BYKE BYTES: Bike More, Drive Less, Get Active
An E-newsletter from the Bicycle Alliance of Washington
Submit a news item: louisemc@bicyclealliance.org
October 5, 2006
- Join Us at the Auction!
- SR 520 Bridge Draft EIS Comment Deadline Extended
- New Research on Bike Lanes
- Kirkland Passes Complete Streets Ordinance
- Willie Weir's Cycling Thailand/Laos Presentation
- Pro-Bike
- Safe Routes Update
- Swale Canyon is Open!
- Volunteer of the Month
Join us at the Auction!
Our annual auction is almost upon us!
We've extended the early bird ticket prices to October 13.
You can purchase individual tickets for $60 or a table of ten for $600.
After that date prices go up to $75 per ticket or $750 for a table of ten.
We've sold over half our tickets already.
This year's event will be at Seattle Center's Exhibition Hall.
For more auction details visit our auction page.
To make an auction donation, go to our procurement page.
SR 520 Bridge Draft EIS Comment Deadline Extended
It's not too late to submit comments on SR520 Bridge Replacement Draft EIS!
Comment deadline has been extended to October 31. You can submit your feedback in one of the following ways:
New Research on Bike Lanes
By studying interactions of drivers and bicyclists on Texas roads, transportation engineers at
The University of Texas at Austin have discovered that having painted bike lanes on streets
and roads helps both commuters stay in safer, more central positions in their respective lanes.
Read the full report: Evaluation of On-Street Bicycle Facilities Added
to Existing Roadways. (League of American Bicyclists)
Kirkland Passes Complete Streets Ordinance
The City of Kirkland has passed the first Complete Streets ordinance in Washington State. Complete Streets calls for routinely accommodating bicyclists and pedestrians in planning, designing and building of transportation facilities, with very few exceptions.
Kudos to Cascade Bicycle Club for their efforts to make this happen!
Willie Weir's Cycling Thailand/Laos Presentation
A Tale of Two's: Cycling Thailand and Laos
One is a constitutional monarchy, the other a communist state. One has all the conveniences of the modern world, the other has difficulties supplying water and electricity to its population. One is overrun with scooters, while the other still embraces the bicycle. One is over-touristed, the other barely visited.
Both are amazing travel destinations separated by the Mekong River.
Come and experiences these two countries from the seat of a bicycle with award-winning commentator and travel writer
Willie Weir.
When: 7pm Thursday, October 26
Where: REI Seattle
Cost: $5 donation benefits the Bicycle Alliance of Washington
ProBike Coming to Seattle in 2008
The National Center for Biking and Walking announced at its most recent Pro Walk Pro Bike conference in Madison, WI that Seattle, WA had been selected for the 2008 conference. It will be an opportunity for Seattle and the rest of the state to showcase bicycle and pedestrian facilities. The conference will be held the week after Labor Day and attracts over 600 planners, health professionals, traffic engineers, advocates, community activists and more to the 3-day conference.
Safe Routes Update
The Bicycle Alliance participated in International Walk (and bike) to School Day events on Oct. 4 at two Kitsap County elementary schools.
This included sponsoring assemblies featuring Willie Weir that were a big hit. A Suaquamish Elementary School
staffer said it rated a "10 out of 10" and was the best assembly she has seen in her 7 years there.
Clif Bar donated 15.000 "Z bars" that we are distributing to schools across the state that are
participating in similar events during October. Dave Janis, the program manager for
the Bicycle Alliance, provided assistance to schools and communities in the preparation of
applications to the Washington Department of Transportation for funding.
He also continues to work with community organizations and give presentations.
Watch for the new Safe Routes To School web site that is a partnership with
Feet First.
Swale Canyon is Open!
Now that the fire danger has lowered, Washington State Parks has reopened the Swale Canyon portion of the
Klickitat Trail. Thanks to the Klickitat Trail Conservancy for providing us with this update.
Volunteer of the Month
If you've seen the Jefferson County bike maps, you've seen the work of David McCulloch, a great Bicycle Alliance volunteer in Port Towsend. David is a tireless advocate who has devoted many hours to improving conditions for cyclists. He has worked on the growing Olympic Discovery Trail, and he keeps after the city and county councils to include bicycles and bicyclists in their plans. As a member of the Bicycle Alliance's Legislative committee, David has worked on such difficult issues as rumble strips, the event permit policies and accommodating cyclists in the Hood Canal bridge rebuild.
The Bicycle Alliance is a non-profit VOLUNTEER POWERED organization. We work for you, but also, we NEED you.
We have an ongoing need for office volunteers: data entry, filing and other tasks always need to get done.
Our annual auction would not happen without over 100 people
giving generously of their time. We need advocates in every corner of the state to work with government officials
And there are always special tasks for special skills that can help the cause of bicycling throughout Washington.
The easiest way to get involved is to come to our monthly volunteer work PARTY. On the last Thursday of
each month from 1pm to 8pm at our office in Seattle we have a workparty with lots
and lots of yummy goodies (chocolate is a specialty), socializing and working to
further bicycle advocacy in Washington. We would love to have you join us.
Drop in on the last Thursday afternoon. We need your help. Call Mark at 206.224.9252 or
send Mark email
to RSVP, to get directions or to get more information.
Upcoming Workparties: Oct 26, Nov 16, Nov 30 and Dec 21st.
Over 1400 Share the Road License Plates Sold!
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