APRIL 2017
the quarterly magazine for Cascade members
9.75 in.
7.25 in.
WE’RE FOR EVERY BODY
kp.org/hellowashington ©2017 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington.
WELCOME TO
PEDAL PIC
Bikes going for a boat ride. Cascade Bicycle Club volunteer Pat Everett captured the bikes enjoying the ferry trip to Bainbridge Island to start the 2017 Chilly Hilly. Submit a photo for consideration in a future issue by sending a highresolution image and short caption to brentt@cascade.org.
PEDAL | 3
STATEMENT OF VOICE Welcome to Pedal Washington Growing up, I spent summer months with my uncle, aunt and cousin in Fort Collins, Colorado, and one year my uncle put it upon himself to teach me to ride a bike. My uncle “taught” me by “throwing” me (a scared 7-year-old) down a steep section of the Spring Creek Trail. After many falls, I was miraculously balancing! It felt like I was flying…until I realized I didn’t know how to stop or steer when the trail bended left. Due to my lack of turning knowledge, I kept on flying straight, right into a horse pasture… and then directly into a horse. The horse didn’t even move, just looked at me and went on eating. Well…as the saying goes, “When you fall into a horse while biking, you get back up.” Right? I eventually learned how to turn, and that trail became my path to expanded adventure that summer. My bike and that trail opened a whole new world for me, notably an easy way to get to the Dairy Queen three miles away. I was reintroduced to bicycling in college at Loyola University Chicago. During the summers our student transit passes were deactivated and the student shuttle that sent us back and forth from the main campus to the downtown campus was significantly scaled back. Being the poor college student looking for any way to save money, I didn’t want to spend the $3 a day on the “L.” That’s valuable beer money! So instead, I biked to work. And it was so easy! I was about two blocks from the Lakefront Trail, and my work was another two blocks off the trail. The trail was my necessary path to work every day. It was then when I fell in love with bicycling. It was not only saving me money, but it was a cheap way to exercise and be physical. And what surprised me the most was how biking cleared my head and helped me unwind and de-stress. Bicycling started as a utilitarian tool for me to get from school to work, and it evolved into a joyous toy, a way to explore Chicago as I started to gain confidence and venture beyond my trail commute and onto Chicago streets. When Seattle Mayor Ed Murray announced his intention to complete the BurkeGilman Trail’s Missing Link in the Ballard neighborhood in 2019, it brought me back to my first summer on a bike in Fort Collins, and my days in Chicago when I fell in love with the bike all over again. I live in Ballard, and I use the Burke-Gilman Trail frequently to get around Seattle. In this issue we’re excited to feature some Washington state trails, including the Burke-Gilman Trail and the long journey in completing the Missing Link, as well as a short piece about Spokane and the Spokane Centennial Trail. We see trails as more than a place for people to bike, walk, run or stroll. We see them as gateways to enjoying life and connecting communities. Whether it’s for a kid enjoying the freedom of biking, an adult commuting to work, a student biking to school, a family going for an evening walk or a group of friends biking to unwind, trails enliven and activate an area. Trails connect people and places. Ride on,
Brent Tongco, Senior Director of Communications & Marketing
4 | PEDAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Statement of Voice 4 Gears: Cascade Member Highlight
6
Said on Social
7
How-to: Ride Alone & Start a Group Ride 8 April Feature: Paths to Empowerment
10
April Feature: Stronger Together
16
Bicycling For All: Impossible Challenges
22
Bike Everywhere Month 24 Cascade Activities 26 Around the State 28 On the Road: Bicycling in Spokane
31
Ask the Adovcates: Economic Impact of Bicycling
33
Detours: What Makes Your Bike Yours 34
The Pedal Washington team Editor-in-Chief Brent Tongco Editors Diana Bryant, Briana Orr Art Direction & Layout Tom Eibling Photographers Briana Orr, Brent Tongco, Katherine Widing, MartathonFoto Staff Contributors Kristen Reed, Briana Orr, Charlie Hockett, Shannon Koller, Kelsey Mesher, Blake Trask, Rich Brown, Brent Tongco, Tom Eibling front cover: Students biking to school, photo by Brent Tongco, iIllustration by Tom Eibling back cover: 2016 Chilly Hilly, Cascade Volunteer Scott Henry
Advertising To inquire about advertising availability in Pedal Washington, email Briana at brianao@cascade.org. Questions can be emailed to brentt@cascade.org.
CONTACT US C A S C A D E B I C YC L E C LU B 7787 62nd Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98115 206-522-3222 • info@cascade.org
PEDAL | 5
GEARS: MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
ELEANOR TIGLAO
CONTRIBUTOR HIGHLIGHTS
Charlie Hockett
Cascade Rides and Events Coordinator Hailing from Long Beach, California, Charlie believes that his bicycle is key for all aspects of his well-being. Find him on a bike camping trip, hanging out on Lake Washington, or drinking some delicious PNW coffee.
Shannon Koller
Cascade Senior Education Director Shannon hails from Michigan's Upper Peninsula and grew up riding her bike on loose, pointy gravel, leading to some spectacular wipeouts. Her passion is turning youth into confident and competent urban riders as they discover the transformative power that comes with having a bike and knowing how to ride. Member since
2016 Bike nickname No nickname for my bicycle, a Specialized Allez, but sometimes on my commute to work I sing the refrain from Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive." It is a steel frame, so it seemed fitting: "I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride..." How and why she got involved Eleanor became a member after attending a bike build event. “Cascade has given me a chance to get out and socially explore a city that I have only lived in for about two years. I think it is easy to get home after a work week and just stagnate. If you are interested in one of the rides, just start with the distance you are comfortable with and give it a go. Whether you are planning to volunteer or ride, everybody wants to be there. You can't go wrong with hanging out with happy people.” In 2016 she volunteered at the RSVP packet pick-up, where she had another great realization: “Even though I only have the most basic skills, I was still able to help and meet some great folks.” . Thank you for being a member Membership makes all our work possible at Cascade. Your tax-deductible membership dues help us provide bicycle education programs for everyone who wants to ride a bike. Thanks to over 17,000 active members, Cascade can advocate for safer, more connected bicycle infrastructure throughout the state and region. If you are not a member, be part of improving lives through bicycling and join today at cascade.org/membership.
6 | PEDAL
Kelsey Mesher
Cascade Seattle Policy Manager Born and raised in the Seattle area, Kelsey is passionate about health equity and eager to advocate for policies that improve the built environment so all Seattle-area residents and visitors can reap the health benefits and joys of bicycling.
Leah Tran
Leah is currently a high school senior at Foster High School. She didn't start riding bikes until late in middle school, but has grown to enjoy it a lot. When she attends college, she plans to pursue computer science.
Blake Trask
Cascade Senior Policy Director Raised at the bottom of a huge hill on Vashon Island, Blake didn’t discover the ease and joy of bicycling until attending college in Colorado. A safer, happier and smarter city is a city that’s great for bicycling, and Blake is passionate about making Seattle and Washington state great.
Katherine Widing
Freelance Travel Writer Katherine started riding her bike to school in Australia when she was 5 years old. Now living in Spokane, she is still pedaling, and gave up her car in 1993. A freelance travel writer specializing in cycle touring, her books include titles on Holland, France and Washington state.
SAID ON SOCIAL Am ALL IN for @cascadebicycle #EmeraldBikeRide. Guaranteed awesome motivation to finish recovery from frozen shoulder & RIDERIDERIDE
@gorscj2000
@barbchamberlain
@familyride @gorscj2000 My Grandson Lucas is ready for #cycling #chillyhilly #cascadebikeclub #chillyhilly2017
michaelapatton13
@familyride Thank you for YOU'LL BIKE TACOMA sticker @tacomabikeranch ! So sorry U can't stay at #WABikeSummit longer to hear your presentations. Break a spoke!
"The reality is that the current roadway design lets cyclists down" @tooledesign spitting hot truth on 2018 AASHTO bike guide #WABikeSummit
@michaelapatton13 it was very chilly and definitely hilly #ChillyHilly2017 #cascadebicycleclub
Let’s Be Social! cascade.org
@thecasualroadie
facebook.com/cascadebicycleclub @cascadebicycleclub @cascadebicycleclub
PEDAL | 7
HOW-TO By Charlie Hockett, Cascade Rides & Events Coordinator
Ride for the Sake of Riding I grew up in Southern California where, as I remember, people on bikes fell into two distinctly different groups: those who casually cruised two or three miles to the store, and an elite group of super-athletes blazing past me on their $20,000 bikes. I proudly identified with the former. I knew I liked riding my bike but really only saw the activity as a means to an end — that end being to get where I was going. However, I had some influential people in my life turn me on to a radical idea: my bicycle could also mean adventure. Using the tips below, I ventured into the arena of using my bike to see new places, try new food and develop a new appreciation of my community that only comes from traveling on two wheels.
If you’re partial to a solo ride, try these tips for adding a little adventure to your day. SET ASIDE TIME JUST FOR RIDING & CHOOSE A PLACE TO GO Choose a park you want to visit, a restaurant you want to try or a road you want to ride. Just make sure that both the journey and the destination are enjoyable.
EAT BREAKFAST & BRING WATER
TAKE YOUR TIME & ENJOY THE VIEW
START SMALL, KEEP PROGRESSING
My energy levels and overall outlook on life improve after eating a good breakfast, while nothing demoralizes me more than being thirsty while I ride. So bring a water bottle and hydrate often.
When I push myself to go too fast, I forget to look up and appreciate my surroundings. Smell the smells, see the sights and feel all the feels.
It doesn’t matter if you start out riding around your block or climbing mountains; all it takes is a mindset ready to smell, see, hear and appreciate your surroundings. Set and smash all the goals you want.
Maybe you’re more of a social butterfly. I find that nothing motivates me to actually follow through with my riding plans than inviting a few friends — plus it helps prevent me from slipping into the my-world-is-crumbling-around-me feeling I tend to get when I get hungry. Don’t reinvent the wheel: join established groups. Cascade Bicycle Club’s Free Group Rides program is an excellent place to start. There are rides across the Puget Sound region every day of the year, at all paces and distances. If you live outside the Puget Sound region, look up local bicycling clubs or bike shops for group rides. Get your friends and ride. Reach out to your bike-curious friends and set up a time to go ride. Choose a destination and route that everyone can ride and have a good time. There is no set path you must take toward riding for the sake of riding, but I encourage you to consider what your path might look like and take the first pedal stroke in that direction. I know you will be glad you did.
8 | PEDAL
APRIL FEATURE
Paths to Empowerment Safe Routes to School: Bike and Pedestrian Safety Education By Shannon Koller, Cascade Senior Director of Education
Xiana, Kate and Lucy travel along one of Seattle’s neighborhood greenways, a low-traffic volume residential street, to arrive at middle school each day. Throughout their years in elementary school, they participated in Cascade Bicycle Club's bike safety education program as part of their PE class, laying the foundation for becoming competent and confident urban riders. Their elementary school promoted bike culture through programs such as Bike to School Month and also offered an after-school bike club in which they practiced riding to favorite neighborhood destinations. These days, they ride together regularly to their middle school. From left to right Kate, Lucy and Xiana picking up their bikes after school.
10 | PEDAL
Asked what it means to them to be able to bike around their neighborhood, Kate and Lucy said that it gives them freedom and more independence. Xiana added, “It’s great for our parents because they don’t need to drive us everywhere. We can get around on our own!” Learning how to ride a bike and walk around the neighborhood can be the first exposure young people have to road traffic. These girls show us what is possible when we provide bicycle education and encouragement and then give them safe and comfortable places to ride. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership created an initiative aimed at improving safety, health and wellbeing of children by enabling and encouraging them to walk and bike to school. Think of it as driver’s education for bicycling and walking. In the state of Washington, the Safe Routes to School: Bike and Pedestrian Safety Education (SRTS) program is supported by a grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and managed by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), who encourages communities to apply for grant funding to start bike and pedestrian safety education programming. The state of Washington scored the highest in the nation in the 2016 Report Card from the National Safe Routes to School Partnership. “The goals of the SRTS program include increasing the number of students who safely walk or cycle to school, and to encourage further development of physical fitness and health, and by so doing, facilitate academic success, increase graduation rates and further development of healthy social and emotional learning and growth,” said Bill Evans, program supervisor for the Safe Routes to School Program at OSPI. “We’re excited to be recognized by the National Safe Routes to School Partnership, but we know there is still an extraordinary amount of opportunity, and we still have a lot of work to do.”
A key to the program’s continued progress is a commitment to equitable representation of all students. “The SRTS program seeks to serve all children, including historically underserved and differentlyabled students, by intentional responsiveness to diversity and cultural sensitivity. In concert with the whole ‘active transportation’ movement, the SRTS program promotes social equity and inclusivity of all.” – Bill Evans, program supervisor for the Safe Routes to School Program at OSPI
Biking on one of Seattle's neighborhood greenways.
PEDAL | 11
The SRTS program provides training and materials to districts and schools to implement the program, and grant funds are used to purchase a bicycle fleet and trailer to store them in. In Seattle, OSPI collaborates with Feet First and Cascade Bicycle Club to provide training and materials to the funded districts. Since its inception in the 2008-09 school year, the OSPI SRTS program has provided grants to 58 school
districts statewide; conducted teacher trainings with all of those districts (approximately 85 teachers have been trained); provided support and technical assistance to those districts; and further assisted approximately five to 10 districts with consultation services. It is estimated that 150,000 students throughout the state of Washington have been impacted by this SRTS program.
Engage Funding for the Safe Routes to School program is administered through a competitive application process, and if funding is approved, the next call for projects is being planned for late 2017. Criteria used to prioritize applications for funding includes consideration for need, project potential, deliverability and value. We encourage parents, teachers or community leaders wanting to bring bicycle and pedestrian education to their school district to reach out to Cascade Bicycle Club or OSPI. For more information, visit www.k12.wa.us/StudentSupport/SafeRoute. “Healthy students make healthy learners,” said Chris Reykdal, state superintendent of public instruction. “The Safe Routes to School program seeks to increase opportunities for students to be active, which will help them to be more engaged and more successful in school.”
Safe route from school to the donut shop nearby.
12 | PEDAL
Bike & Pedestrian Safety Education Programs Across the State Chimacum The Chimacum School District is in the early stages of its SRTS programming. A small rural community, they see the program as an effective approach to getting kids outside. “For us, we really saw the effectiveness of SRTS programming in our neighboring community of Port Townsend,” said Rick Thompson, superintendent for the Chimacum School District. “Safe Routes to School forms a network of communities that really helps foster growth through the sharing of ideas state-
wide. This isn’t just about safety and exercise, but it's also an effort to get out and enjoy your surroundings and community.” Rick said support from teachers, parents and the overall community are important keys to success. They received a lot of support from ReCyclery bike shop, for example, who helped get them set up the bikes they needed for middle schoolers.
we can do so much with a relatively small amount of money. Getting an education grant got us a nice trailer, bikes and a teachers’ training in the Bethel School District. Now we just need this bad weather to go away, and we’ll be good to go!”
“We just started, and I know it’ll take time and leadership,” said Rick. “But
Bethel In Bethel, SRTS Grant Coordinator Scott Birdseye is an avid cyclist and has developed relationships with members of the cycling community over a number of years. He began teaching at Spanaway Middle School in 2012, knowing that it is the location for the lunch stop on the first leg of the Seattle to Portland bike ride. The possibilities surrounding the community’s involvement in the cycling world excited Scott, and he strived to build on the momentum. Spanaway is a relatively rural area, and bicycling infrastructure is not common on many streets. Before the SRTS grant, Bethel did not have a bicycling safety curriculum, and students’ knowledge of bicycle and pedestrian safety was limited. “The SRTS grant gave us an opportunity to teach our middle school students how to safely ride and walk to school and throughout their community,” said Scott. “We have noticed
more students riding their bikes to school; students seem to enjoy riding more and are following safe riding etiquette.” This year, Bethel piloted the SRTS program at three middle schools, working out details and logistics. Next year, they plan to expand to all seven middle schools and carry the program throughout the school year. They are discussing the possibilities and exploring funding options for after-school bike clubs and a summer riding program. “We were able to share our new bicycles at the annual All Bethel Community Day in the fall, giving families a chance to check out the bikes, experience a ride and complete a safety course,” said Scott. “This event allowed us to involve the Major Taylor Project students and volunteers from the Tacoma School District to share MTP’s youth development vision and outreach with the Bethel community.”
Student helmet fitting.
PEDAL | 13
Seattle Seattle has had the opportunity to be a leader in bike and pedestrian safety education program across the state and nation. With programming in six local school districts, Cascade Bicycle Club is working to make bicycling safe, fun and accessible for the next generation.
Let’s Go
Cascade’s Let’s Go curriculum provides PE teachers with the resources to implement an in-school bicycle and pedestrian safety program for Seattle-area students in upper-elementary grades. The program focuses on the skills and knowledge necessary to prevent the most common causes of collisions and errors of this age group as they navigate the built environment. In addition to learning bicycle and pedestrian safety, hundreds of kids have learned to ride for the first time through the Let’s Go program. At an early age, Cascade introduces the bicycle as a tool for recreation, transportation and transformation, encouraging kids to travel using their own power. Cascade trains and supports PE teachers to provide the three-week program in the Seattle, Highline, Lake Washington and Edmonds School Districts.
Urban Cycling Clubs
Building on the skills learned in the Let’s Go program, this seven-week afterschool club provides bike safety education and the opportunity to practice the course content on guided rides with Cascade coaches. The program is designed to build kids' confidence as emerging urban cyclists by combining theory and practical application.
Bike to School Month
Cascade’s 2016 Bike to School Challenge became our first statewide challenge to encourage elementary, middle and high school students and staff across the state of Washington to bike with us on National Bike to School Day and throughout the month of May! A total of 3,769 elementary students rode more than 70,000 minutes on Bike to School Day 2016. Seven school districts including Anacortes, Bainbridge Island, Bellevue, Edmonds, Lake Washington, Seattle and Wenatchee reported participating in Bike to School Day and the monthlong challenge. Together, elementary, middle and high school students rode a total of 780,475 minutes by the end of the month.
Bike Rodeo Community Event
Cascade works with communities to host bike rodeos, skill-based courses for kids that are designed to be fun, interactive and non-competitive. A rodeo is a great way for kids to practice bike handling and traffic safety and to engage parents in the community. These events can easily be incorporated into any community event or block party.
14 | PEDAL
Cascade's Urban Cycling Club
Let's Go: Students hold up signs at the launch of the pedestrian and bicycle education programming at every Seattle public elementary school.
PEDAL | 15
APRIL FEATURE
Stronger Together As in all of Seattle, Ballard is experiencing a tension between its past and its future.
By Kelsey Mesher Cascade Puget Sound Policy Manager & Blake Trask Cascade Senior Policy Director
Though just one block apart, Ballard Avenue — with its trendy boutiques and hip restaurants — can feel worlds away from Shilshole Avenue, where industrial and maritime businesses have hummed with activity since 1890, when Ballard was incorporated. In some ways the Burke-Gilman Trail’s 1.2-mile Missing Link in Ballard represents the push and pull of these two worlds. So how did we find a balance between past and future; and a balance between trail users and industry?
Seattle City Councilmember Mike O’Brien (left) thanks Warren Aakervik, owner of Ballard Oil (right), for working toward a solution to complete the Missing Link agreement at a press conference in February. Courtesy of the City of Seattle.
16 | PEDAL
Mayor Royer (center) and Councilmember Jeanette Williams (right) at dedication of Burke-Gilman Trail in 1978. Handwritten note by Mayor Royer. Courtesy of the Seattle Municipal Archives.
A breakthrough agreement On an unusually sunny day in February, a meeting like no other in Missing Link history took place. In the offices of Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel, one of the longtime opponents to a trail alignment on Shilshole Avenue, Cascade advocates sat down with the industrial interests, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and representatives from the Mayor’s office to discuss a way forward. “In 18 years there has never been a collaborative effort by all parties to sit down together. It’s always been one side deciding something...without ever having taken into account adjacent businesses within the corridor and saying ‘will this work?’” said Paul Nerdrum, vice president of Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel Company. This was the first time all parties had met together, without their lawyers, willing to consider a solution. Getting there was no small feat: many prior discussions took place in order for all to feel comfortable enough to come to the table. Scott Kubly, the director of SDOT, opened the meeting by acknowledging the changing demographic landscape in Ballard: displacement of long-standing businesses and activities seemed to threaten the maritime and industrial nature of the area. The group, including industrial representatives Warren Aakervik of Ballard Oil, Paul Nerdrum of Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel, and Suzanne Dills from Commercial Marine Construction Company, nodded in agreement. The diverse meeting of city staff, bicycle advocates and business interests listened openly as Warren described the greater challenges his business faces today — concerns about the survival of the commercial fishing and other maritime industries, and the lack of understanding from many new residents about their significance to Seattle. Hearing these concerns, noting their importance and discussing the common goal of safety — to save both lives and livelihoods — cracked open a door to having a candid conversation about a way forward. One conversation led to another: “One of the turning points was taking...some Cascade members on an actual truck ride in a 53-foot semi,” Warren later said publicly, explaining that having bicyclists and city officials understand the truck driver’s perspective was a key step in coming to the table. Eugene Wasserman, representing the North Seattle Industrial Association, noted that acknowledgement from the Mayor’s office and SDOT were also instrumental in starting a dialogue. After more than 20 contentious years, Cascade, The Friends of the Burke-Gilman Trail, the Ballard industrial businesses and other local stakeholders agreed to open a new chapter of collaboration, announced at a February press conference at the Ballard Locks. "We have a path forward to finally complete the Missing Link of the Burke-Gilman Trail," said Mayor Ed Murray at the press conference. "Bicyclists and pedestrians will no longer need to wave, dodge or hold their breath while navigating through Ballard, and maritime businesses along the water will maintain access to the roads they depend on." PEDAL | 17
22ND AVE NW
24TH AVE NW
26TH AVE NW
28TH AVE NW
32nd AVE NW
30TH AVE NW
B U R K E - G I L M A N T R A I L' S MISSING LINK
NW Historic Rail Line TH
NW 54
BAL L
ARD
ST
SALMON BAY
LOC KS
Why we love the Market Street connection Cascade staff initially supported a route that would follow the historical rail line in its entirety. However, we think Market Street has great benefits, too, and will be a fantastic connection. Here’s a few reasons why:
There’s plenty of space Market Street can accommodate a 12-foot-wide trail, plus a wide sidewalk
It’s lined with places you want to go From shops and
restaurants, to the new Nordic Heritage Museum
It connects to the heart of Ballard Accessing the neighborhood’s business district will be easier than ever NO R T H
It’s an active, well-lit area
Oriented toward a mix of retail and development, this trail location promotes personal safety
18 | PEDAL
20TH AVE NW
Bothell
NW 57TH ST
NW 65TH ST Golden Gardens Park
MARKET ST
Missing Link Burke-Gilman Trail
NW 54TH ST
L
LP
A TR EN
C
SEATTLE
PL
NW 52ND ST
14TH AVE NW
17TH AVE NW
NW 51ST ST
NW 50TH ST
9TH AVE NW
NW
NE IO
11TH AVE NW
NW
NW 53RD ST
NW 49TH ST
NW LEARY WAY
NW 48TH ST
NW BALLARD WAY
SH ILS
HO LE
NW 47TH ST
AV EN
W
Missing Link Alignment
NW 45TH ST
Existing Trail BALLARD BRIDGE
PEDAL | 19
Another year of hard work If all goes according to plan (remember: it’s not over until the trail is built), by 2019 Ballard residents and visitors will be biking, running and strolling on a completed Burke-Gilman Trail along NW 45th Street, the south side of Shilshole Avenue and the south side of NW Market Street. Importantly, it will be a trail that allows trucks and other commercial traffic to safely cross with improved sightlines and predictability for everyone. The selected route was a component of the “framework agreement” announced by Mayor Murray, which also included a commitment by all parties to participate in a design workgroup that would ensure details of the trail work for all along the corridor. At the press event, Warren described the challenge ahead: "SDOT has committed to a route that, when designed properly, will create a safe and predictable facility for bicycles and pedestrians adjacent to a major truck street that will protect the access requirements of water-dependent industrial businesses." Work to get the design group moving is already underway. Weekly meetings are scheduled, participants are being selected and guiding principles are drafted. SDOT’s goal is to reach a 30 percent design by May in order to break ground in 2018. The stakeholders are learning to see each others' perspectives, though admittedly all anticipate there will likely be bumps along the way. All the while, Cascade will push for an earlier fix under the Ballard Bridge, the notoriously dangerous section where people biking have crashed on the railroad tracks too many times.
When it comes to the Burke-Gilman Trail, advocates have always showed up en masse.
In 1971, 2,000 participated in a “hike-in” and rally along the railroad line to advocate for a trail. Courtesy of Museum of History & Industry.
20 | PEDAL
In 2009, 300 people created a human chain along the rail line. Courtesy of Ballard News -Tribune.
It took you to get us here Getting to an agreement has taken 20 years of hard work and support from caring Ballard neighbors and trail supporters like you. While some individuals and groups have consistently carried the work forward, there have likewise been waves of energy renewed again and again by diverse advocates from across the community. The Friends of the Burke-Gilman Trail, a group of dedicated Ballard neighbors, coined the term “Missing Link” and pioneered early efforts to complete the trail. The group conducted business outreach and feasibility studies; organized local neighbors; elevated the issue on the Ballard District Council; met with mayors, city councilmembers and state legislators; and also led the way for other advocates to follow. The project became nearly synonymous with bicycling and transportation via the many advocacy efforts and legal appeals that have marked the past twenty years. Cascade members and the community organized in loud and visible ways. At one point, more than 300 individuals gathered along Shilshole, forming a human chain and declaring, “We are the Missing Link!” People on bikes led countless other efforts as well, from collecting donations for legal defense to telling their stories of crashes beneath the Ballard Bridge to sending love letters to Mayor Murray this past Valentine’s Day. Last summer, during the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), yet another wave of advocates took up this issue: the Ballard Farmers Market, the Olympic Athletic Club, Hotel Ballard and other local property owners like Tom Bayley of C.D. Stimson Co., the owner of the largest parcel along the Shilshole corridor. Realizing these fresh voices added to the chorus of support for a safe, simple and connected solution, Cascade sought to bring all interests together and find a unified way forward. February’s historic agreement now brings together interests who care deeply about their neighborhood, but have often sought different paths to get there. We are hopeful that through continued collaboration, completing the Missing Link can support the area’s maritime industries, as well as provide a safe trail and transportation corridor for future generations. Today we’re closer than ever to building a trail the community deserves. Help us continue this important work with your gift today. Give at cascade.org/give-missing-link.
Neighbors line up to sign support letters for completing the Missing Link at the Ballard Farmers Market.
Advocates hold signs outside a DEIS open house. Courtesy of Shane Harms, Ballard News-Tribune.
PEDAL | 21
BICYCLING FOR ALL
By Leah Tran, Ma jor Taylor Project participant
Impossible Challenges One of the greatest challenges I’ve overcome is the Seattle to Portland (STP) bike ride. I joined Major Taylor Bike Club partially for fun and to get some exercise. Being a generally unathletic person, my goal was to just enjoy myself with the skills I had. When I first heard of the STP, I immediately thought that it was impossible for me. I began with getting used to riding with a group. On the first few training rides, I kept getting discouraged. My shoe laces would get stuck in the chain, my legs would cramp up, and I slowed everyone down. I always fell behind everyone else and felt extremely unprepared for the STP. With encouragement from adults and peers, I promised to go on the ride next year.
Here I am (left) at the Seattle to Portland finish line, the bubbles and the overwhelming feeling of pride showering down on me. Photo courtesy of MarathonFoto.
Learn more about Ma jor Taylor Project at cascade.org/MTP or join us on the Ride for Ma jor Taylor. Details at cascade.org/RMT.
22 | PEDAL
My strength and confidence improved after more practice. When the ride came around, I remained energized and rode at my usual steady pace. The long distance of the ride no longer threatened me, but appeared achievable. The ride turned into a more enjoyable activity for me after that moment. Throughout the STP, I felt more like I was having fun rather than being tired and sore. I remember rolling into our meeting point with the other Major Taylor students cheering. When I stopped, I heard that I wasn’t the last one to arrive from the organization. That really shocked me since I was under the impression that I was the slowest rider. After a short break, everyone got on their bikes and rode together for the final stretch. As we passed the finish line, the bubbles and the overwhelming feeling of pride showered down on me. The director even congratulated me for being the most improved rider of the season. Thanks to the Major Taylor Project, I know that I’m ready to take on the next impossible challenge in my life.
Move like your business depends on it. WeMakeAppsGo.com
Each May, thousands of Washingtonians take to the streets in celebration of pedal power and the joy that comes from riding a bike. From elementary school classrooms to neighborhood street corners, our state comes together to support, encourage and celebrate all things bicycling. Bicycling is on the rise, and Bike Everywhere Month is our time to prove that no one celebrates pedal power, and has as much fun doing it, like Washington does. We at Cascade would like to ask you to join thousands of people across the state of Washington in celebrating Bike Everywhere Month in May, with celebrations culminating on F5 Bike Everywhere Day—Friday, May 19.
KAISER PERMANENTE BIKE EVERYWHERE BREAKFAST April 25 Cascade’s breakfast brings together the bicycling community including elected officials, business leaders, advocates and more.
24 | PEDAL
JOIN US
BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY May 10 Cascade Bicycle Club hosts friendly statewide Bike to School competitions for elementary, middle and high school students who can track their bike riding during May and earn prizes along the way.
F5 BIKE EVERYWHERE DAY May 19 F5 Bike Everywhere Day shows what our streets could look like every day if we continue encouraging and investing in bicycling as transportation. With hundreds of celebration stations across Washington, communities band together to celebrate all things pedal powered. WASHINGTON BIKES
BIKE EVERYWHERE CHALLENGE all May Our affiliates at Washington Bikes are running the Bike Everywhere Challenge with an exciting new platform for 2017. With counties across the state coming on board, competition is sure to be friendly yet fierce. Sign up, form a team or ride solo, and compete for exclusive bragging rights and sweet prizes.
A HIGHLIGHT OF BIKE MONTH CHALLENGES AND ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE STATE
GET INVOLVED
HOST A CLASS OR BIKE-RELATED EVENT throughout May Check out the Bike Everywhere section of the Cascade website for tips and resources to plan and host your own community bike event. Interested in hosting a class? Visit cascade. org/host-class to request an instructor and host a class.
HOST A CELEBRATION STATION ON F5 BIKE EVERYWHERE DAY
Friday, May 19 F5 Bike Everywhere Day is so much fun because it is driven by communities across the state. Hosting celebration stations is a great way to spread the bike-related love, engage with community members, and contribute to a statewide celebration of all things pedal powered. Visit cascade.org/bikeeverywhereday for more info and a link to register your own station.
GET OUT AND RIDE
throughout May
Whatever your ability level is, Bike Everywhere Month is about setting goals. From a ride around the block to completing a century, we encourage you to try and ride your bike more than you would otherwise.
For more information, visit cascade.org/BikeMonth.
Bellingham/Whatcom County: Bellingham and Whatcom County hold a Bike to Work and School Day that includes celebration stations offering treats and applause for everyone on a bike. Cowlitz County: Cowlitz on the Move organizes Bike to Work Week and Bike to School Week in May. King and Snohomish Counties: Cascade Bicycle Club organizes F5 Bike Everywhere Day and other Bike Month activities. Community Transit partners with Cascade for Bike Everywhere Day in Snohomish County and has a list of celebration stations in Snohomish County. Pullman: Lincoln Middle School organizes a Bike to School Day. Skagit County: Bike Walk Mount Vernon has partnered with our Bike Everywhere Challenge to bring a Bike Month Challenge to the region via the Skagit Valley League. Bike Walk MV also organizes Bike to School Day and Bike to Work Day events. Spokane: Spokane Bikes puts together Bike to Work Week and the weeklong Commute Challenge with help from partners at Spokane Bicycle Club. Tacoma/Pierce County: Tacoma/Pierce County residents have two challenges to choose from for Bike Month: the Bike Commuter Challenge and the Bike Everywhere Challenge. Learn more at Pierce Trips’ Bike Month page. Thurston County: Intercity Transit, Bicycle Commuter Contest in May — the longest running bike challenge in Washington! They also host Bike Stations on Bike to Work Day. Wenatchee: Wenatchee In Motion, Bike Month activities and Car Free Challenge Yakima: Yakima Valley Conference of Governments organizes the Bike to Work Challenge in May. For more information on challenges statewide, visit WAbikes.org. Don't see your local challenge here? Email Charlie at charlieh@WAbikes.org. PEDAL | 25
UPCOMING CASCADE PROGRAMS, EVENTS & RIDES Visit us online at cascade.org for details about any of our offerings!
April 4/13 4/22 - 4/29 4/25 4/29
Summer Fun Pass Presentation Series: Intro to Bike Camping Class w/ Swift Industries Paso Robles Wine Country Tour Kaiser Permanente Bike Everywhere Breakfast Ride for Major Taylor
May 5/1 - 5/30 5/7 5/10 5/12 - 5/14 5/18 5/19 5/28
Bike Everywhere Month & WA Bikes Bike Everywhere Challenge Seattle Bike-n-Brews Bike to School Day Tour Lite Lake Chelan Presentation Series: The Doctors Are In Bike Everywhere Day Emerald Bike Ride presented by Kaiser Permanente
June 6/1 - 6/5 6/4 6/8 - 6/12 6/10 6/22 - 6/26
Eastern Washington Tour Woodinville Wine Ride Columbia Gorge and Beyond Tour Flying Wheels Sisters, Oregon Tour
July 7/7 7/15 - 7/16 7/29 - 8/5 TBA
Seattle Night Ride Kaiser Permanente Seattle to Portland (STP) presented by Alaska Airlines Ride Around Washington (RAW) Tour Lite Walla Walla
August 8/18 - 8/19 8/28
Ride from Seattle to Vancouver, BC & Party (RSVP) High Pass Challenge
September 9/24
Kitsap Color Classic
November All Month 26 | PEDAL
Washington Bikes Ride in the Rain Challenge
Admission to three of our short recreational rides of the summer: Seattle Bike-n-Brews, Woodinville Wine Ride and the Seattle Night Ride. This package also features a free gift!
Free Group Rides Cascade offers Free Group Rides every day of the year, with more than 25,000 participants across 2,600 rides annually! Our Free Group Rides range from leisurely 10mile jaunts to 100-mile endurance rides.
Advocacy Leadership Institute Transforms bicycling advocates into community leaders.
Summer Camps at Magnuson Park and White Center Bike Playground July 3 - September 1
Riding & Maintenance Classes all year long Your support makes all our work possible.
2017 RIDES
THE CLASSIC - September 9th-16th WEEKENDER - July 7th-9th JOYRIDE - June 10th
cycleoregon.com
Ride Today. Add Tomorrows. Saturday, July 29, 2017 | Redhook Brewery, Woodinville, WA http://fightcf.cff.org/seattlecycle | 206-282-4770
AROUND THE STATE There’s no shortage of bicycling events all across the state of Washington. For a comprehensive list, take a look at our online calendar at cascade.org/calendar. Here’s a handpicked selection of a few cool events across the state over the next three months. April 4/8
4/9
Spokane Bike Swap & Expo - Friends of the Spokane Centennial Trail - Spokane
The swap seeks to improve the health of our community by providing an inclusive venue with a wide range of affordable bicycles, bicycle related products and services while raising money to help preserve the Spokane River Centennial Trail.
Daffodil Classic - Tacoma Washington Bicycle Club - Tacoma
The 42nd Annual Daffodil Classic winds through the beautiful Orting Valley and surrounding hills. Bring your bike, trike, tandem or unicycle - all cyclists are welcome! There are routes for families, recreational cyclists, and serious roadies.
4/15 Safe Kids Tulip Pedal - Skagit Valley Tulip Festival - La Conner 4/22 Earth Day Market Ride - Thurston County Bicycle Commuter Challenge - Thurston County 4/26 Pedal Power Bike Expo - Washington State Dept. of Social & Health Services - Olympia 4/29 Tour de Lopez - Lopez Island Chamber of Commerce - Lopez Island 4/30 Lilac Century & Family Fun Ride - Spokane Aurora Northwest Rotary - Spokane 4/30 McClinchy Mile - B.I.K.E.S. Club of Snohomish County - Arlington
The McClinchy Mile supports recreational bicycling, advocacy, and bike-related local grants through B.I.K.E.S. Club of Snohomish County. Free burger and beer for all pre-registered riders (vegetarian and non-alcoholic options available).
May 5/6 21st Annual Camano Climb - Standwood-Camano Kiwanis - Camano Island 5/6 Ride Around Clark County (RACC) - Vancouver Bicycle Club - Vancouver, WA
Four beautiful rides through the scenic Clark County, Washington countryside.
5/13 Skagit Spring Classic - Skagit Bicycle Club - Burlington 5/13 Inland Empire Century - Kiwanis Clubs of Columbia & Tri-Cities Industry - Kennewick
5/15 5/18 - 6/4 5/21
5/21
Routes skirt the Columbia and Yakima rivers - through parks and over bridges. All routes showcase the scenic beauty of the lower Yakima/Columbia River valley with its vineyards, wheat fields and fruit orchards.
Tacoma Tour de Donuts - Tacoma Washington Bicycle Club - Tacoma 36th annual JWPWR Cross State ride - JWPT Wagons and Riders Assoc. - Starts in Easton Your Canyon For a Day - Yakima County Crime Stoppers - Yakima
A 35-mile round trip ride through the scenic Yakima River Canyon. The road follows the Yakima River up a gentle grade with few hills. The highway will be closed to thru traffic. A perfect ride for the whole family!
Viking Tour - Poulsbo Rotary - Poulsbo
The tour starts and finishes in historic Poulsbo “Little Norway” and is held during the iconic VikingFest carnival and festival.
5/21 Seattle Tour de Cure - American Diabetes Association - Seattle 5/29
28 | PEDAL
Evergreen Health 7 Hills of Kirkland - Attain Housing - Kirkland
For Cascade events, check out page 26
June 6/3 Lake to Lake Bicycle Ride - City of Bellevue - Bellevue 6/3
Apple Century Bike Ride - Wenatchee Sunrise Rotary Club - Wenatchee
A great way for people to enjoy the Wenatchee Valley's rich, beautiful landscape. Registration fees help fund scholarships, hunger & disaster relief, Polio eradication, international student exchange programs and dozens of community projects.
6/4 Peninsula Metric Century - Tacoma Washington Bicycle Club - Tacoma 6/4 Tour de Forts - The ReCyclery - Port Townsend 6/10 Tour de Mason Lake - Karen Hilburn Breast & Cervical Cancer Fund - Shelton 6/17 Tour de Blast - Longview Rotary - Toutle 6/24 - 6/25
Ride the Willapa - Willapa Hills Trail - Willapa Hills
Utilizing 23 miles of the gorgeous Willapa Hills Trail and an overnight stay in Rainbow Falls State Park, this flat-grade journey gives you a front seat to what many riders would agree is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places Washington state has to offer.
6/24 Turf to Surf Trails Ride - West Sound/Kitsap Trails Festival - Kitsap Peninsula 6/24 Chelan Century Challenge & Cycle de Vine - Lake Chelan Rotary - Chelan 6/25 Two-County Double Metric Century - Capital Bicycle Club - Tumwater
PEDAL | 29
CYCLING ATTORNEY
Member of Cascade Bicycle Club & Washington Bikes Sponsor of Bikesale.com, Dyna, Egencia, Fell Swoop, Fischer Plumbing, Garage, Husky, Lakemont, Recycled Cycles, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Snoqualmie Ice Cream, SnoValley Velo, Spin, SPU, Taco Time NW and Thrive Cycling Teams
206-343-1888 or 206-714-1085 john@dugganbikelaw.com www.dugganbikelaw.com
Free Consultation
ON THE ROAD: BICYCLING IN SPOKANE Grab a bike and prepare for a bicycling treat! Riding a bike is an exciting way to see a city and its environs, especially when that city is Spokane! The city's plethora of bike paths, bike lanes and quiet roads lend themselves to some spectacular pedaling. Within minutes of the downtown core, you can find yourself bicycling serene bike paths and peaceful rural roads through forests or wheat fields. In this issue, we’re highlighting a route in Spokane Valley via the Centennial Trail east to Liberty Lake. The Centennial Trail is one of three amazing trails that grace Spokane, which also include Fish Lake Trail and Children of the Sun Trail. Our highlighted route heads east from Spokane’s Riverfront Park and follows the Spokane River on the Centennial Trail to the city of Liberty Lake, just a few miles before the Idaho state line. The route moves from an urban setting to a wilder, more rural environment. The trail winds through parks and natural areas, the serene river never leaving your side. Separated bike paths and bike lanes make navigation easy and safe for riders.
By Katherine Widing, Guest Contributor
Follow the cuesheet on page 32. Here are a few highlights of the route:
SPOKANE
• Begin at the Rotary Fountain in Riverfront Park, the hub of Expo ’74.
• Head east on the Centennial Trail passing
the fabulous 1909 Looff Carousel. (The building housing the carousel is undergoing renovations at time of publication print.)
• Pass the INB Performing Arts Center;
pause to read the interpretive signs en route.
• A short diversion of 0.3 miles each way on
the bike path along the river’s north bank takes you to the Jundt Art Museum on the campus of Gonzaga University.
More than just meandering along the river on this ride, you can visit a museum and a brewery. Dive deeper into the history of Spokane and the river with interpretive signs strategically located along the trail. Picnic stops abound, and delicious food options are never far away.
• No-Li Brewhouse, an award winning
brewery, is a mere 0.1 mile down North Superior Street. When you see the tanks, take a left, then pass the tanks and go right at the river along the path to enter No-Li’s inviting patio area.
• Pass Minnehaha Rocks, a favorite place
for rock climbers to hone their skills; check out puppet-like people suspended from their climbing ropes.
• Continues through shady pine forest to photo credit: Katherine Widing
Boulder Beach, where on a warm day the beach invites you to swim or picnic.
• Crossing the Denny Ashlock Bridge, the
trail moves to the south bank of the Spokane River. Speckled with enormous basalt boulders, it looks like a giant dropped his supply of huge rocks and they all landed in the river.
• Only 0.2 mile beyond Mirabeau Point Park,
Mirabeau Springs spills from the rock face. This unexpected oasis provides a cool respite from the trail on a warm day.
• End at the Harvard Trailhead, where you For more information about activities in and around Spokane, head to VisitSpokane.com. They’ll have even more ride routes posted throughout the spring and summer, so check back often!
exit for your Tour de Liberty Lake. (We included cue sheet info for the extra Tour de Liberty Lake side trip.) PEDAL | 31
ON THE ROAD: BICYCLING IN SPOKANE Spokane Valley via Centennial Trail (east) to Liberty Lake 18.5 miles each way ride “Cue Sheet” SPOKANE TO LIBERTY LAKE
TOUR DE LIBERTY LAKE SIDE TRIP
0.0 - Rotary Fountain, Riverfront Park. Go east on Centennial Trail 0.0 - Looff Carousel 0.1 - Red Wagon 0.2 - INB Performing Arts Center 0.7 CS Centennial Trail, 22 Mile Marker 0.9 L Don Kardong Bridge 1.0 - Gonzaga University 1.0 POI L Jundt Art Museum (0.3 mile x 2 round trip) 1.4 POI R NoLi Brewhouse (0.1 mile x 2 round trip) 1.8 - Mission Park (parking, restrooms, water) 1.9 R E. Mission Ave. 2.0 L E. Upriver Drive/Centennial Trail 3.4 - Green Street trailhead (parking) 5.2 R Beckham’s Corner (water) 5.4 - Minnehaha Climbing Rocks (on L), John T. Shield Park (parking, toilets) 5.5 - View Felts Field views across river (on R) 6.5 - Boulder Beach Trailhead (parking), 16 Mile Marker 7.2 - E. Maringo Dr. 7.7 - N. Marguerite Rd. 8.2 R N. Farr Rd. 8.6 L E. Maringo Dr. 8.7 R E. Maringo Dr., Park entrance (restrooms, water) 9.5 - Cliff House views 9.8 - Islands Trailhead (parking, restrooms) 9.8 R Denny Ashlock Bridge (cross Spokane River) 11.6 - Mirabeau Trailhead (north), (parking, restrooms, water) 11.7 - Mirabeau Meadows at Mirabeau Point Park, 11 Mile Marker 11.9 - Mirabeau Trailhead (south) (parking, restrooms) 11.9 - Mirabeau Springs (waterfall) on R 13.3 - Sullivan Trailhead (parking, restrooms, water) 9 Mile Marker 16.1 - Barker Trailhead (parking, restrooms) 6.5 Mile Marker 18.4 - Harvard Trailhead (parking, restrooms)
0.0
R
Harvard Trailhead/N. Harvard Rd Exit
0.5
-
E. Mission Ave, BW Peppertree hotel & Hay J,
FURTHER AFIELD, BUT NOT FAR!
PLACES TO STAY WITH COMPLIMENTARY BIKES FOR GUEST USE
ELK PUBLIC HOUSE MANITO TAP HOUSE participates in Bicycle Benefits and offers members 10% off food. THE BLACKBIRD participates in Bicycle Benefits and offers members 10% off food. VESSEL COFFEE ROASTERS
32 | PEDAL
Pizza, True Legends Grill (all restaurants)
0.5
-
N. Liberty Lake Rd, bike path over I-90
0.9
CS
1.0
R
enter Yoke’s Center (Fieldhouse Pizza on R)
1.1
R
E. Country Vista Dr.
1.4
-
The Well Coffeehouse Pub & Eatery (on L)
E. Appleway Rd (at traffic lights)
Retrace route to E. Appleway Rd.
1.7
L
E. Mission Ave.
1.8
-
Liberty Lake Park & Ride (on L)
1.9
L
Cork House restaurant, N. Meadowood Lane
2.0
L
through parking lot
2.1
-
Barlows restaurant & Starbucks (on L)
2.1
R
N. Liberty Lake Rd.
2.2
VL
2.5
-
Hay J restaurant
3.1
-
N. Harvard Rd. Exit/ Harvard Trailhead
cross at traffic lights, onto bike path over I-90
Legend POI = Point of Interest (for something off route which requires a short distance, such as 0.2 mile, but not long enough to be a side trip) * Directional cues - R (right), L (left), VR/VL (veer right/veer left), CS (continue straight)
HOTEL RL SPOKANE AT THE PARK and the RED LION River Inn offer guests cruiser bikes. Locally owned RUBY HOTEL group have ruby-red bikes available at their three locations: HOTEL RUBY, HOTEL RUBY 2 and MONTVALE HOTEL.
ASK THE ADVOCATES HOW DOES BICYCLING CONTRIBUTE TO THE WASHINGTON STATE ECONOMY?
PEOPLE ON BIKES SPEND $3.1 BILLION IN WA EVERY YEAR...
96%
of purchases are spent on
Making bicycling in WA #3 in recreational activities by total expenditures
LODGING
FOOD
SHOPPING
purchases that support rural and urban communities statewide which translates to an estimated
28,830 jobs
Source: Briceno, T., Schundler, G. 2015. Economic Analysis of Outdoor Recreation in Washington State. Earth Economics, Tacoma, WA.
Ride on! PEDAL | 33
DETOURS: WHAT MAKES YOUR RIDE YOURS WE ASKED A FEW FRIENDS AND MEMBERS WHAT THEY LOVE ABOUT THEIR BIKE.
A SADDLE MOLDED TO ME
FENDERS FOR THE RAINY SEASON
GREAT LIGHTS FOR NIGHTTIME EXPLORING
MY "POWERED BY MEN'S TEARS" STICKER
34 | PEDAL
MY HEAVY DUTY 48-SPOKE WHEELS, PERFECT FOR BIKE POLO
CUP HOLDER FOR MY MORNING COFFEE
FITTING
STUDIO
Bicycle Fitting, Sales & Service R2 Bicycles is a full-service, fit-focused bicycle studio in North Seattle. With decades of experience, certification, and expertise. We can help you reach your cycling goals.
R2Bicycles.com info @ R2Bicycles.com Through May 31, book fitting services online, or mention this ad for 10% discount.
206.783.8338 In partnership with
Prevail Physical Therapy Practices PrevailPT.com Bruk@PrevailPT.com
WE ARE
BICYCLING FOR ALL