improving lives through bicycling
2016 in Review p. 6-7 December 2016 / Vol. 47 No. 10
An end; a beginning by Elizabeth Kiker, Executive Director
Elizabeth Kiker (top right) with her family. Photo courtesy of Shiz Photography.
I biked to my first day at Cascade on Sept. 5, 2013. That day there was a hard, driving rain — rare for Seattle, I’ve since learned. My family and I had arrived the night before with a truck filled with our lives from Washington, D.C.; I pulled my bike off the back of the truck and set out. My first-day outfit was a red dress and brand-new, slick-bottomed
shoes: my foot slid off the pedal, and I jammed myself into my seat very uncomfortably before I’d even left the driveway. One block later, following directions I’d printed out, I was supposed to turn right. When I realized where I was supposed to turn, I gasped. It was the steepest hill I’d ever seen — looking down it felt like peering off the edge of a cliff. I stood there, staring down the fearsome drop in the pouring rain in my slippery shoes, and — of course — four polite Seattle drivers stopped to wave me in front of them. I declined, waving them on, peering downhill, wondering if I dared to do it. Finally, I set out. I cursed like a sailor — a loud one — the entire white knuckle ride down that hill. A pedestrian stopped to encourage me: “You can do it!” he shouted from the sidelines. I barely heard him through the blaze of my fear. And yet he was right: I made it. I could have worn a waterproof
cascade.org
raincoat; I could have had fenders; I could have put on better shoes — but I rode to work and I took the reins of the best bike advocacy organization and club in the nation. That ride was a memorable start to the wild three years, three months and 26 days I worked at Cascade. That first morning, the board and staff challenged me to do three things: 1. build a strategic plan, the organization’s first in 11 years; 2. create a huge, relatively short new bike ride; and 3. build a new space for Cascade worthy of its grand ambitions and concrete successes. While it wasn’t always sunshine (it is Seattle, of course) and roses, together with our supportive and growing membership, our tremendous staff accomplished all three; and for good measure we also merged with Washington Bikes and expanded our mission statewide.
I’m also inordinately proud of the work we did to build deep collaborations with partners too many to name, from Bike Works, Puget Sound Sage, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways and Transportation Choices Coalition; to King County Parks, the cities of Bellevue, Kirkland and Seattle; and Group Health and Alaska Airlines, among many others. I am thrilled to see the Wilburton Trestle funded for the Eastside Rail Corridor. I am saddened that the Ballard Missing Link remains unconnected; and while it will be completed by staff, I won’t be here to see it. I have been awed to see what this staff can accomplish while remaining deeply committed to the work. I look forward to moving back home to be closer to family. Thank you all for letting me join you for part of the journey; I wish each of you the best in everything.
Elizabeth Kiker announces departure from Cascade Bicycle Club & Washington Bikes
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7787 62nd Ave. NE Seattle, WA 98115 www.cascade.org
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By Nate Glissmeyer, Board Vice President
After over three years of inspiring leadership and accomplishment, Executive Director Elizabeth Kiker has decided to move on from Cascade Bicycle Club and Washington Bikes. Her last day will be Dec. 31, 2016. On behalf of the staff and board, please join us in wishing her all the best as she transitions to the next chapter in her career. Elizabeth had a tremendous positive effect on both Cascade Bicycle Club and Washington Bikes, and her departure will be a loss for both organizations. “We owe Elizabeth an enormous debt for all she’s achieved in three short years,” said Board Vice President Nate Glissmeyer. “Even putting together a list of her successes was awe-inspiring. She’s made such an important difference for these organizations and for bicycling across the state.” Elizabeth brought outstanding and energetic leadership to the organizations. Her can-do attitude led us to take on and succeed with projects that would have seemed impossible to many. Elizabeth led a gigantic $2+ million capital campaign, taking us from a dusty, damp and cramped office into our new spacious location; she created a true Bicycling
Center with a first-of-its-kind traffic garden, Fix-It Garage and Ride Leader Welcome Pavilion. She led the orchestration of a successful merger, making Cascade and Washington Bikes the largest statewide bicycle nonprofits in the nation. With the development of new 5-year strategic plans for both organizations, we are poised for continued growth and success. Under her leadership, Cascade membership grew dramatically from 15,000 to over 17,000 people across the state. We unveiled multiple new and successful major rides, including the Emerald City Bike Ride, which had more than 7,000+ participants in its first year, and expanded the variety in our rides to attract new types of riders. We grew our education programming more than 50 percent statewide under Elizabeth’s leadership. We pushed the passage of the Move Seattle Levy, Sound Transit 3, Bellevue Transportation Levy, and multi-modal funding statewide. We increased the reach of the Major Taylor Project. We led the charge for significant Eastside Rail Corridor funding, Missing Link advocacy and so much more. We fostered positive partnerships with
communities and organizations to help make biking more accessible and inclusive — a deeply personal commitment of Elizabeth’s — most recently in our partnership with King County Parks, the YES! Foundation and the White Center Community Development Association to launch the White Center Bike Playground. “I’m proud of all that has been accomplished during my time at Cascade and Washington Bikes,” said Elizabeth. “We have talented and dedicated staff, board, members and partners that will achieve even greater fulfillment of our vision, bicycling for all, and our statewide mission of improving lives through bicycling. We thank our members and supporters for their commitment to Cascade and Washington Bikes during this transition.” We all feel so deeply fortunate to have benefited from Elizabeth’s strong and effective leadership over the past three years. We thank Elizabeth for building Cascade and Washington Bikes into the successful organizations they are today. She leaves a legacy that positions us for unparalleled growth and success.