2014 Annual Report
improving lives through bicycling
p. 6-7
July 2015 / Vol. 45 No. 07
cascade.org
Your Cascade Bicycling Center is going to get even better with your support! By Tarrell Wright, Development Director
Donating is easy
Gifts of $1,000 and more will be honored in plaques prominently placed in our Welcome Pavilion. This is your chance to make a gift that will live on for years to come, a gift that will demonstrate your commitment to improving lives through bicycling. To donate
The “Welcome Pavilion” will provide a gathering place for our community.
PRSRT STD US Postage Paid Seattle, WA PERMIT No. 2172
We are launching the fundraising effort to transform the Cascade Bicycling Center into a world-class destination for people of all ages and abilities. We have $600,000 remaining to raise, and we need YOUR partnership to reach our goal! Cascade board and staff are thrilled to announce that with the generous support and leadership of our community, we have raised more than $1.3 million for your Cascade Bicycling Center!
What’s in store for YOUR Center?
The Cascade Bicycling Center will have three key features: Welcome Pavilion
Your community’s front porch, this outdoor gathering space will be a place for riders to start or stop during a long ride and relax next to scenic Lake Washington. Cascade Traffic Gardens
New community spaces at the Center in Magnuson Park and in White Center will offer people of all ages a place to safely learn the rules of the road. Hundreds of new kids and families will be introduced to the
Fix-It Garage
This is your future world-class learning space for hands-on bike maintenance and repair lessons. With this space we can expand popular programs like She Bikes and maintain our rapidly growing fleet of more than 500 bikes used by kids and families across the city.
Coffee and doughnut tours Stop by any Wednesday at 8 a.m. now through October for coffee and doughnuts, and we’ll show you around the Center and the drawings of your new space.
Help lead the bicycling movement in the Puget Sound region!
TIME DATED MATERIAL
By Elizabeth Kiker, Executive Director and Daniel Weise, Board President
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Photo courtesy of Tino Tran
7787 62nd Ave. NE Seattle, WA 98115 www.cascade.org
joy of bicycling at our Magnuson and White Center locations.
• Visit us online at cascade.org/ campaigndonation. • Mail a check to: Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation 7787 62nd Ave. NE Seattle, WA 98115 • Contact Tarrell at tarrellw@ cascade.org to schedule a tour and learn how the Center can serve YOU. We cannot complete this project without the partnership of our members and community. Every gift makes a difference. Donate today! THANK YOU!
You know who we need to help run the Cascade Bicycle Club, the biggest (and, modestly, best) bike club and advocacy organization in the country? YOU. Our board of directors is made up of a great mix of people who love bicycling, love Cascade and love this region. We are looking for three new candidates to join our board for a three-year term starting
in January 2016. This is a ripe time for biking in our region–from Bellevue to Edmonds, Tacoma to Kirkland, Seattle to Everett–we’re making huge strides and fast progress. Cascade has a fantastic staff, collaborative board, enthusiastic membership and an incredible strategic plan. All that’s missing is: YOU. As a board member, you’ll direct the strategic goals of Cascade, a 15,000 member organization, and oversee our annual budget of $5.2 million. You’ll work with individuals who have experience in everything from education to business to law. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with leaders across the region, deepen your experience of nonprofit governance and receive free entry to all Cascade rides.
The requirements are attendance at four to six board meetings each year, participation on one of the organization’s committees and a love of bicycling. The board seeks to represent our greater community at large, and we strongly encourage women, persons of color and people of all ages and abilities to apply. We welcome interest from anyone hoping to make Cascade stronger by being part of a board with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, community connections and problem solving approaches. To let us know you are interested, drop a line to Daniel Weise, Governance Chair, at jointheboard@ cascade.org by Friday, July 31. We would love to hear from you.
July 2015
Hard work By Elizabeth Kiker, Executive Director
Enter Ride The Hurricane And Cycle The Famed Hurricane Ridge Road Without Cars August 2, One Day Only.
Volunteers caught me working hard during a hill climb on Flying Wheels.
Ride The Olympic Discovery Trail and its 70 Mile Paved Cycling Path, EDIZ HOOK Any Day Of The Week.
PORT ANGELES
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SEQUIM I N S I D E O U T SOLUTIONS
©2015
For details about Ride The Hurricane and The Olympic Discovery Trail and all things cycling on the North Olympic Peninsula visit or call:
PortAngeles.org
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We have a little chant we do in my family, one that I started teaching my children as soon as they could talk. Mom: “Who’s smart?” Children: “Everyone is.” Mom: “Who works hard?!” Children: “WE DO!” I prize hard work over intelligence in my life, because I’ve found that hard work results in more success–and more pride–than good grades or being praised for being “smart” ever has. Recently, in my attempt to do all of Cascade’s events this year, I had an opportunity to work hard and to feel immense pride. I completed the 100-mile route on Alaska Airlines Flying Wheels, my first century since 2006. I was tired at the finish line, and excited, and I thought it hadn’t been that hard of a ride. My colleagues had talked so much trash that I was honestly expecting it to be on par with the Tour de France, and I was pleasantly surprised there were only two tough climbs, one at the beginning and one at the end. I was really proud when I finished (two hours earlier than I worried I would) and excited to be done. Then I got the pictures from the volunteers who stood at the top of the first hill (see photo in column). Good thing I prize hard work, because I am clearly working HARD in this photo. In some ways, that makes me value the finish even more–it was hard, and I did it. Creating the Cascade Bicycling Center has been an even more amazing experience these past two years. When I arrived, the vision and the team was in place, and that was all. We have strategized, started over, planned, drawn and re-planned this clubhouse, welcoming space and center for bicycling in the Puget Sound region. We have finalized one fantastic office space, and have amazing drawings for the real heart of the center–the public welcoming area, the traffic garden where we’ll teach people to ride and the fix-it garage out back where we’ll teach classes, repair and store our fleet of bikes and more. The work of Daniel Poppe and Tarrell Wright in our office, and our amazing volunteer team of Ron Sher, Bob Vincent, Tim Williams, Seamus Kelly and many others, has put us very close to having our designs and strategies in place to finalize this once-in-a-lifetime, one-of-a-kind in the United States, Bicycling Center. The only part that remains? The hard work. We have to raise $1,944,000–and we are more than two-thirds of the way there. The entire senior staff has donated, the entire board has donated and people are making once-in-a-lifetime gifts. My husband and I gave $5,000 to the project; that’s how much we believe in it. Please join me on this final push up the mountain–even if we have to dig deep to get there–so we can coast down the other side, enjoying our joint space and our joint work improving lives through bicycling for decades to come. As always, I’d love to hear from you: elizabethk@cascade.org. Best,
SEVEN CEDARS CASINO
OLD
BLYN
HWY
(360) 452-2363
Elizabeth Kiker
2
www.cascade.org
Vol. 45, No. 07
Big changes for STP packet pick-up
Cascade releases ‘Let’s Ride!’ app
By Anna Telensky, Events & Sponsorship Manager
By Briana Orr, Communications Specialist
The Group Health STP presented by Alaska Airlines is an exciting ride, and it deserves exciting opportunities to celebrate with other participants leading up to the ride. That’s why we’re pleased to announce that we’ve been working with our packet pick-up host, REI, on some big changes for this year’s event. Packet pick-up will run Wednesday, July 8 through Friday, July 10, and we’ve extended our hours this year to stay open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. to give riders more time to come and gather after work. New this year: we’ll have a system in place for peak periods to allow entrance to the packet pick-up room in waves based on your arrival time, which will allow you to browse the store and activities and get in quickly at your designated time without having to wait in a long line. Some of our great event sponsors, including Nuun and Blue Steel Sports, will be there handing out product samples, and we’ll have official STP event apparel available for purchase. Our title sponsor, Group Health, will also be there, collecting REI gift card donations for Major Taylor Project students who are riding STP. Many of these young athletes don’t own things like camping gear or riding apparel. As you’re picking up some last-minute items for your ride, please grab a gift card to help us purchase these necessities for them! Group Health will also be running a photo booth where you’ll be able to take a “before” shot, and they’ll have one at the finish line in Portland for your “after” shot. Group Health will donate one dollar to the Major Taylor Project for every photo uploaded to social media (maximum two per person) using #majortaylorselfie and tagging @grouphealth, so be sure to come check it out! In addition to all these fun things, we’ll also have something special on each day:
Improving Lives Through Bicycling
Wednesday, July 8
REI will host a mini expo with gear and apparel manufacturers on site to answer your questions and make sure you’ve got everything you need for the event. Thursday, July 9
We are hosting a block party festival in front of REI (don’t worry, you’ll still be able to access the garage from the north). REI will be bringing in their awesome Village with interactive components, including a sunglassmaking station, an Instagram postcard station, games, lounge area, REI member gifts and more! WD-40 Bike will be on site to get your bike ready for the ride with a free clean, lube and safety check. New Belgium will also be there in the evening with a free happy hour beer sampling for 21+ riders.
Tim O’Connor, Tech Manager at Cascade Bicycle Club shows off the new Let’s Ride! iPhone app.
Ready for a bike app that will show you 10 great rides around Seattle? Download Cascade’s new iPhone app, ‘Let’s Ride!’ On the heels of Bike Month, we released ‘Let’s Ride!’, inviting residents and visitors to hop on a bike and discover the region on two wheels with 10 amazing bike rides curated by Cascade staff.
“When I first moved to Seattle four years ago, I explored the city little by little every weekend by bike. I was able to see many sights and discover some great neighborhoods. Seattle is a very bike-friendly city blessed with gorgeous summers. It makes sense to have an accessible app for new and old residents as well as visitors to explore the city by bike,” said Park. Park and O’Connor pitched their idea to the University of Washington’s Information School (iSchool) as a masters capstone project. “Fortunately a team of very talented students took us up and committed an amazing effort to take the app from idea all the way to the Apple App Store,” said Park. The ‘Let’s Ride!’ app was created by dedicated team of masters students: Chenglu Chai, Wenjing Yang and Xinwei Liu. “With incredible tenacity, long hours, collaborative lunches, action-packed conference calls,
“Seattle is a very bike-friendly city blessed with gorgeous summers. It makes sense to have an accessible app for new and old residents as well as visitors to explore the city by bike.” -Nam-ho Park, Managing Director at Forum One
Friday, July 10
We’ll welcome our out-of-town riders with the quintessential Seattle experience: the incredible Convoy Coffee will be on site on the patio from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. selling manually-brewed specialty coffee from the back of their bicycle mobile coffee stand! Alchemy Goods will be also be on site all day to launch their Donor Program, a new campaign to help you become a donor of used bike tubes, and to connect you to the recipient of your generous donation. For more information, visit: cascade.org/ REIPacketPickUpParty
The free app offers comprehensive information of 10 bike rides around Seattle, including a map of each ride and turn-by-turn directions. Additionally, each ride features a photo and gives users details on distance, difficulty, approximate time to complete, terrain and road condition of each ride. Within two weeks of the app’s release, it was downloaded 400 times and received several five-star ratings. Nam-ho Park, Managing Director at Forum One, and Tim O’Connor, Tech Manager at Cascade Bicycle Club provided project oversight and guidance.
fastidious notes and organization, these three graduate students pulled off what was considered a long shot by most,” said O’Connor. ‘Let’s Ride!’ is currently available as an iPhone app and we’ll make the content available on cascade.org soon. We’re also aiming to create an Android and Windows Phone app through a corporate sponsor or through the work of some more dedicated volunteers! If you’d like to help out or know someone that would, please email Tim at tim@cascade.org. For more information and to download the app, visit: cascade.org/ about-lets-ride.
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July 2015
Evening training opportunities with Free Group Rides By Stacey Williams, Rides Manager
Are you looking for last-minute training rides leading up to STP? Or would you like to find a group for regular weekday evening rides? Cascade Free Group Rides has many summer rides on weekday evenings. With all of the wonderful sunshine, why go to the gym when you can ride your bike outside? We have rides in south Seattle, Snohomish County, Eastside and Seattle. Here are just a few: Midweek outdoor riding in the evening (MORE) hills offers moderate and steady-paced rides most Wednesdays during the spring and summer. We usually start from Lower Woodland Park on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and distance is between 20 and 25 miles. This is a great opportunity to get more comfortable climbing hills as well as link any training rides you may do during the weekends. If you are new to Seattle and want to learn bike-friendly neighborhoods and streets, please join us! Midweek outdoor riding in the evening (MORE) starts from Magnuson Park at 6 p.m. on Thursdays. As the name of the ride implies, our routes go on flatter streets and trails, although you can’t avoid some inclines and descents in Seattle. These are great rides for those who are starting out, have been out of the saddle for a while or are new to Seattle. You will enjoy different neighborhoods, views and sites while learning group riding skills with us. The midweek eastside evening training series (MEETS) rides are held every Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. throughout the summer. These training routes incorporate local hills, are between 20 and 30 miles and offer many different paces. Although this is a training series, the varied routes and many regular riders make for a fun time–come and join us! South Everett rides on Wednesdays meets every Wednesday until mid-August. The fun starts at 6 p.m. at the Archbishop Murphy High School. Routes are about 28 miles long through Everett, Mill Creek, Lynnwood, Snohomish, Mukilteo and Edmonds. We enjoy gorgeous views, cows, urbania, country roads, forest, shopping centers, crazy hills, farmland, flat river roads... but most of all a great group of riders who all want to stay healthy and have fun. Northside evening riding before dark (NERD) North King and South Snohomish Counties riders can challenge their hill-riding fitness with rides midweek. NERD riders experience somewhat hilly courses with a fun group of bicyclists. A ride in this series will typically expose you to views of Puget Sound, the Olympics, the Cascades or lakes located in North King County or South Snohomish County. We meet at 6 p.m. every Thursday at Lynnwood Transit Center until middle of September. You will also find rides in Renton with Cycle Tuesdays, More cycle Tuesday and additional rides on the Eastside with Eastside Tours Evening Rides. For more details, visist cascade.org/grouprides.
Letter to the Editor Last winter, I wanted to go on a cycling vacation. A small ad in the Cascade newsletter caught my eye...bicycling in Majorca in May. Wow! Right time, right place. I looked into it and it was perfect. It felt like a club ride offering, though it was offered through Fit4Adventure. Great riding and scenery but also training and coaching offered by Legro’s training camp. Thank you for promoting cycling and those who offer cycling adventures. – Yvonne R. Starkey
Daniel’s Joke Corner By Daniel Poppe, Development Coordinator
Q: What do you call a wooden tandem?
THE COURIER CREW Editor: Briana Orr Editorial assistants: Diana Bryant and Robbie Phillips Layout: Sarah Kulfan Additional design: Tom Eibling Photographers: Clarissa Allen, Briana Orr, Anne-Marije Rook, Tino Tran, Aaron Rourke Contributors: Clarissa Allen, Diana Bryant, Rachel Edlund, Ed Ewing, Elizabeth Kiker, Shannon Koller, Stacey Nakagawa, Briana Orr, Daniel Poppe, Ariana Rundquist, Miles Schulman, Kimberly Smith, Rebecca Sorensen, Anna Telensky, Tino Tran, Peter Verbrugge, Daniel Weise, Woodinville Bicycle, Tarrell Wright
We welcome your contributions! 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. Queries can be emailed to: commsdirector@cascade.org.
Advertising: We welcome ads and inserts. To check availability and inquire about prices, please contact Briana Orr at brianao@ cascade.org. Let’s be social! Follow Cascade on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. cascade.org facebook.com/cascadebicycleclub @cascadebicycle @cascadebicycle
CONTACT US Cascade Bicycle Club 7787 62nd Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98115
www.cascade.org Office phone: 206-522-3222 Email: info@cascade.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SENIOR STAFF
Note: All email addresses are @cascade.org
Elizabeth Kiker, Executive Director (206) 939-4343 • elizabethk@
President Catherine Hennings • catherine. hennings@
Jeff Aken, Advocacy Director (206) 939-4301 • jeffa@
Vice President Daniel Weise • daniel.weise@
David Douglas, Rec. Riding Director (206) 939-4323 • davidd@
Treasurer Alexa Volwiler • alexa.volwiler@
Ed Ewing, Director of Diversity & Inclusion (206) 939-4315 • ede@
Secretary George Durham • george.durham@ Director at large Charles Ruthford • charles.ruthford@ DIRECTORS Nate Glissmeyer • nate.glissmeyer@ Sandi Navarro • sandin@ Joe Platzner • joe.platzner@ Merlin Rainwater • merlin.rainwater@ Jim Stanton • jim.stanton@ Don Volta • don.volta@ Haley Woods • haleyw@ Ed Yoshida • ed.yoshida@
Shannon Koller, Director of Education (206) 939-4335 • shannonk@ Serena Lehman, Director of Membership & Outreach (206) 939-4330 • serenal@ Kathy Mania, Finance Director (206) 939-4321 • kathym@ Robbie Phillips, Director of Strategic Development (206) 939-4334 • robbiep@ Tarrell Wright, Development Director (206) 939-4312 • tarrellw@
The Cascade Bicycle Club Board of Directors meets five times a year. All meetings take place at the Cascade Bicycling Center, 7787 62nd Avenue NE, at 5:30 p.m. Board meetings are open to the public. Upcoming meetings are: Wednesday, Sept. 16 and Wednesday, Nov. 18.
A: A two-cedar!
Help us transform the Puget Sound! Renew now at cascade.org/renew
4
www.cascade.org
Vol. 45, No. 07
Seattle Night Ride By Stacey Nakagawa, Events Producer
City lights, summer night, glowing bikes-join us for the first annual Seattle Night Ride! This leisurely 15-mile route is truly rideable for participants of all ages and ability levels. Riders begin at Gasworks Park, coasting along Lake Union to the midpoint at Myrtle Edwards Park. We’ll take in some salty air, live entertainment, snacks and more before heading on the Elliott Bay, Ship Canal and Burke-Gilman trails to the finish line party at Peddler Brewing Company. Costumes and bike accessories safe for riding are encouraged, and prizes will be awarded at the finish line party! With paid registration, riders will receive one beverage ticket and a glowing Seattle Night Ride t-shirt.
Seattle Night Ride Friday, July 24, at 9 p.m.
Register at cascade.org/nightride.
Thanks to our sponsors:
RSVP 1 and 2 will reopen! By Rebecca Sorensen, Event Producer
Maybe you were having a busy day. Or maybe your friends forgot to invite you until after the events were sold out. (Sheesh, some friends!) No matter your reason for missing the first boat, you have a second chance to hop on one of Cascade’s most popular rides, Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party! There are two rides to choose from, exact same route, just different dates:
you from one ride to another. And yes, we expect both events to sell out, so don’t dawdle!
RSVP 1: Friday start
Refund deadlines
Event dates: Friday, August 14 and Saturday, August 15 Reopens: Thursday, July 16 at 10 a.m.
For registered riders, the refund deadline is fast approaching. If your plans have changed, do not delay! Log in to your Cascade account and request a refund as soon as possible. The last day to request a refund for RSVP 1 is Tuesday, July 14, and for RSVP 2 is Wednesday, July 15.
RSVP 2: Saturday start
Event dates: Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16 Reopens: Friday, July 17 at 10 a.m. Please note which event you are registering for. We cannot transfer
at
R e d H ook i n wo o d i n v i l l e 14300 NE. 145th St.
July 8
at
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For more information, visit cascade.org/ rsvp.
at
C h u c k 's H o p S h o p 2001 E. Union St.
pm
Improving Lives Through Bicycling
June 16 at 5 : 3 o p m 5
July 2015
2014 Annual Report At a glance The state of Cascade is strong. From a bold and far-reaching strategic plan created by board, staff and volunteers in July of 2014 to the move (by bike!) from our old offices to our new headquarters, the Cascade Bicycling Center, this was a year of giant steps forward for the Cascade Bicycle Club. Education continued to teach tens of thousands of students riding skills in third, fourth and fifth grade, while expanding into middle schools with Urban Cycling Clubs. The Major Taylor Program expanded into middle schools–and laid the groundwork for regional expansion into Tacoma. The Events that fuel Cascade’s work continued to thrive, and new events–like the Bike-n-Brews El Norte–sold out and reached a new audience. Membership crossed into 16,000, and customer service became a big focus–more than 2,000 members answered questions on our annual survey, and the overwhelming consensus was supportive.
Advocacy saw great progress on the Eastside Rail Corridor, the long-awaited completion of a protected bike lane on Second Avenue and the passage of Seattle’s ambitious and far-reaching Bicycle Master Plan.
And we completed our 5-Year Strategic Plan. The new headquarters hosted a holiday party for all bike advocates in the region and all Cascade volunteers!
Momentum is high and we’re gaining speed–your support makes all of our work possible, and for that we’re grateful. Here’s to a spectacular 2014, and an even brighter future for Cascade Bicycle Club.
Expenses
Income
Expenses
2014 Financials
Income Events & Rides
$2,938,707
Events & Rides
$1,850,387
Donations
$1,563,670
Bike Month
$263,130
Membership
$459,653
Membership
$205,599
Sponsorship
$155,350
MTP
$162,461
Advocacy
$10,000
Advocacy
$239,865
Grants
$256,067
Classes & Camps
$254,298
Communication
$33,660
Administration
$719,595
Classes & Camps
$49,920
Development
$248,065
Other
$293,805
Communication
$411,197
Other
$41,043
Bicycling Center
$65,298
Sponsorship
$269,086
Advocacy
$253,628
Total Income
$4,004,911
Total Expenses
$1,385,422
Total Expenses
$3,426,643
Total Income
$2,066,050
Sponsorship
Communication
Other
Administration
Other
Administration
Classes & Camps
Advocacy
Communication
Advocacy
Grants
Bicycling Center
Advocacy
Membership
Sponsorship
Development
Membership s
Events & Rides
Donations
Classes & Camps
Events & Rides
MTP Bike Month
Total Income
6
$4,004,911
Total Expenses
$3,426,643
Total Income
$2,066,050
Total Expenses
$1,385,422
www.cascade.org
Vol. 45, No. 07
2014 Annual Report 2014 by the numbers
2,255
19,825 Free Group Ride participants
FREE GROUP RIDES
168 students in Major Taylor Project 1,822 students participated in the Bike to School Challenge NEW Business Membership program, 6 Business Members
634
26,402 STUDENTS TAUGHT
VOLUNTEERS
588 participants rode on NEW Bike-n-Brews El Norte Ride 36 Advocacy Leadership Institute Graduates
15,798
479,000+ people visited our website
CASCADE MEMBERS
The Cascade Courier went full color!
DONORS TO THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION 2014 INDIVIDUALS
SPONSORS OF THE BIKE TO WORK BREAKFAST
$200,000 and up
$2,500 and up
The estate of Ruth Wilson • Ron & Eva-Maria Sher
$50,000 - $199,999 Anonymous • Ordinary People Foundation
$25,000 - $49,999
The Boeing Company • Stoel Rives, LLC • SvR Design • Seattle Children’s • Alaska Airlines • Vulcan Inc. • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
$1,500 - $2,499 Aspect Consulting • Lease Crutcher Lewis • Sound Transit • John Duggan Cycling Attorney • Linksbridge, SPC • Unico Properties LLC
Jabe Blumenthal & Julie Edsforth • Kongsgaard-Goldman Foundation
$10,000 - $24,999 Anonymous • Daniel V. Byrne • John & Julie Duggan • Ed & Marcy Yoshida • Peter & Judith Hallson • Doug & Maggie Walker • George & Rosalie Whyel
FOUNDATIONS $25,000 and up The Boeing Company • The Bullitt Foundation • Seattle Foundation • Verdant Health Commission
$5,000 - $9,999
$1,000 - 24,999
Anonymous • Blair & Laura Dillaway • Catherine & Tim Hennings • Bud Hunt • Mowry Jay Family Foundation • Judy Pigott • Jeffrey & Paula Pyatt • Brad & Danielle Tilden • Ed Torkelson & Kathy Kearney • Don & Jane Volta
Clif Bar Family Foundation • City of Seattle • Hazel Miller Foundation • PeopleForBikes
MONTHLY DONORS
$2,500 - $4,999
Thanks to our monthly donors. They help us plan and sustain our programs throughout the years.
Blackie Foundation • Arthur Burrill, in memory of Nancy Burrill • Matthew Cohen & Kimberly Kemp • Grant Howard • Judith Jesiolowski & David Thompson • Donna Sakson & Jonathan Mark • Michael Larson • Matt Leber • Melvin Roberts • Richard Serioussi, MD, Seattle Spine and Sports Medicine • Claudio Simon • Jim & Jolanne Stanton & Family • David Stout, MD • Eric Troyer
$1,000 - $2,499 Anonymous • Caglayan Arkan • Mark & Heather Barbieri • Don Barden • The Harry F. Barnes & Carol H. Barnes Family Foundation • Ruth & Sandy Becker • Doug Bradley • Toby Bright & Nancy Ward • Dave Carlton • Kevin Carrabine • Matt Chadsey • Herbert Chaffey • Christopher Daley-Watson • Andrew Dannenberg • David Douglas • George & Kathleen Durham • Kathe & Greg Fowler • Steven Friedman • Mark Davison & Kathleen Galloway • Curtis Gelotte • David Glickerman • Gabe Grijalva • Amy Godfrey • Tim Gordon • John Henderschedt • Troy Holbrook • Lynn Keenan & Janie Mathis • Elizabeth & Jason Kiker • Shannon Koller & Finnegan Wetterau • Bruce Leaman • Matthew Loschen • Don Martin • Oliver Moffat • Andres Monterrubio • Mary Ann & Bill Mundy • Robbie & Zack Phillips • Joe, Anne and Lizzy Platzner • Suzette Riley • Deanna Rodovsky • John & Nancy Rudolf • Charles & Jane Ruthford • Jessica & Matthew Szelag • Norm Tjaden • Ken Wälkky • John & Edie Weller • Dan Woodman
Improving Lives Through Bicycling
David Amiton • Nancy Backus • David Bricklin • Sean Cappello • John Crichton • Loren Drummond • Aaron Duggal • Peter Ettel • Christian Folk • Franklin Furlong • David Giugliano • Joey Gray • Annie Groeninger • Natalie Gualy • Rob Harrison • Rick Harwood • Shani Hawley • Zachary Herrington-Shaner • Rick Himmel • Dana Hinman • Juanita Holmes • Brock Howell • Matt Inpanbutr • Ben Johns • James Krieger • Bill LaBorde • Tanya Lamp • Joyce LaRose • Serena Lehman • Michel Martel • Brice Maryman • Greg Moore • John Mrozek • Liz Nixon • Jennifer Nuckols • Michele Peterson • Lynn Peterson • Merlin Rainwater • Jo Repanich • Kathleen Roan • Julie Robinson • Anne-Marije Rook • Carla Routhier • Noelle Royer • Deb Salls • Amber Sanguinetti • Rachel Smith • Tyler Smith • Kelly Sommerfeld • Brooks Stanfield • Patrick Taylor • Andrea Tousignant • Bridget Veerhoff • Laurie Vette • Kim Voros • Pat Weiler • Diane Wiatr • David Wiegand • Mars Williams • Karen Wolf • Tarrell Wright • Ella Zander
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July 2015
She Bikes to the Reign Game
Chelan biking weekend getaway
By Kelli Refer, Field Programs Coordinator
By Kimberly Smith
Seattle is home to some of the world’s best professional football players. No, I am not talking about the Seahawks or the Sounders–I’m talking about the Seattle Reign, our women’s football club! OK, sure, some prefer to call it soccer. Tomato, tomahto. Regardless of what we call it, the team features all star athletes like Megan Rapinoe, who spent June scoring goals in the Women’s World Cup! She Bikes is partnering with the Seattle Reign to celebrate strong and athletic women. So grab your bike, invite your friends and roll on down to the game with us. We’ve picked an exciting match–Seattle Reign versus the Portland Thorns–on Sunday, July 26, for a fun social event. Best of all, we have a special promotional code, SHEBIKES, which will get you $7 off tickets! Please join us on one of the bike
rides before the game. We have two rides so you can begin at a location that is convenient for you. We’ll ride together as a group at a leisurely pace.
Bike to the Reign game Sunday, July 26 Occidental Park start
Meet at 2:30 p.m., depart at 2:45 p.m. We’ll check out the Second Avenue protected bike lane on this two-mile ride, then head on Fourth Avenue until we reach the Seattle Center. Gas Works start
Meet at 2:30 p.m., depart at 2:45 p.m. We’ll bike along Westlake and explore the new protected bike lane on Mercer and Fifth Avenue while heading into Memorial Stadium on this four mile ride. Please note the SHEBIKES promo code is only redeemable online, so grab your tickets today at: reignfc.com/tickets. More information at shebikes.org.
Eighty riders celebrated at the top of McNeil Canyon.
In May, I helped support Cascade’s Chelan Bike Tour as Support and Gear (S.A.G.) for the rest stops. What could be better than a three-day weekend of bicycling through beautiful Chelan? Even though I was healing from hand surgery instead of biking, I think I had just as much fun as all the riders. The weather was perfect, the surrounding landscapes were just gorgeous and organizers of this getaway provided well-planned routes to meet everyone’s desires. The riders who made it to the top of McNeil Canyon–a long and difficult climb with a steep grade–got two rewards. The first was a chance to sit and recover in the glorious view. And second was a tasty cold creamsicle. Most groups enjoyed plenty of opportunities to pause during their
rides for scenic group photos and lots of selfies. Food stops were also a highlight, with the big hits being oatmeal cookies, bananas and plenty of peanut butter. At the end of each day, cyclists had the chance to socialize. We sipped wine at Vin du Lac winery one night and shared a flavorful dinner at Campbell’s the next. As we traveled back home on Sunday, I smiled, recalling the joy expressed by all the riders as they rode into each rest stop. But then I grinned even wider as I thought about riding the Chelan biking weekend event next year! Don’t miss out on next year’s ride. Mark your calendars for the second annual Lake Chelan Weekend, May 6-8, 2016.
She Bikes Cascade & Cycle the WAVE! By Peter Verbrugge, Cycle the WAVE Event Director
Cascade Bicycle Club is happy to be a promotional partner of the 2015 Cycle the WAVE (Women Against Violence Everywhere) event at Bellevue College on Sunday, Sept. 20. Cycle the WAVE is in its eighth year, and is one of the largest woman-only bicycle events in the country, with over 1,000 participants. The event offers tremendous camaraderie and four fun routes: the “Little Sister” 11-mile route, through progressively harder “Girly Girl”, “Middle Sister” and “Burly Girl” routes. To date over $750,000 has been given back to statewide domestic violence agencies through the event’s profits. And working together with Seattle Cycle Sirens, we are happy to announce a collection of free women’s training rides this summer, as part of She Bikes Cascade, to help riders prepare for group ride events like Cycle the WAVE, Bike-n-Brews El Norte, Kitsap Color Classic and more. 8
Additionally, Seattle Cycle Sirens and She Bikes Cascade each offer clinics covering topics like fix-a-flat, basic bike maintenance and nutrition. For more information about training rides and She Bikes classes, visit shebikes.org. For more about Cycle the WAVE, visit: thewavefoundation. org/cycle-the-wave. And for more on Seattle Cycle Sirens, visit their Facebook page.
www.cascade.org
Vol. 45, No. 07
FREE GROUP RIDES RIDE LEADER CERTIFICATION CLASS Saturday, July 18, 3:30 p.m. Cascade Bicycle Club 7787 62nd Ave NE Seattle, WA 98115
EASY PACE (UNDER 10 mph) Saturday, July 25 SLOW Ride to Volunteer Park: Climb a Tree, Wade or Watch! 11 a.m. • 7.60 miles from Northwest African American Museum, Seattle • Ride Leader: Merlin Rainwater
LEISURELY PACE (10-12 mph) Thursday, July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30 Gas Works Thursday Social 6:30 p.m. • 18 miles from Gas Works Park, Seattle • Ride Leader: Scott Kralik Friday, July 3 Friday Riders–Centennial Trail and Environs 10 a.m. • 25 miles from Snohomish city restrooms, Snohomish • Ride Leader: Astrid Bear Friday, July 10 Friday Riders bike to Olympic Sculpture Park 10 a.m. • 25 miles from Gas Works Park, Seattle • Ride Leader: William Lemke Friday, July 17 Friday Riders: Snohomish to Lake Cassidy, Roads and Trails 10 a.m. • 28 miles from Snohomish city restrooms, Snohomish • Ride Leader: Jan Johnson Saturday, July 18 Wine, Spice and Everything Nice 10 a.m. • 26 miles from Sammamish River Trail parking lot, Woodinville • Ride Leader: Jeffrey Stewart Sunday, July 19 Saturday/Sunday Pedalers on Kinda Easy Streets (SPOKES) Goes on a Forked Ride 10 a.m. • 21 miles from Quigley Park, Fall City • Ride Leaders: Michelle Burton, Jim Hunt
STEADY PACE (12-14 mph) Thursday, July 2 North End Ride before Dark - NERD 6 p.m. • 26 miles from Lynnwood Transit Center (SE corner), Lynnwood • Ride Leaders: Sam Miller, Cheryl Philipp Saturday, July 4 COOS #16 - Cycling out of Sumner 8 a.m. • 42 miles from Fred Meyer, Sumner • Ride Leader: Patricia Urton
MODERATE PACE (14-16 mph) Saturday, July 4 COOS #16 - Cycling out of Sumner 8 a.m. • 42 miles from Fred Meyer, Sumner • Ride Leader: Patricia Urton Saturday, July 4 Annual July 4th Black Diamond - Green River Valley Loop 9 a.m. • 52 miles from Old Renton City Hall, Renton • Ride Leader: Alan Lawrence Thursday, July 9 Thursday Unemployed Merry Pedalers: Home for Lunch 9:30 a.m. • 30 miles from Leschi Starbucks, Seattle • Ride Leader: Mike Nelson Sunday, July 12 Redmond - Snohomish Bakery Run 9 a.m. • 55 miles from East Lake Sammamish Trail Parking, Redmond • Ride Leader: Alan Lawrence Friday, July 17 Monroe to Snohomish - FRUMPS 10 a.m. • 45 miles from Lewis Street Park, Monroe • Ride Leader: Daniel Garretson Thursday, July 23 Thursday Unemployed Merry Pedalers: Home for Lunch 9:30 a.m. • 30 miles from Leschi Starbucks, Seattle • Ride Leader: Mike Nelson
Improving Lives Through Bicycling
Friday, July 24 Bellevue - Maltby Ice Cream Run: FRUMPS 9 a.m. • 60 miles from Newport Hills Park & Ride, Bellevue • Ride Leader: Alan Lawrence
BRISK PACE (16-18 mph) Thursday, July 2 Northside Evening Riding before Dark - NERD 6 p.m. • 25 miles from Lynnwood Transit Center (SE corner), Lynnwood • Ride Leaders: Daniel Kelly, Terence Shelton Thursday, July 2 Eastside Tours Evening Ride 6:30 p.m. • 25 miles from East Lake Sammamish Trail Lot, Redmond • Ride Leader: Eric Gunnerson Saturday, July 4 COOS #16 - Cycling out of Sumner 8 a.m. 42 miles Fred Meyer, Sumner • Ride Leader: Patricia Urton Monday, July 6 Small Chainring Monday 6:30 p.m. • 19 miles from Sam Smith Park, Seattle • Ride Leader: David Longdon Tuesday, July 7 Eastside Tours Evening Ride 6:30 p.m. • 25 miles from East Lake Sammamish Trail Lot, Redmond Ride Leader: Eric Gunnerson Thursday, July 9 Eastside Tours Evening Ride 6:30 p.m. • 25 miles from East Lake Sammamish Trail Lot, Redmond • Ride Leader: Eric Gunnerson Monday, July 13 Small Chainring Monday 6:30 p.m. • 19 miles from Sam Smith Park, Seattle • Ride Leader: David Longdon Tuesday, July 14 Eastside Tours Evening Ride 6:30 p.m. • 25 miles from East Lake Sammamish Trail Lot, Redmond • Ride Leader: Eric Gunnerson Thursday, July 16 Northside Evening Riding before Dark NERD 6 p.m. • 25 miles from Lynnwood Transit Center (SE corner), Lynnwood • Ride Leaders: Daniel Kelly, Terence Shelton Thursday, July 16 Eastside Tours Evening Ride 6:30 p.m. • 25 miles from East Lake Sammamish Trail Lot, Redmond • Ride Leader: Eric Gunnerson Tuesday, July 21 Eastside Tours Evening Ride 6:30 p.m. • 25 miles from East Lake Sammamish Trail Lot, Redmond • Ride Leader: Eric Gunnerson Thursday, July 23 Eastside Tours Evening Ride 6:30 p.m. • 25 miles from East Lake Sammamish Trail Lot, Redmond • Ride Leader: Eric Gunnerson Saturday, July 25 Meet the High Performance Cycling Team 9 a.m. • 35 miles from Sam Smith Park, Seattle • Ride Leader: David Longdon Monday, July 27 Small Chainring Monday 6:30 p.m. • 19 miles from Sam Smith Park, Seattle • Ride Leader: David Longdon Tuesday, July 28 Eastside Tours Evening Ride 6:30 p.m. • 25 miles from East Lake Sammamish Trail Lot, Redmond • Ride Leader: Eric Gunnerson Thursday, July 30 Northside Evening Riding before Dark NERD 6 p.m. • 25 miles from Lynnwood Transit Center (SE corner), Lynnwood • Ride Leaders: Daniel Kelly, Terence Shelton Thursday, July 30 Eastside Tours Evening Ride • 6:30 p.m. • 25 miles from East Lake Sammamish Trail Lot, Redmond • Ride Leader: Eric Gunnerson
VIGOROUS (18-20 mph) Monday, July 6 MUMPS: Head Up North 9:30 a.m. • 70 miles from Tracy Owen Station/Log Boom Park, Kenmore • Ride Leader: Craig Mohn
Exceptional Ride Leader: John Weller By Stacey Williams, Rides Manager
We are delighted to recognize John Weller as an Exceptional Ride Leader for the number of rides he led in 2014. In fact, John and two other ride leaders posted 15 percent of the rides last year! John has been riding a bike since he was young, but he started riding seriously when he joined the Cascade Training Series in 2006. John couldn’t run for exercise anymore, and said the gym got boring. “I saw the CTS announcement for a few years, but kept letting the series start date go by. So in March of 2006, I kicked myself in the butt and got down to Magnuson for the first CTS ride of that season. I was hooked immediately,” said John. He joined Cascade because he felt it was the least he could do to contribute to the cycling cause. Cascade was the hometown team. John used CTS as a forcing function to become an engaged Cascade member. “When I decided to start riding with others, Cascade was
John Weller
head-and-shoulders above all other clubs I could find. I liked the variety of free rides and was intrigued by the events.” The year 2006 saw John on CTS, Flying Wheels, STP and Kitsap Color Classic. John became a ride leader in 2007, and has never looked back. John also volunteers on the Rides Committee. He helps in meeting our goal of getting more rides on the calendar. “I find it easier to exhort others to post rides if I’m already on the high ground. My goal is to post at least four rides a month. And leading those rides is fun. So it’s a win-win combination,” said John.
Monday, July 13 MUMPS: Head Up North 9:30 a.m. • 70 miles from Tracy Owen Station/Log Boom Park, Kenmore • Ride Leader: Craig Mohn
Tuesday, July 21 Cycle Tuesdays 5:45 p.m. • 35 miles from Gene Coulon Park, Renton • Ride Leaders: Vincent Haag, Russ Moul
Monday, July 20 MUMPS: Head Up North 9:30 a.m. • 70 miles from Tracy Owen Station/Log Boom Park, Kenmore • Ride Leader: Craig Mohn
Thursday, July 23 More Cycle Tuesdays 5:45 p.m. • 25 miles from Gene Coulon Park, Renton • Ride Leaders: Steve Else, Michael Hoffman
Monday, July 27 MUMPS: Head Up North 9:30 a.m. • 70 miles from Tracy Owen Station/Log Boom Park, Kenmore • Ride Leader: Craig Mohn
STRENUOUS: (20-22 mph) See the Multipace listing
SUPER STRENUOUS: (22mph +) Thursday, July 2 More Cycle Tuesdays 5:45 p.m. • 25 miles from Gene Coulon Park, Renton • Ride Leaders: Steve Else, S Michael Hoffman Tuesday, July 7 Cycle Tuesdays 5:45 p.m. • 35 miles from Gene Coulon Park, Renton • Ride Leaders: Vincent Haag, Russ Moul Thursday, July 9 More Cycle Tuesdays 5:45 p.m. • 25 miles from Gene Coulon Park, Renton • Ride Leaders: Steve Else, S Michael Hoffman Tuesday, July 14 Cycle Tuesdays 5:45 p.m. • 35 miles from Gene Coulon Park, Renton • Ride Leaders: Vincent Haag, Russ Moul
Tuesday, July 28 Cycle Tuesdays 5:45 p.m. • 35 miles from Gene Coulon Park, Renton • Ride Leaders: Vincent Haag, Russ Moul Thursday, July 30 More Cycle Tuesdays 5:45 p.m. • 25 miles from Gene Coulon Park, Renton • Ride Leaders: Steve Else, Michael Hoffman
MULTIPACE RIDES 11th Annual Midweek RAMROD Training Series • Brisk (16-18 mph) to Super Strenuous (22 mph +) Saturday, July 11 Ride #13 • 7:30 a.m. • 101 miles from Challenger Elementary School, Issaquah Saturday, July 18 Ride #14 • 7:30 a.m. • 105 miles from Newport Hills Park & Ride, Bellevue Saturday July 25 Ride #15 • 9 a.m. • 56 miles from Ron Regis Park, Renton Ride Leaders: Paul Franks, Francis Gan, Joe Sullivan, Per Sunde, Shana Sunde
Thursday, July 16 More Cycle Tuesdays 5:45 p.m. • 25 miles from Gene Coulon Park, Renton • Ride Leaders: Steve Else, S Michael Hoffman
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. 9
July 2015
New member highlight: Candace Toth
Women Bike: the perfect summer shoe
By Ariana Rundquist, Membership Manager
By Briana Orr, Communications Specialist
Candace Toth with her rebuilt vintage 10-speed Miyata.
Photo courtesy of Aaron V. Rourke
Candace Toth is a very lucky woman. She joined the Cascade Bicycle Club membership community this Spring, and I first met the vibrant thirty-something at the launch party for She Bikes Cascade. More than 100 fabulous women attended the April event to mix, mingle and talk about bicycling. But Candace won the grand prize of the evening: two registrations to Cascade’s newest event, the Woodinville Wine Ride! At the Woodinville Wine Ride finish line, I found the lucky lady again, relaxing with friends and a glass of wine. For over two years now, Candace has worked with deeply dedicated and self-labeled “transit geeks” at Sound Transit, who get very excited each May about a little thing called the Bike Month Challenge. Candace was intrigued to join the Challenge in 2014, but she was riding a heavy Huffy mountain bike, which was “at least a million years old,” she said. She needed a new set of wheels. Enter: Candace’s twin sister, Brianna, who works at L.A. Bike Kitchen. Brianna came across a vintage 10-speed Miyata and offered to build it up for Candace. Candace eagerly accepted. “For the first time, I have a nice bike that works well and is easy to maintain. It makes such a difference,” said Candace. Thus armed for the Bike Month Challenge, Candace joined an
“Give a girl the correct footwear and she can conquer the world,” famously said singer and actress Bette Midler. Flip flops, platforms, clogs, wedges, pumps, flatbeds–which is the correct footwear for bicycling? The short answer: all of them. You can ride a bike in any shoe. From flip flops to wedges, you can do it. Don’t let your favorite flats stand in the way of you pedaling to your friend’s backyard BBQ or heading to the beach in style. The long answer? Some shoes are simply more comfortable for on and off the bike, however, and some will give you more confidence when pedaling than others. So, here’s what to look for in the perfect summer shoe:
all-women’s commute team at Sound Transit. “They seemed just as interested in meeting up and sharing bicycling tips as they were about tracking miles–it was a very supportive environment,” she said. Once Bike Month was over, nobody wanted the fun to end. So the intrepid group of women traveled by train, ferry and bike to Lopez Island for Candace’s first bike camping trip. Candace now bikes to work two to three times per week, and she hops on the bus for the rest of her trips to her workplace at Sound Transit. “Biking gives me a real sense of freedom, like I could change my route at a moment’s notice. I’m also a bit of a packrat, and biking forces me to simplify.” Candace joined Cascade Bicycle Club this year because she plans to ride the Ride Seattle to Vancouver and Party (RSVP) with her sister Brianna, a first for both of them. “Being a part of the membership community at Cascade makes me more engaged in Cascade’s programming, and I find myself exploring their great menu of opportunities,” said Candace. Cascade Bicycle Club is thrilled to welcome such an enthusiastic individual to our membership community. Apart from bike camping, Candace is also a passionate knitter. If anyone out there want to yarn-bomb their bicycles, I know who you can call.
Start with the right fit.
We all talk ourselves into shoes that aren’t quite right. Too-small pumps will crunch toes in hot weather when feet are more prone to swelling in the heat. Perhaps worse, loose-fitting sandals can slip off while riding! (Yep, it’s happened to me.) For long-lasting comfort on the bike, look for firm soles.
Flatbed shoes will feel better for longer rides than your flip flops. Clogs and cowgirl boots are also great options.
For confidence, look for a strap around the ankle.
Mary Janes are some of my all-time favorite city biking shoes. They’re a comfortable, casual shoe for the PNW and can be dressed up with a skirt or down with jeans. Bonus: your toes are covered up, protecting them from getting stubbed or scraped. Center the ball of your foot over the pedal.
This is a good general rule no matter what you have on your feet; the ball of your foot is where your power comes from. Using the ball of your foot becomes vital when wearing any kind of heel or platform shoe. Adjust your seat height accordingly.
For shoes that add height, raise your bike seat up to compensate. Conversely, if you normally ride in cleated cycling shoes, you may find you want to lower your seat slightly when in flats. When sporting shoes that don’t give you the most confidence pedaling, start slow and remember to move out of your saddle when you start and stop. Channeling your inner ballerina and balancing on your tiptoes at stop lights takes its toll on your toes. So don your strappy favorites, grab your bike and go conquer the world! Show us your favorite summer shoes! Post your photo on Instagram or Twitter and tag @cascadebicycle.
There’s no time like Connect BBQ time By Kelli Refer, Field Programs Coordinator
Join us at the Cascade Bicycling Center, where we will roll out the grill and get you connected to what is going on around the region. You’ll have the chance to meet leaders from our Connect Puget Sound teams, learn more about campaigns like Vision Zero and generally have a really great time. We’ll bring the food and drinks, just bring yourself! 10
Connect BBQ Saturday, July 18, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Cascade Bicycling Center P.S. Bring your swimsuit if you want to jump in the lake! For more information, visit cascade.org/ connectbbq
www.cascade.org
Vol. 45, No. 07
education foundation news Exploring the city by bike Miles Schulman, Major Taylor Project Assistant
For most folks, going to Dick’s in Queen Anne is not a whoop-dee-doo destination, but for the Major Taylor Project, it marks the start of an adventure. Wednesday afternoons can be tough. Students at Chief Sealth International High School love Bike Club, but between after-school jobs, family obligations, college prep and everything else, it’s been hard to get a solid crew together each week. And Students at Chief Sealth International High of course, on Wednesdays at 3 p.m., School love Bike Club. it always seems to be raining. This Wednesday was no different. I roll up to the Sealth Bike Locker already wet and the sky shows no sign of clearing for us. Students come outside for Bike Club’s snack and check in and ask, “where are we going today?” I think about changing my plans. Altering course for a shorter ride. It is raining, after all. But Shawn, my co-ride leader, and I look at each other and both say, “Downtown! We’re going to the Sculpture Garden.”
“We’re all soaked. I open my bag and realize the snacks I threw in there won’t cut it. There’s only one solution: we’re getting burgers and shakes from Dick’s.” - Miles Schulman, Major Taylor Project Assistant “How far is it?” A chorus of students ask. It’s 10 miles away on busy roads. When the students hear this, there’s chaos! Some are so excited, others don’t want to ride in the rain and want to their shoes to be dry. Finally, Natu, a soccer star and bike-loving sophomore speaks up, “who cares if it’s raining? We have those rain jackets! We’re going downtownnn!!! With this new energy, I grab the Club’s (2004) STP tyvek rain jackets while students pump tires, throw some more snacks in my pack, shouting, “rolling!” and we’re off. It takes an hour to get to the sculpture garden. We’re all soaked. I open my bag and realize the snacks I threw in there won’t cut it. There’s only one solution: we’re getting burgers and shakes from Dick’s. In no time we are back on our bikes, rolling in and are giving a massive order to the cashier. By the time we are finished eating we realize it’s 6:30 p.m., this is when Club usually ends. And we’re in Queen Anne! But the students are in no rush to get back. Most of them have never been to Queen Anne or Seattle Center, and they want to explore. We swing by the fountain and the students slide down the rocks sides to play in the water. “We’re already wet anyway!” they yell. We weave through traffic under the viaduct, and before we know it are climbing over the West Seattle Bridge. Our toes are getting cold. We roll up to Sealth around 8 p.m. We are all exhausted. But the students are elated. Nineteen miles is the farthest ride they’ve ever been on, and they totally owned it. It’s amazing to think just a few weeks ago, many of them could not ride with drop bars or shift, and now they are rolling from Delridge to Downtown, using the bike to explore their city. The Major Taylor Project is experiencing record student enrollment this spring. Students are discovering the joys of bicycling from Delridge to Tacoma. 71 students are enrolled at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, 42 at Foster High School in Tukwila, 40 at Global Connections and double-digit enrollment at the other seven locations. Teacher enrollment in the Major Taylor Project has increased as well, with four teachers at each after-school club.
Improving Lives Through Bicycling
Group Health Research Institute and UW partner with the Major Taylor Project By Rachel Edlund, Development Intern and Ed Ewing, Director of Diversity & Inclusion
The results are in! An exciting collaboration with the Group Health Research Institute confirmed something we’ve known along: Cascade’s Major Taylor Project is something pretty special. Last fall Cascade partnered with the Group Health Research Institute and the University of Washington to better understand the effectiveness and impact of the Major Taylor Project (MTP). Designed to capture important information about MTP students and the after-school program’s overall effectiveness, the evaluation process also provided Cascade staff and researchers with a snapshot of the program’s social and emotional impact on students–something that isn’t always considered in standard data collection.
An overwhelming number of students responded that MTP bike club is their favorite because unlike many other sports, it’s not competitive– it’s collaborative. Produced by Cascade’s Diversity & Inclusion department, MTP is a youth development program designed to reach middle and high school students in some of the region’s most diverse neighborhoods. Students learn skills such as bicycle maintenance, road safety awareness, healthy living and individual goal setting. At first glance, the statistics around the health of today’s youth seem grim. Many students today don’t get to enjoy physical activity in school, as only six percent of high schools nationwide offer daily PE class. A recent King County Public Health report shows that one in five youth in King County is obese or overweight, and obesity rates are highest among males, youth of color and those living in South King County. Furthermore, 85 percent of King County adolescents in grades eight, 10 and 12 do not meet physical activity recommendations. But the Group Health evaluation brings hope and sheds light on significant improvements linked to MTP. The evaluation found that 18 percent of students participating in MTP last fall were enrolled in daily PE class–more than twice the national average. Even more impressive is that those MTP students increased their average weekly cycling minutes by more than 50 percent after only two months into the program! Perhaps the most unique evaluation finding wasn’t buried within numbers or statistics. It was the notion of what MTP is really all about: an overwhelming number of students responded that MTP bike club is their favorite because unlike many other sports, it’s not competitive–it’s collaborative. Dr. David Arterburn of the Group Health Research Institute best summed up the power of MTP, “the Major Taylor Project helps to ensure that adolescents in many of our most underserved communities have the knowledge, skills, and mentorship that they need to ride their bikes safely for fun and to use bikes as an alternative to cars for their daily commutes. Cycling is an excellent way for these teens to get exercise, and becoming regular cyclists will help keep them healthier in the long run–by reducing their risk of chronic health problems like obesity, diabetes and depression.” Group Health has been a longtime supporter of Cascade Bicycle Club and of MTP. The collaborative effort between the Group Health Research Institute and the University of Washington has deepened our partnership, expanded possibilities, improved the quality and effectiveness of our work and ultimately, is helping to realize our mission of improving lives through bicycling. To learn more about Major Taylor, visitcascade.org/major-taylor-project.
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July 2015
Ready to explore, just in time for summer Clarissa Allen, Education Program Coordinator
Forever a friend: the Hazel Miller Foundation again supports Cascade’s bicycle education programs in Edmonds Schools Diana Bryant, Grant Writer
This spring, five South Shore School students participated in an after-school cycling club.
To many seasoned cyclists, sharing the road is as comfortable as a chamois. To students in the South Shore Urban Cycling Club, though, it’s a novel– maybe even scary–prospect. This spring, five South Shore School students participated in an after-school cycling club as part of a Safe Routes to School grant. During the club students learned about bike safety, handling skills and rules of the road, as they got ready for organized road rides around the neighborhood. South Shore Urban Cycling Club “created a supportive environment for students to practice leadership and cooperation,” said Jennie Morrison, community learning center coordinator at South Shore PK-8. The sixth and seventh graders took turns leading group rides and also practiced following the lead of their peers. “From a youth development perspective, these are exactly the type of skills and learning opportunities that we try to cultivate through our
after-school programs,” said Jennie. After a few weeks mastering the basics in the school parking lot, these five students hit the road, exploring local destinations, such as Othello Playground and the Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands, learning about their local greenways and bike routes along the way. After 11 weeks of club and many miles of experience, the students gathered at their school for a celebration of their success. The five students each presented on a bike safety topic of their choice (such as proper helmet fit, ABC quick-check and scanning) to all the attendees. And, as the culminating event, each club participant was fitted for a free mountain bike, generously donated to the club by Bike Works! Thanks to the support and collaboration with community partners, these five students now have the skills and bikes necessary to continue exploring their community, just in time for summer.
A big thanks to the Hazel Miller Foundation! This May Cascade received a $15,000 grant from the Edmonds-based foundation. The support will go toward the implementation of bicycle education programs in the Edmonds School District, where Cascade regularly runs programs such as Basics of Bicycling and Urban Cycling Clubs. The Hazel Miller Foundation has become a good friend to Cascade, with support shown for our elementary bicycle education programs in each of the last several years. Grants like the one from the Hazel Miller Foundation help with the cost of teacher training and instructional support for Urban Cycling Clubs, as well as bicycle maintenance and support for Bike to School Month—a month-long celebration of all things bicycle, and the catalyst for many children to continue riding to school throughout the rest of the year and into the next. Thanks to long-running support from organizations like the Hazel Miller Foundation, Cascade is poised to continue making great progress in the Edmonds community. Providing bicycle education and encouragement programming gives kids the tools they need to feel safe, supported and capable of venturing into their communities; and when young people feel connected to people and places, they’re likely to stay.
Students practice bicycle skills at the Sherwood Elementary Bike to School Day celebration.
This is a great time to deepen our impact in Edmonds, where Cascade’s advocacy staff is also working to help make improvements to the city’s transportation infrastructure so that more people can access bike lanes and greenways. As the Edmonds community becomes better connected and safer for cyclists through projects like BikeLink—an initiative that will provide several bicycle infrastructure improvements in the coming years—Edmonds children and families will have a real-life setting in which to practice their newly learned skills. We are grateful to the Hazel Miller Foundation for helping make all of this possible. A big bicycle thank you goes out to them! To learn more about Cascade’s education programs, visit.cascade.org/learn.
Bike to School Month by the numbers By Shannon Koller, Education Director
Bike to School Month was a huge success at our Puget Sound area schools! Just take a look at these stats: • 1,867 local students registered for the challenge. • 602,621 minutes of bicycling were logged during the month of May. Golden Pedal Awards are awarded to schools that excel in student ridership. And for 2015, the winners were: Thornton Creek Elementary
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School, Eckstein Middle School and Newport High School in Bellevue. And, two top riders received new bikes from Traitor Cycles for riding the most miles during May. Congratulations to Declan O’Neill from Seattle Country Day School and Guy de Gouville from Newport High School! Thanks for riding with us this year, and we hope your students keep riding throughout the summer.
www.cascade.org