improving lives through bicycling
p. 6-7
July 2016 / Vol. 46 No. 7
cascade.org
The White Center cycling movement
Vision, “Christmas in June” has given away over 20,000 balls and 230 bikes to date.
By Ed Ewing, Major Taylor Project Director
The elementary school students wheel around a bike rodeo with their bikes, practicing handling skills they learned in their P.E. classes.
Twenty-five students receive a refurbished bike and a new helmet as part of the YES! Foundation’s “Christmas in June” event.
Ten years ago, on a snowy January morning, Pat Thompson, Executive Director of White Center’s YES! Foundation, looked me in the eye and said, “Ed, if you come to White Center, be prepared to stay. I want to start a cycling movement.” On Wednesday, June 16, 2016, that movement reached the next generation of cyclists.
“I will have the time of my life on a bike.” -Enrique, 6th grade
Cascade Bicycle Club and the YES! Foundation of White Center partnered to give 25 refurbished BMX bikes to award winning students at White Center Heights Elementary School. This partnership was to support the YES! Foundation’s annual community celebration called “Christmas in June.”
Students were selected based on an essay contest where they answered this question: “How would a bike change my summer?” I was struck by one student’s answer: “I will use my bike to do what Michelle Obama encourages us to do, be fit and exercise.” Enrique, a 6th grader, wrote: “I will have the time of my life on a bike.” And Taatia, a 5th grader, wrote: “Having a bike would be a dream come true for me and my family. If I had a bike, I could share my bike with my brother and sisters.” “Christmas in June” was started in 2003 as a vision of Pat’s: every kid should have an athletic ball to play with. The event also selects elementary students from the community to receive bikes. With support of the White Center community and partnerships with Baden and World
“Having a bike would be a dream come true for me and my family. I could share my bike with my brother and sisters.” - Taatia, 5th grade
Pat Thompson’s words “I want to start a cycling movement” are louder than ever, and the White Center community echoes these words. In May, DubSea Coffee and Caffe Delia set up DIY Bike Everywhere Day stations. Aaron’s Bike Repair, Inc. bike shop is a community hub, there is a DIY bike repair station at the new King County Library and the White Center Traffic Garden is under construction in Dick Thurnau Memorial Park. Additionally, the Major Taylor Project bike clubs at Cascade Middle School and Evergreen High School are booming. Cascade Bicycle Club is proud to partner with the YES! Foundation and the White Center community to realize the vision of a thriving cycling movement!
PRSRT STD US Postage Paid Seattle, WA PERMIT No. 2172
Seattle’s very own Night Ride
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
7787 62nd Ave. NE Seattle, WA 98115 www.cascade.org
TIME DATED MATERIAL
By Meghna Jaradi, Events Coordinator
Last September, a group of Cascade staff took a trip down to Las Vegas, Nev. to take part in Interbike. Interbike is a huge cycling tradeshow where every big name from every niche in the cycling world comes together to learn about what is new in the industry. In between test driving fat tire bikes and e-bikes, and checking out the latest trends in bikes lights and event gear (hello inflatable arch!), we found out about a “night ride.”
I managed to snag a loaner “lucky 8” ball helmet and got situated on one of the bikes as we waited for further instructions. From seemingly nowhere emerged three gigantic trikes, decked out with colorful lights and all mounted with massive speaker setups that were blasting different but harmonious beats. Without much fanfare, all 150 of us were off into the night, and (much to my surprise!) we began riding down the strip! No number of words could accurately describe the feeling of cruising down Las Vegas Boulevard in the middle of the night — amidst the bright lights and neon, the cheering clubgoers who stopped all along the way to take pictures of us, and the occasional cyclist attempting a stunt — but rockstar comes pretty close. Now, Seattle is no Vegas — but it’s a beautiful city to boot! We’ve cultivated a very similar experience with our second annual Seattle Night
Ride on Friday, July 8. Join us at the start at Peddler Brewing Company and jump onto a color-themed bike train before rolling out for the night. The midpoint at Myrtle Edwards will feature live music and entertainment with Seattle’s beautiful city lights and Elliott Bay in full view, and when you roll back to Peddler Brewing, a refreshing beer and a rad souvenir await you. It might not be the first time you’ve experienced the city by bike, but you may come pretty close to feeling like a rockstar.
Seattle Night Ride Friday, July 8, 9 p.m. Start & finish at Peddler Brewing Company Find out more and register at cascade.org/nightride