi@ Haley Keller • Haleyw@ Kevin McDonald • kevin.mcdonald@ Bill Montero • bill.montero@ John Pope • johnp@

Merlin Rainwater • merlin.rainwater@ Tamara Schmautz • tamara.schmautz@ Jim Stanton • jim.stanton@ Don Volta • don.volta@ Daniel Weise • daniel.weise@ Ed Yoshida • ed.yoshida@

The Cascade Bicycle Club Board of Directors meets six times per year at the Cascade Bicycling Center, 7787 62nd Ave. NE, Seattle. Board meetings are open to the public. Board of Directors meetings take place on the third Wednesday of the month. Upcoming meetings are: March 16, May 18, June 15, Sept. 21 and Nov. 16. www.cascade.org

Vol. 46, No. 3

4,233 miles. 10 states. Coast to coast. Selfsupported. Join us for a film screening of Inspired to Ride

50 students earn bikes with the Major Taylor Project By Sam Alcorn, Major Taylor Project Assistant

By Meghna Jaradi, Events Coordinator

Seats are limited, so buy your tickets today! Visit cascade.org/ inspired-to-ride.

Inspired to Ride Thursday, March 10 Doors open at 6:30 p.m., film begins at 7 p.m. (run time 1 hr, 28 min) Cascade Bicycling Center 7787 62nd Ave NE, Seattle Pre-Sale: $5 members & volunteers // $7 non-members Day-of & At Door: $7 members & volunteers // $9 non-members Members & volunteers use code CBCVIP123 for discounted rate Popcorn, light snacks and beverages available by donation

Fifty Major Taylor Project students spent eight weeks working to repair their bike. Courtesy of Heidi Schillinger

The Major Taylor Project’s Build-a-Bike after-school club helps 50 students across seven schools have a bicycle of their own. After eight weeks of maintenance and repair instruction, students from all over South Seattle and Tacoma now have bikes and the knowledge to keep it finely tuned. Cascade members and community supporters donated more than 70 gently used bikes for MTP students to practice their bike repair skills in the Build-a-Bike club. Each student picked their favorite bike, then spent eight weeks working to repair it. Now, at the end of the program, each of the 50 students get to keep the bike they worked on! “It has been amazing to see the emotional attachment each student has to their new bike! Everyone spent so much time and effort tinkering with their bikes and now that they are completed, and theirs to keep, each youth has a strong bond to their new ride!” said Cecilia Leon, Build-a-Bike instructor at Highline High School. Bridgette, a sophomore at Highline High School and member of the Build-a-Bike club, currently walks three miles to and from school each day. She plans to use the bicycle she

March 5-6, 2016

earned through the Major Taylor Project to begin bike commuting to school, making her trips faster and easier. “I’m so excited to have a bike of my own. I can’t wait to ride it to school!” said Bridgette. Along with the bicycle, each student in the Build-a-Bike program received a helmet, a set of lights, a multi-tool, a patch kit, a u-lock and a certificate of completion.

“I’m so excited to have a bike of my own. I can’t wait to ride it to school!” — Bridgette, sophomore at Highline High School Cascade and the Major Taylor Project fully believe that the bicycle is a tool to transform and improve lives. To give these students bicycles of their own fosters a love of cycling, active transportation, and a sense of community. These bicycles will impact the lives of these youth in a substantial way. Thank you to all of the people who donated bicycles, volunteered their time and expertise, and supported the Major Taylor Project!

SHOW THIS AD FOR $2 OFF ADMISSION.

CE NT ER

Brought to you by the producers of Ride the Divide and Reveal the Path, Inspired to Ride follows a handful of cyclists as they race unsupported in the inaugural year of The Trans Am Bike Race. It’s the antithesis to events like Tour de France and Race Across America. There are no teams, no support vehicles, no special jerseys and not a dime in prize money. As they battle lack of sleep, injuries and spirited competition, Inspired to Ride takes you on an invigorating road trip — amidst the jaw-dropping beauty of the TransAmerica Trail with its varied landscapes, intriguing locals and found stories which dot this path of discovery. FREE drawing for a chance to win Inspired to Ride swag and feature length DVDs to follow screening!

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March 2016

Map Key

Start and finish line Tour of the city route 520 Experience

Experience history in the making! Be one of 6,000 to ride the 520 Bridge and I-5 Express Lanes

University of Washington

Start Here

Lake Union

By Briana Orr, Communications & Marketing Manager Cascade Bicycle Club is excited to present the inaugural year of the Emerald City Bike Ride. The 20-mile closed-streets bike event for up to 6,000 participants is safe and accessible for families and new riders. It traverses routes that you’ve never been able to bicycle on before: the new SR 520 (the world’s longest floating bridge) and I-5 Express Lanes!

I-5 Express Lanes

Join the ride and be the first to bike 7,710 feet (nearly 4 miles!) across the world’s l o n g e s t floating bridge.

Food stops will have tasty treats and exhibits that showcase the neighborhoods along the route. Join an exclusive community of people who have biked on the I-5 EXPRESS LANES! The last time the express lanes were used for a public bicycling event was STP in 1998, and before that the express lanes were used in 1994 for USA Cycling National Time Trials. Don’t miss this unique opportunity. Explore Seattle neighborhoods by bike and enjoy cultural cuisine from local vendors to give you a taste of the International District! The Emerald City Bike Ride is a part of the Washington Department of Transportation’s ‘520 Go Long’ weekend event celebration, which also includes a Saturday run and grand opening celebration. Find out more at 520golong.com.

I-90 B

Vol. 46, No. 3

Hing Hay Park rest stop International District Madrona Park rest stop

20-MILE TOUR OF THE CITY 20 miles Some hills, mostly rolling (1,077 feet of climbing) Start line open from 7 – 8 a.m. This route begins just south of the University of Washington’s Husky Stadium. You will head out and back on the new SR 520 Bridge, then through the University District and onto the I-5 Express Lanes. From there, you’ll pedal along the Express Lanes, which will be fully closed to cars, for nearly four miles. Getting off at the Cherry Street exit, riders will then pedal up King Street through the heart of the International District, with a rest stop stocked with neighborhood treats in Hing Hay Park. From there riders will head up King Street and down to beautiful Lake Washington Blvd, pedaling along the lakefront back up to the University of Washington.

8-MILE 520 EXPERIENCE Lake Washington

SR 52

0 Bri

dge

8 miles Primarily flat route (237 feet of climbing) Start line open from 7:45 – 8:10 a.m. Designed for families with children and beginning riders, this fun, flat route will give you a chance to be one of the first people on the new SR 520 Bridge. Out on the bridge you’ll be able to stop, look around, take a photo, and enjoy the bridge on two-wheels before it opens to cars. This route begins and ends just south of the University of Washington’s Husky Stadium. You’ll head out and back on the closed northbound lane of Montlake Blvd, and the new SR 520 Bridge will be entirely closed to vehicle traffic.

How many other times have the Express Lanes been used for bicycling events? 1998 Seattle to Portland (STP) riders rode on the Express Lanes from University of Washington Old King Dome parking lot, where the STP historically started from.

1994 USA Cycling National Time Trial Championships and the route took riders from Northgate to Downtown and back (twice!). Clay Mosely won the Individual Time Trial and our own David Douglas took part in the race!

Thanks to our sponsors

Bridge

scade.org/emeraldcity Improving Lives Through Bicycling

March 2016

Join the Lake Chelan Tour Lite Stacey Williams, Rides & Outreach Director

Lake Chelan participants enjoy victory and scenic lookout after a climb.

In 2015 we introduced a new tour format — “Tour Lite.” This new format was well-received and is a low-cost introduction to the fun of bike touring. We will still provide excellent routes, sag support, nutrition and water on the route. Participants provide their own accommodation and meals. This allows riders to camp, stay with friends or perhaps splurge on a hotel. What could be better than a three-day weekend of biking in beautiful and warm Lake Chelan? This tour is a fun way to get an early start on the season with some great rides around the lake, through vineyards and orchards, and in the hills above. Multiple paces and route distances will be offered each day and will include vehicle (sag) support with a scheduled food stop during the ride. The various routes meet the needs of those who want more challenge and those who like a bit less. These rides will cover much of the route used for the Lake Chelan Century Challenge held in late June, including the signature climb up McNeil Canyon, so use this weekend to test your fitness for one of the most challenging century rides in Washington. Last year, riders who

made it to the top of McNeil Canyon — a long and difficult climb with a steep grade — were refreshed with a chance to sit and recover with a tasty cold creamsicle. Riders will have plenty of opportunities to pause in their rides for scenic group photos and lots of selfies. At the rest stops there will be plenty of food to refuel and of course a chance to sit on something other than your bike saddle! After the day’s ride, you will have the chance to socialize at a local winery or meet at one of the many restaurants with fellow riders. Rides each day will start at Don Morse Park in downtown Chelan, though you are not required to ride each day. You won’t be disappointed if you join this weekend. It has great routes, amazing scenery, opportunities to experience the local food and wineries and most of all, time to share the joy of bicycling with others. Register early and save! Pre-registration cost for this weekend is $50 for members and $65 for general public. Day-of registration is $65 for members and $75 for non-members. Register today at cascade.org/ clubtours.

www.cascade.org

Vol. 46, No. 3

FREE GROUP RIDES STEADY PACE (12-14 mph)

Ride Leader Certification Class Saturday, April 2, 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, 6:30 p.m. Cascade Bicycling Center 7787 62nd Ave NE, Seattle

Saturday, March 5 Salvadorean Beach Cruise 9 a.m. • 32 miles from Jack Block Park in Seattle Ride • Leader: Jeffrey Stewart

MODERATE PACE (14-16 mph)

EASY PACE (UNDER 10 mph) Saturday, March 26 SLOW Ride Last Saturday of Every Month 11 a.m. • 10 miles from the Northwest African American Museum by I-90 Trail in Seattle • Ride Leader: Merlin Rainwater

LEISURELY PACE (10-12 mph) Friday, March 4 Friday Riders: To the International District 10 a.m. • 20 miles from Gas Works Park in Seattle • Ride Leader: Norm Tjaden Friday, March 4 FRIDAY RIDERS — Lynnwood History Tour 10 a.m. • 23.4 miles from Martha Lake Airport Park in Lynnwood • Ride Leader: Astrid Bear Saturday, March 19 Cascade Training Series Red/Leisurely Pace Trial #3 11 a.m. • 28.2 miles from Cascade Bicycle Club in Seattle • Ride Leader: Louise Johnson Sunday, March 20 SPOKES: Cinnamon Rolls or Bust 2016 10 a.m. • 20 miles from Loehmann’s Plaza Starbucks in Bellevue • Ride Leaders: Michelle Burton, Melinda Cumming Friday, March 25 FRIDAY RIDERS: Roads and Trails - Backroads of Bothell 10 a.m. • 25 miles from Tracy Owen Station/Log Boom Park in Kenmore • Ride Leader: Jan Johnson

Tuesdays and Thursdays– March 1, 3, 8, 10 Eastside Tours Evening Ride 6:30 p.m. • 25 miles from Overlake Transit Center in Redmond • Ride Leader: Eric Gunnerson Thursdays – March 17, 31 Thursday Unemployed Merry PedalerS (THUMPS): Home for Lunch 9:30 a.m. • 30 miles from Leschi Starbucks in Seattle • Ride Leader: Mike Nelson

Please check the Cascade Free Group Rides Calendar for listings of moderate rides.

VIGOROUS (18-20 mph) Please check the Cascade Free Group Rides Calendar for listings of vigorous rides.

Improving Lives Through Bicycling

Saturdays – March 5, 12, 19, 26 CHEW - South End Ride (Steady - Vigorous) 9:30 a.m. (March 26 starts at 8:45 a.m.) • Ride Leaders: Jerry DiLeonardo, Mark Gringle, Tim Johnson, Alan Lawrence, Patricia Urton, Rick Urton Saturdays - March 5, 12, 19, 26 Getting Ready to Ride – Eastside (Leisurely & Steady) 11 a.m. • Jeri Bernstein, Joni Griffis, Louise Johnson, Bruce Klouzal, Joseph (Joe) Lee, Windsor Lewis, Susan Miller, Deborah Munkberg, Brenda Ross, Mike Schwagler, Bernice Tannenbaum

Sundays – March 6, 13, 20, 27 CHEW - Eastside Ride (Steady - Strenuous) 9:30 a.m. • Ride Leaders: Debbie Campbell, Bob Dennis, Scott Emmons, David Fisher, Paula Froke, Joni Griffis, Lee Gustafson, Nan Haberman, Peter Heinz, Cathy Henley, Zach Johnson, Rob Latino, Joseph (Joe) Lee, Wilfried Mack, Timothy McCarthy, Brenda Ross, Paul Soreff, Thomas Sumter, Alan Tagstrom, Alexa Volwiler, Rick Wiltfong

This is a sampling of this month’s rides. For a complete listing, see cascade.org/calendar. For full details of the listed rides, see cascade.org/grouprides. This is also where you’ll find ride guidelines to help you select a ride that suits your style, skills and energy level.

STRENUOUS: (20-22 mph) Please check the Cascade Free Group Rides Calendar for listings of strenuous rides.

SUPER STRENUOUS: (22mph +) Tuesdays - March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Cycle Tuesdays 5:45 p.m. • 35 miles from Gene Coulon Park, next to Kidd Valley Restaurant in Renton • Ride Leaders: Steve Else, Peter Grey, Vincent Haag, Russ Moul Thursdays - March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 More Cycle Tuesdays 5:45 p.m. • 25 miles from Gene Coulon Park, next to Kidd Valley Restaurant, Renton • Ride

By Stacey Williams, Rides & Outreach Director

Marizel was honored as an Exceptional Ride Leader for all the work she does encouraging and supporting new riders. Marizel started cycling seriously in 2000 with her husband when they started mountain biking in Southern CA. Marizel moved to Seattle in 2008 and started riding with Cascade, became a Ride Leader and began leading both road and mountain bike rides. When asked what motivates her to ride, Marizel said it’s “the camaraderie of the riders I meet.

MULTI-PACED RIDES (SEVERAL PACE CATEGORIES OFFERED)

Saturdays – March 5, 12, 19, 26 Getting Ready to Ride – Seattle (Leisurely & Steady) 11 a.m. • Ride Leaders: Larry DeBardi, Cheryl Funkhouser, Joseph Roberts, Brenda Ross, David Selk, Bernice Tannenbaum, Greg Testa, Machiko Threlkeld, Michael Upsall, Andy Williams

BRISK (16-18 mph)

Exceptional Ride Leader — Marizel Miller

Exceptional ride leader Marizel Miller

Leaders: Tom Baker, Peter Grey, Vincent Haag, Lola Jacobsen, Russ Moul

I have greatly enjoyed helping out with the Club by leading and mentoring rides. What I enjoy the most is to introduce cycling to new people and to encourage them to continue cycling and go to the Cascade rides.” Marizel sees a lot of opportunity within Cascade. “Cascade has given me the opportunity to ride and lead both mountain bike and road rides, and my participation allows me to appreciate the leaders who organize great rides,” she said. Marizel’s most memorable experience as a ride leader “was leading my first off-road ride for Cascade at the Iron Horse Trail,” she said. “I wanted to introduce and show riders that off-road riding is great because we get to enjoy the beautiful scenic views. I enjoy seeing people experience a different type of riding surface and have fun with the rides.” Thank you, Marizel, for being an Exceptional Ride Leader!

Join us for a Free Group Ride! By Stacey Williams, Rides & Outreach Director

Did you know that Cascade has an extensive Free Group Rides program? Have you ever wondered if you could participate, but you’re not really sure how the program works or if you’d be comfortable on the rides? Let’s talk about this great program that has rides for both new riders and advanced cyclists who are looking for challenges with riders of similar pace and skill. The heart of the Free Group Rides Program is the more than 300 volunteers who donate many hours of time not only leading rides, but also planning to ensure routes are safe and appropriate for their riders. These dedicated ride leaders attend a certification class, learn the skills for a great ride and share their love of cycling with those who join them on rides. The rides listing in the Courier is only a small sampling of rides available each month. The full listing of rides is available on cascade.org/ grouprides. You will find routes designed for all skills and abilities in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Maybe you’re new to cycling and want to try the Getting Ready to Ride series, which runs in February and March. Maybe you’re more experienced and CHEW (Climbing Hills Eastside in Winter) provides the challenges you need. In the summer months you will also find many weekday evening rides designed to build your summer fitness. You could look for MEETS (Midweek Evening Eastside Training Series), NERD (Northend Evening Riding before

No matter what kind of ride you are looking for, we have something for you!

Dark) or MORE (Midweek Outdoor Riding in the Evening). Can you tell we like acronyms? Perhaps you are looking for a shorter, more social ride? You could look for the SLOW rides — these are usually between five and 10 miles and are very social, and the only requirement is that you want to ride SLOWLY! Our ride leaders like nothing better than sharing their favorite routes, places and coffee stops, and I know there is a ride for everyone who wants to get on a bike! Last year we had 2,676 rides — plenty to choose from — and over 22,000 people joined us. In 2016 we would love to have you ride with us, too! Come join a Free Group Ride! If you want more information about the program or are looking for the ride that’s right for you, check out cascade. org/grouprides or contact Stacey at staceyw@cascade.org

March 2016

Women Bike: Safety, infrastructure and equity

Volunteer of the Month: Loretta Goetsch By Andrew Kopp, Volunteer Programs Assistant

By Morgan Michel, Rides and Outreach Assistant

Many studies of women’s cycling cite protected bike lanes — like this one on Second Avenue in Seattle — as a successful way to attract more women to bicycling. Courtesy of People for Bikes.

The bicycling gender gap is a nationwide phenomenon. According to the latest census data, 27 percent of U.S. bike commuters are women. King County is just a little better off than the national average, with women making up only around 29 percent of King County’s bike commuters. Granted, commuting data underrepresents total ridership, but an over two-to-one disparity is still pretty dismal. So what accounts for such a large gender gap in this reputedly bike-positive region? It’s a complex question with no single answer, but here’s one cause to consider: safety concerns.

If traffic-separated bike paths would inspire 70 percent of non-daily female bicyclists to begin or increase bicycling, then it is no longer solely an issue of “how many” these paths will serve, but “whom” they will serve.

Safety concerns around driver behavior and car traffic are commonly cited barriers to women riders. In Anne Broache’s Perspectives on Seattle Women’s Decisions to Bike for Transportation, a 2012 thesis which analyzed results from the national 2010 Women’s Cycling Survey, over three-quarters of the Seattle women surveyed responded that distracted driving was a safety concern. Other major safety concerns were: speed of cars, parked cars opening doors and drivers turning right in front of cyclists going straight. Results from the Women’s Cycling

Survey demonstrate a connection between women riders and safety. In Seattle, 70 percent of non-daily riders responded that “completely separated off-road cycling paths” would cause them to start or increase their riding, while the top motivator among daily riders, was “more bike lanes.” The relationship between women riders and bike infrastructure is not only apparent in survey data. In Minneapolis, the city’s extensive bike infrastructure has been credited for the unusually high female ridership percentage. In the Netherlands, the paragon of bicycling infrastructure, women make up the majority of bike riders. What does this mean for bicycling equity in the region? As analyses of the Women Cycling Survey show, the increase of bike infrastructure alone will not fully address the bicycling gender gap in the region; there are many other barriers to bicycling that women cite, including lack of time. However, the strong connection between female ridership and motivation to ride with the presence of bicycle infrastructure makes the presence or absence of these facilities an issue of equity. If traffic-separated bike paths would inspire 70 percent of non-daily (read: not already regular and committed) female cyclists to begin or increase bicycling, then it is no longer solely an issue of “how many” these paths will serve, but “whom” they will serve. If increasing bike infrastructure — such as the planned Center City Bike Network of protected bike lanes in downtown Seattle and the (currently under construction) Westlake Cycle Track — serves the currently underserved (those least able or willing to bicycle), then that infrastructure is key to addressing bicycling gender parity in the Puget Sound region and across the state..

Loretta Goetsch has been awarded Cascade’s Volunteer of the Month. This recognition of her many contributions — including five years of leading rides for our Free Rides program and her dedicated service as a concierge — is long overdue. Mention of her name always yields smiles from staff and club members alike. Ariana Rundquist, Cascade’s Membership and Development Manager, remembers first meeting Loretta and bonding over cycling through France. “Loretta is an adventurous woman, and a savvy yet practical bicyclist. She was the first to tell me that yes, you really should learn to disassemble and reassemble your own bicycle, but there is no shame in letting the experts take care of adjustments,” Ariana said. “She is an amazing volunteer, always showing up early and willing to do anything to support Cascade.” “I love hearing stories of her most recent bike tour adventures,” Briana Orr, Cascade’s Communications & Marketing Manager, remarked about Loretta’s passion for bicycle touring. “She brings so much joy to the Cascade Bicycling Center with her warm presence.” Loretta hails from Plymouth, Wis., a small town that lies between Milwaukee and Green Bay. She learned to ride at age 10 when her mother decided she was old enough to ride to and from school — a one-room schoolhouse two miles from her home. “I was the only one in my grade,” Loretta recalled. Loretta studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where class sizes were much larger. She walked to class but spent evenings and weekends enjoying the lakes and arboretum on her bike. Loretta still has family in Wisconsin, including a sister in Sheboygan. She plans on returning in the next year

for a bicycle pilgrimage. “I hope to stay for a few months and do a lot of riding.” She emigrated to Vancouver in the 70s — “I saw Seattle first and thought, ‘there is a lot of concrete.’ Vancouver had so many flowers.” — but soon settled in Seattle for work. Loretta was a researcher at the University of Washington studying first the division of yeast cells and later the evolution of rhododendrons, a plant native to China. “I loved it,” she said. “It gave me the chance to travel to interesting places like Borneo, where they have small elephants and cats without tails. And twice to China.” Loretta previously led tours and rides for the Mountaineers’ old bicycling program around Oregon and Washington. This year, she is planning a bicycle tour through the lower Canadian Rockies and more group rides. From everyone at Cascade: Thank you, Loretta, for sharing your lifelong love of cycling!

VIETNAM 15% o tt c is d ouande c s a C rs membe

www.pedaltours.co.nz

VACATIONS FOR CYCLISTS SINCE 1985

Loretta Goetsch greets visitors to the Cascade Bicycling Center as a volunteer and concierge.

8888 222 9187 www.cascade.org

Vol. 46, No. 3

Building a statewide network of permanent bike counters

Sea-Tac International Airport to improve bicycle facilities

By Jeff Aken, Regional Planning Director

By Andrea Clinkscales, Principal Planner

In 2015, Washington Bikes was awarded a grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Grant to purchase and install 50 permanent bicycle counters across Washington state. Permanent counters will meet an increasing need to count cyclists in both the rural and urban context on a variety of facility types. They will provide a count of bicyclists 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and provide needed data to help better understand safety issues, trends in bicycling, and to address a host of public health, economic and policy questions and ultimately develop a “bicycle miles traveled” number for Washington State. We will work with jurisdictions across the state to locate the counters using the methodology developed by Krista Nordback at Portland State University. Permanent counters will be located in both urban and rural locations along the coast, Puget Sound region, the Cascades and in Eastern Washington. The project builds off the successful one-day National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project counts that WSDOT and Cascade Bicycle Club have been conducting since 2008 with the help of thousands of volunteers. Those

Improving Lives Through Bicycling

University of Washington students are working this term to improve bicycle access to Sea-Tac for passengers, business partners and employees.

The permanent bike counter on the Fremont Bridge in Seattle counted 977,659 people riding past on bikes in 2015.

counts will continue and increase in value as a network of permanent counters is installed. When implemented, this project will put Washington State at the forefront of bicycle counting and allow us to understand and prioritize investments that make Washington one of the best states to ride a bicycle. We are currently reaching out to jurisdictions now to identify potential locations, especially in the coastal and Cascade regions. If your community is interested, please contact Jeff at jeffa@cascade.org to learn more about the project.

Great news for those of us who like to travel by bike! In 2013, University of Washington (UW) Master of Urban Planning students helped develop The Sea-Tac Airport Phase I Bicycle Facility Plan in collaboration with the Port of Seattle, Sea-Tac International Airport. The Port moved quickly on many of the amenity and access strategy recommendations, including installing new racks, long-term bicycling parking, wayfinding signage and an enhanced webpage that helps people who bring a bike to Sea-Tac Airport. In 2015 the Port of Seattle identified a need to further improve access for passengers, business partners and employees who wish to arrive to and leave the airport by bicycle. The Port asked Cascade and UW to collaborate and partner on a “Phase II” to focus on bicycle access in and around the airport. Phase II of Sea-Tac Airport’s Bicycle Plan will identify opportunities to enhance bicycle access and infrastructure, such as bike lanes on Port-owned property, and improve connectivity to surrounding communities. The plan will also identify opportunities to align with the region’s long-term bicycle network plans and include facility design alternatives that meet industry best

practices. Professor Dan Carlson teaches the UW class, commonly referred to as a studio. Carlson is UW’s primary land use and transportation expert and highly regarded by generations of students and regional partners. Students and Cascade have been hard at work! The five students are assessing airport existing conditions, future conditions and infrastructure requirements and alternatives. They are re-assessing bike demand from Phase I; Port-owned, neighboring community and regional infrastructure and access needs; relevant planning documents; bicycle facility design standards; and connectivity between jurisdictions. We would like to thank Steve Rybolt at the Port of Seattle for sponsoring this work, as well as our friends at the Puget Sound Regional Council, Portland International Airport, Alta Planning + Design, Toole Design, Seattle Children’s Hospital and University of Washington Transportation Services for visiting the studio and sharing their expertise. The UW class will provide the Port a final report outlining our recommendations in early April. Stay tuned for more details! If you have questions or comments, please contact Andrea at andreac@ cascade.org.

March 2016

Will you reach the summit? By Barb Chamberlain, Chief Strategic Officer

The Washington Bike Summit, that is — the pinnacle of statewide bike advocacy in the #1 Bicycle Friendly State, along with training for professionals who design and build the streets and trails we ride on. Some of the “aid stations” along the way to refresh, reinvigorate and keep you pedaling into the bike future we’re creating together include: Creating our bike future: Tamika Butler, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, presents the keynote address at

Kyla and Josef Forsberg of Lake Tapps, owners of the new Green River Cyclery and Busted Bike Cafe in Auburn. When they left the 2015 Summit they both said, “we’ll be at this every year!

Monday night’s dinner. Russ Roca and Laura Crawford of Path Less Pedaled: on how to create a cycling identity for your town. Vision Zero: Learn what’s happening to make streets safer for

all and how you can take Vision Zero principles back to your hometown. How to talk to city council (or anyone else) to make the case for bicycling and other advocacy skills. Training in the latest bike infrastructure design guidelines for professionals. Ride with Major Taylor! Students from the newest addition to the Major Taylor Project, Lincoln High School in Tacoma, will join the conference. The Washington Bike Summit is presented by Cascade Bicycle Club. Many thanks to our event sponsors Washington Bikes, Group Health, REI, WSDOT, Raleigh Bicycles, Toole Design, Alta Planning + Design and Foundation for Healthy Generations. Full event starts at noon on Monday, March 21, with optional activities and a professional workshop from 9 a.m. to noon. The Summit ends at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22.

Tacoma: Your host city Bicycle Friendly Community level: Bronze Population: 203,446 Community Bike Shop: 2nd Cycle Bike Groups: Tacoma Wheelmen, Velo Femmes, Tacoma Kidical Mass Bike Shops: Defiance Bicycles, Oldtown Bicycles, 2nd Cycle, Performance Bike Tacoma, Tacoma Bike Bike Blogs/News: Bike 253 (part of Exit133.com), Kidical Mass Tacoma, Tacoma Bike Ranch Commute Challenges: Pierce Trips, Bike Everywhere, National Bike Challenge

Call for Bike Everywhere Month volunteers By Mary Collins, Outreach Manager

Inspire a friend to start biking

Lend a hand and some encouraging words to a bike-curious friend. Help them find comfortable bike routes, point your friends to Cascade’s great online resources for new riders (cascade.org/learn), and let them know about Cascade’s free classes and events during April and May. Promote biking at your workplace Volunteers make all the fun, food and friendly competition of Bike Everywhere Month possible.

Want to help make your workplace, neighborhood or community a little more bike-friendly this spring? Cascade is looking for motivated volunteers to spread the word about Bike Everywhere Month, an annual month-long series of free programs, classes and events organized by Cascade and community partners. There are many ways to help get involved in Bike Month; a few ideas and opportunities are listed below, and you can find more at cascade. org/BikeEverywhere.

You don’t need a dehumidifying dry room to encourage more colleagues to bike to work (though that certainly helps!). • Invite friends to take Washington Bikes’ free online Bike Everywhere Challenge. • Hold a bike commuting lunchtime roundtable for new riders. • Invite a bike mechanic to your workplace to perform tune-ups. Organize a DIY bike event in your neighborhood

A little celebration goes a long way toward building a vibrant biking community. Organize a bike happy hour or trivia night at your local pub, lead a themed group ride

with your neighbors, or organize a morning celebration station on Bike Everywhere Day, Friday, May 20. Sign up to be a Bike Everywhere Outreach volunteer

Cascade is looking for volunteers to help increase awareness for bicycling in areas of historically low Bike Month participation: Rainier Valley, Renton, Tacoma, West Seattle, White Center or Shoreline. We’ll provide training and outreach

materials, and each volunteer will earn enough volunteer hours for a complimentary 2016 Group Health STP presented by Alaska Airlines or RSVP registration. Cascade can offer promotion toolkits, DIY bike event toolkits and $50 gift cards for Bike Everywhere Day celebration station supplies. Interested in helping out? Visit cascade. org/BikeEverywhere or email maryc@ cascade.org for more information.

January Cascade Bicycle Club Donors* $5,000 and up

Anonymous Ruth & Sandy Becker Arthur Burrill in Memory of Nancy Burrill Michelle Plesko Scan I Design Foundation Sunderland Foundation Doug & Maggie Walker

Bruce Williams & Gro Buer

$1,000-$4,999

David & Helen Dichek Matt Loschen David Stout

$250-$999

Mike Gilmore

Mike Gutmann Fernando Nogueira Hubert O’Brien Bruce, Jill, Isabel, & Olivia Sanchez Jon Schubart

Businesses

Microsoft Corporation

Donations make our work possible—Thank you! *As of Jan. 1, the Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation is simply Cascade Bicycle Club.