Archive for January, 2011

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The science of spinning

Monday, January 31st, 2011 by Erica Hann

Our hats are off to both Hamilton International Middle School and Echo Lake Elementary School.

Each school hosted its own “Science Night,” filled with engaging exhibitors who did their best to show kids how fun science can be. From extracting strawberries’ DNA to learning about and playing with solar-powered toy cars, I’m sure the kids had a blast.

Cascade colleague Robin Randels and I arrived at the science fairs armed with tools to excite kids about bicycling. We set up a bike with a Computrainer and projected the computer visuals onto a screen. The kids could ride a fixed course and discover how many watts of electricity could be generated by pedaling. We compared their watts to how many watts it takes to power different home items – light bulbs, a desktop computer, a TV, an Xbox360, etc. We showed them how much physical energy it would take to power the things they use every day.

Most of the kids were breathing heavily after pedaling hard enough to power a light bulb for a couple minutes, and were surprised by how much energy it takes! They loved so much that we had a never-ending line of youngins patiently waiting for their turn.

While they cheered each other on, we were able to talk to parents about bicycle safety and distribute informational materials. With Bike to School Month approaching in May, we love to see so much student enthusiasm about biking.

Do your kids bike to school? Please share your story in the comments.

Posted in Education, Kids on bikes | No Comments »

Vulnerable User Bill Picks Up Steam

Friday, January 28th, 2011 by Chris Rule

Good news for the Vulnerable User Bill in Olympia! After a successful hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee last week, the bill will have a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee next Thursday, Feb.3, at 10am. Please email us if you can make it down to Olympia and sign in favor or testify. Here’s a link to video of the first hearing, beginning 31 minutes in.

The Vulnerable User Bill has undergone several changes from its original version two years ago. SB 5326 and HB 1339 are this year’s bill numbers in the Senate and House. This bill will fill the gap between a simple traffic ticket and a crime. It creates greater penalties for negligent drivers who maim or kill pedestrians, bicyclists and others, and it will reinforce the need to be more careful when driving around vulnerable people. The bill:

• Defines the Vulnerable Roadway User concept

• Amends Negligent Driving 2, an infraction, which imposes a $250 fine

• Makes the negligent driver pay a fine of between $1000 and $5000 and suspends his or her driving privileges for 90 days, — OR — The driver can reduce the fine back down to $250 by appearing in court, completing a traffic safety course and performing up to 100 hours of community service

• The bill requires that the community service and traffic safety course be completed within one year, or the court will impose the larger fine and license suspension

Community service and court appearances are not mandatory for infractions in Washington, only for crimes, so the driver may choose to pay the larger fine rather than perform community service. The fine should be set high enough that the driver is compelled to appear in court and reduce the fine. These and other procedural issues have led to growing support for the bill, from law enforcement officers to public defenders. You can read an updated fact sheet here.

In the Senate hearing, we heard moving testimony from victims who were seriously injured and family members of bicyclists and pedestrians who were killed by negligent drivers. Members of the committee from both parties expressed strong support for increasing the penalty for drivers, and we expect that they will advance the bill forward. But there are still many hurdles to clear! Here are three ways you can help:

1.  Ask your Representative to support House Bill 1339. Click here to send an email to your Representative if he or she is on the House Judiciary Committee and ask him or her to support HB 1339. We have the continued guidance and support of a diverse group of stakeholders – including law enforcement, prosecutors, public defenders, and others but your message is vital in making this bill state law. Note that this form will work only if your representative is not yet a bill sponsor.

2.  Come to a hearing in Olympia. HB 1339 is scheduled for a public hearing in front of the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, February 3, at 10am in  the John L. O’Brien Building (JLOB), Hearing Room A.  Please join Cascade Bicycle Club and safe roadway advocates from around the state to support the Vulnerable User Bill.  Many of the hearing attendees will be family members or victims of tragic crashes, and they will need our support. Cascade is helping to organize carpools, so if you want to attend and need a ride, email organizer@cascadebicycleclub.org and let us know.

3.  Be a lobbyist for a day at Transportation Advocacy Day. On Thursday, February 10, Cascade Bicycle Club, Transportation Choices Coalition, and many other organizations will gather and lobby in person for legislation that protects and provides funding for bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit users. Sign up on the Transportation Choices Coalition website and come join us.

Posted in Advocacy, Olympia, Vulnerable User Bill | 1 Comment »

Cycling the monster climbs of the Eastern Sierra

Friday, January 28th, 2011 by M.J. Kelly

Although the big climbs in France, Italy and Spain are on the hit lists for most avid cyclists, there is no need to go all the way to Europe to satisfy your urge to pedal uphill. We have comparable climbs right here in the United States!

The Owens Valley is a remarkable place in what feels like the middle of nowhere–east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and west of the White Mountains, about 200 miles south of Reno and 270 miles north of Las Vegas. The valley floor is at about 4,000′ elevation with paved roads leading out of it that top out above 10,000′, surrounded by 14,000’+ peaks.

During late September 2010, High Performance Cycling Team co-managers Tom Meloy and David Longdon spent a week cycling “the best” of these roads, which can dish up more than 6,000′ of climbing on climbs up to 22 miles long.

These huge climbs start in a landscape dominated by sagebrush and expansive views and pass through the sub-alpine before finishing in rugged alpine country.

The big famous climbs in Europe are considered the benchmarks for comparison by most cyclists. But flying to Europe for a cycling trip is a relatively expensive and arduous adventure.

The massive climbs of the Eastern Sierras are comparable to the longest and hardest paved climbs in Europe. A simple road trip to this remote area provides a superb cycling vacation without the hassle of taking your bike apart and flying overseas. The cost is quite reasonable and you don’t have to endure a personal TSA pat down. Food and lodging are inexpensive in the small remote towns of the Eastern Sierras.

This presentation will feature photos and video of these climbs, as well as a discussion of how the Eastern Sierra climbs compare to the famous hard climbs of the Tour de France and Giro de Italia.

How hard are the Eastern Sierra climbs? Plenty hard! As a matter of fact, we feel that several of these climbs are harder than anything Europe can throw at you. Tom and David will show you why.

Cascade Presents:
Cycling the Monster Climbs of the Eastern Sierra
with David Longdon and Tom Meloy
Tuesday, Feb. 8, 7 p.m.
REI Seattle

Curious about riding with the High Performance Cycling group? Come to the season kick-off, on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Cycle U in West Seattle.

Posted in Cascade Presentation Series, Events | 3 Comments »

Why I will spin for Major Taylor

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011 by Emma Epstein

As Outreach Program Assistant (read: Americorps member who works with the Major Taylor Project), I get to help organize and lead rides with the Major Taylor teens, and we have a blast together. Since my final Earn-a-Bike program ended in December, I’ve been working on organizing great field trips for the spring, but I haven’t see the kids that I had become so fond of.

In a few weeks, I’ll get to see the kids again at a new event: the Major Taylor Spin-a-Thon.

Cascade Bicycle Club and Allstar Fitness are joining together to host a Spin-a-Thon to benefit the development and formation of a new Major Taylor club at Chief Sealth High School in West Seattle. Our goal is to raise $5,000.

On Thursday, Feb. 17, from 5 to 8 p.m., you can join the crowd at AllStar Fitness in West Seattle to ride a spin bike for one, two or THREE hours, at a minimum donation of $25/hour. If you don’t want to spin yourself, you can pledge to sponsor a Major Taylor teen rider to spin instead.

The Major Taylor Spin-a-Thon is half full and thanks to generous pledges, we are nearly halfway to our $5,000 goal! It’s not too late to help us reach this goal. We are expecting to have a full house, so register today.

To register, contact Ed Ewing (ed.ewing@cascadebicycleclub.org, 206-778-4671) or Darcy Mullen (opa@cascadebicycleclub.org, 206-957-6960) and simply let us know which hours you want to ride for and how much you are willing to donate to the cause. All checks can be made out to Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation, an IRS Section 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Remember Rumplestiltskin who spun straw into gold? With the Major Taylor Spin-a-Thon, we can “spin” gold too. Come spin with us to help us reach our goal of $5,000.

Posted in Kids on bikes, Major Taylor Project | 2 Comments »

Take U-District biking to new heights

Monday, January 24th, 2011 by Stacey Panek

University Heights Center

The University Heights Center is THE place to be this week to speak out for cycling in the U-District.

U-District Mayor’s Town Hall
University Heights Center
5031 University Way NE, Seattle
Tuesday, Jan. 25, 5:30 – 8 p.m.

First on this week’s agenda is a Town Hall meeting with Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, as part of the city’s Engage Seattle initiative. Here’s your chance to ask questions and tell the Mayor you’re all for bike lanes, safe bicycle parking on campus, convenient bike access to coming Link Light Rail stations or whatever U-District bike projects are most important to you.

5:30 – 6:30: Information tables from city departments and community organizations.

6:30 – 8:00: Open question and answer session with the Mayor and city staff.

For more information, contact Becky Stanley at (206) 684-8106 or becky.stanley@seattle.gov.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

North Link Light Rail Brooklyn Station Open House
University Heights Center, Second Floor Auditorium
Thursday, Jan. 27, 6 – 8 p.m.
Presentation begins at 6:30 p.m.

Next up is an opportunity to really delve into biking and light rail, specifically Link’s Brooklyn Station. Sound Transit will present design options for the station and is eager for cyclists to participate. Join us to let Sound Transit know that incorporating bicycles into station area planning translates into a big win for mobility, livability and community.

For more information contact Ellen Blair at (206) 398-5043 or ellen.blair@soundtransit.org, or visit www.soundtransit.org/northlink. To request accommodations for persons with disabilities, call 1-800-201-4900 / TTY Relay: 711 or email accessibility@soundtransit.org.

Posted in Advocacy, Commuting, Transit | 2 Comments »

Announcing RSVP2

Friday, January 21st, 2011 by M.J. Kelly

Feb. 1 update: The RSVP lottery details have been posted.

According to our history, the Ride from Seattle to Vancouver, BC & Party (RSVP) was born of calamity. In 1980, the eruption of Mount St. Helens interrupted Cascade’s marquee event, the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic. With uncertain road conditions in southwest Washington, an alternative double century was needed. Thus, Seattle to Vancouver was born.

While the current route bears little resemblance to the original bike tour, much credit goes to Jon Jacobson and Dennis Noson for the concept and route scouting in 1980 and 1981. Approximately 40 people participated in the inaugural three-day ride, from Seattle to Bellingham to Vancouver then to the Tswassen ferry to Sidney and down Vancouver Island to Victoria and home on the Princess Marguarite.

The event lapsed in 1982 and was canceled in 1986 due to The World’s Fair Expo in Vancouver. This year, therefore, marks the 3oth  anniversary RSVP event.

RSVP’s popularity has risen steadily over the years, hitting 1,300 riders in 2010. Demand for the event is so high that it sells out in hours. This year, in fact, members clamoring to register brought down our web servers.

“Why don’t you make it bigger?” we are continually asked.

If RSVP were double or triple in size, it would be a different event. RSVP is lauded precisely because it offers a different experience from the Seattle to Portland double-century, which draws 10,000 riders. The road support on RSVP is less, and riders are generally more experienced to handle the more challenging terrain on the route to Vancouver.

After the servers crashed, letting so many of our members down, the Cascade staff went to work brainstorming solutions. And so out of the registration calamity of 2011, Ride from Seattle to Vancouver BC & Party 2 was born.

30th ANNIVERSARY AND A NEW EVENT

RSVP2 will take place the same weekend as RSVP, but will depart a day later. Riders on RSVP2 will depart from Seattle for Bellingham on Saturday, Aug. 6 and arrive for the party in Vancouver on Sunday, Aug. 7. The rider limit will be 1,400 riders, identical to RSVP. This route will be the same. The road support services will be the same. These measures will ensure that the event flavor will be the same as well.

The registration process, however, will be remarkably different. For 2011, registrations for RSVP2 will be offered only to Cascade members on a lottery basis.

LOTTERY RULES

  1. Only current members may enter the RSVP2 lottery.
  2. You must have an account on the online registration system to participate. Set your account up at http://shop.cascade.org any time.
  3. Your name, email and current Cascade membership number are required when signing up for the lottery.
  4. You can only sign up for the lottery once.
  5. We will offer a “group” lottery entry for two to six Cascade members under one lottery ticket. If that one ticket is drawn then all six members will be allowed to register. This is to ensure your whole group is either all in or all out.
  6. Individuals may sign up for the lottery, but you cannot be in a group lottery entry and an individual lottery entry simultaneously.
  7. The lottery registration will open in mid-February and will close 10 days later. The lottery open date will be announced on www.cascade.org, our Facebook, Twitter, the Cascade blog and through Braking News
  8. It does not matter when you sign up for the lottery during those 10 days. It’s not necessary to sign up on the first day as the lottery draw will be randomly generated by a computer.
  9. There is no cost to participate in the lottery.
  10. Lottery winners will be notified via email with instructions on how to register.
  11. If you register, but decide not to ride, you can return your registration for a refund, per our refund policy. Registrations are not transferrable, but are refundable until 30 days prior to the event.

LOTTERY BENEFITS

The benefits of a lottery system are many. There will be no rush to register at a precise time, so you do not need to be at a computer to access the Internet to register before the event closes.

You can sign up for the lottery at your leisure, provided you do it within the ten days that it’s open.

By using a group lottery entry, you’ll know if your riding partners made it in with you. If riding with your partners is less important, we recommend getting an individual lottery entry.

LOOKING AHEAD

We hope that this new event will absorb much of the demand to ride from Seattle to Vancouver. RSVP1 is sold out, and we expect the second to fill through the lottery. This, unfortunately, does mean some members will not get in. With more members than RSVP slots, we simply cannot accommodate all who might want to ride the event each year. However, we hope that by producing a second RSVP event and by using a lottery registration, the process will be more efficient and fair.

This year we will evaluate the lottery process to determine if we’ll use it for RSVP registration next year. We will also evaluate the new RSVP2 event to ensure we can continue to provide the same level of service you’ve come to expect from a Cascade event.

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to partying with all the RSVP riders in Vancouver this August!

The Cascade Bicycle Club team

Posted in Events, RSVP | 29 Comments »

Vulnerable User Bill Introduced in Senate – SB 5326

Thursday, January 20th, 2011 by Chris Rule

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PROTECTING VULNERABLE ROADWAY USERS
Cascade Bicycle Club seeks passage of Vulnerable User Bill

WASHINGTON STATE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEARING ON FRIDAY, JAN. 21

SEATTLE, JANUARY 20, 2011 – On Friday, January 21, 2011 the Washington state Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on Senate Bill 5326 (House Bill 1339), also known as the Vulnerable User Bill. This legislation would increase the penalty for drivers who commit traffic offenses that cause the serious injury or death of a pedestrian, bicyclist or other vulnerable roadway user.

More than 150 pedestrians, cyclists, equestrians and farm equipment operators are gravely injured or killed in Washington state each year by negligent drivers who have broken traffic laws. Currently most of these offending drivers face only a mail-in traffic fine that in many cases is as low as $49. The Vulnerable User Bill, if passed, would impose steeper penalties.

Cascade Bicycle Club (Cascade) has advocated for passage of the Vulnerable User Bill since 2009. Last year the legislation came within minutes of a vote on the Senate floor before it died—not for lack of necessary votes, but because time ran out at a critical cutoff. Cascade’s advocacy director David Hiller believes that the bill has enough momentum to pass in 2011.

“In 2009 we met with families and survivors who wanted to know that people who were driving negligently and who took the lives of their loved ones weren’t going to get away with just a ticket,” Hiller said. “This bill is in response to their request for justice.”

The bill was introduced to the Senate Thursday morning by Sen. Adam Kline (D-37) and is co-sponsored by Sen. Joseph Zarelli (R-18) and others. Freshman Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D-34) introduced the House bill, along with Rep. Mike Hope (R-44), who is also an officer of the Seattle Police Department.

Under the law, a driver committing a traffic infraction—such as speeding, texting while driving or running a red light—that results in the serious injury or death of a vulnerable roadway user would face an automatic fine of $1,000 to $5,000 and a 90-day suspension of driving privileges. To mitigate the above penalties, the offender could request a court hearing and, per judicial discretion, pay a $250 fine, complete a traffic safety course and perform up to 100 hours of community service related to driver improvement and public education about traffic safety.

Cascade stresses that the bill does not establish a criminal offense. It simply increases the penalty for driving offenses that lead to tragic outcomes for vulnerable users.

The legislation defines vulnerable users as pedestrians, bicyclists, equestrians, highway workers, skaters/rollerskaters/rollerbladers, people on scooters and people in wheelchairs or on farm equipment.

Many of the attendees at Friday’s hearing will be family members or victims of tragic crashes.

Vulnerable User Bill
(Senate Bill 5326, House Bill 1339)

Washington State Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
Friday, January 21, 2011
1:30 p.m.
Cherberg Senate Building, Senate Hearing Room 1
Olympia, WA

Cascade Bicycle Club requests that those interested in attending the hearing RSVP by emailing organizer@cascadebicycleclub.org. The group is especially interested in attendees who have been victims or are family members of a victim of negligent driving who were vulnerable users at the time of the traffic incident. Attendees may join Cascade in conference room 236 of the Cherberg building at 1 p.m. to prepare for the hearing.

Citizens may send an email urging their senators to support the Vulnerable User Bill (SB 5326) by visiting www.tinyurl.com/vulnerableuser.

About Cascade Bicycle Club:

Founded in 1970, Cascade Bicycle Club is a 13,000+ member, nonprofit organization based in Seattle, Washington, serving more than half a million cyclists in the Puget Sound community. The club is operated by a volunteer Board of Directors, more than 20 professional staff, and thousands of volunteers and is the largest organization of its kind in the United States. More information about Cascade Bicycle Club’s advocacy, commute and education programs is available online at www.cascade.org or by calling (206) 522-3222.

# # #

MEDIA CONTACT

David Hiller, Advocacy Director
Cascade Bicycle Club
206-227-0006
david.hiller@cascadebicycleclub.org

Posted in Advocacy, Olympia, Vulnerable User Bill | 1 Comment »

High Performance Cycling kicks off the 2011 season

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011 by M.J. Kelly

Team HPC riding near Mount Rainier

On Saturday, Feb. 5 from 1 to 3 p.m., Cycle U will host a Team High Performance Open House its West Seattle store, located at 4550 Fauntleroy Way SW. The party is for team members, their friends, and anybody else who would like to learn more about Cascade’s High Performance Cycling program. Light refreshments will be served.

Besides socializing, topics to be discussed include:

  • What Team HPC is all about
  • Team benefits from our relationship with Cascade and Cycle U
  • 2011 Team goals and initiatives
  • Cycle U coaching clinics. Potential clinic topics include pace lines, climbing, group ride safety, cornering and descending, etc.
  • The team discount program including discounts on Felt bikes and Specialized bikes and products
  • Fitness performance testing program for members
  • 2011 ride schedule
HPC team

High Performance Cycling team members at the finish of the 2010 High Pass Challenge.

Cycle U will conduct fitness testing for HPC team members on Saturday, Feb. 26. The testing cost is included with membership, and new members who join before Feb. 26 will be eligible. On Saturday, March 5, Kristi Berg and Tom Meloy from Cycle U will conduct a “How to build your own training plan” clinic for people who did the fitness test.

Four years ago we announced the formation of a new program within the Cascade Bicycle Club. Cascade’s High Performance Cycling (HPC) was developed to match the interests and needs of cyclists who like to ride fast, hard, far, and climb hills, but without a racing focus.  The HPC program is committed to helping strong cyclists challenge themselves to improve their skills and fitness.

HPC riders should:

  • Be committed to improving their fitness and cycling skills
  • Be able to, or desire to ride at the CBC strenuous effort level.
  • Possess the endurance to ride over 50 miles.
  • Be comfortable with, or desire to master pace line riding techniques.

Cascade and Cycle U offer an HPC team program with a focus on High Performance Cycling, not racing.

Cycle University is a bicycle school that focuses on teaching riders of all levels how to improve rapidly.  It is run by former pro Craig Undem and a staff of professional coaches.  Cycle U offers everything from Private Lessons to InCycle Spin Classes.

For more information or to sign up and join the team, see the High Performance Cycling page, or the team page. You can also sign up at the party. The cost is $100 per year. Cascade membership is required.

Our primary goal for 2011 is to continue developing “HPC Powered by Cycle U” as an entity that offers a fun way to not only improve your cycling, but to do it in the company of professional coaches, and other riders with similar interests.

We hope to see you on Feb. 5. Look for HPC team members in their team jerseys, and feel free to ask them more about the program.

Posted in Daily Rides, High Performance Cycling | 2 Comments »

Board announces next steps

Friday, January 14th, 2011 by M.J. Kelly

A message to the members from the Cascade Bicycle Club Board of Directors

Since the board’s decision on October 4 to make a change in the executive directorship of the Club, many members have expressed questions about the governance of the Club.   We have reached out to members to better understand their concerns, through emails and conversations with concerned members, at the Annual Meeting, and at the Town Hall meeting held on November 30.  Based on this dialogue, the Board has:

  • postponed the board elections previously scheduled for October 2011 until March 22 to address a deficiency in the nomination process,
  • expanded the target board size for 2011 to 15 members to strengthen and diversify the Board
  • formed a new Nominations Committee to solicit and vet board candidates,
  • formed a Bylaws Committee to evaluate and revise the Club bylaws,  and
  • formed an Executive Director Search Committee to solicit top candidates from around the country.

We believe that the Board’s actions should contribute to a stronger Club.  Nevertheless, questions and misunderstandings regarding the Board’s actions have proven difficult to address and they continue to be divisive.   After listening carefully to members, staff, and the broader community, we feel that a newly-constituted board, elected by membership on March 22, 2011, could more effectively govern the Club going forward.

Therefore, our goal is to continue in our current positions on the board until a new, representative, and skilled board of directors is in place, and offer our resignations at that point in time.  In the coming two months, we will work to ensure that board candidates are duly vetted through an open and legitimate nomination process, that members are offered a choice in leadership by being able to consider more candidates than positions available, and that board members are elected by the full membership of the Club on March 22, 2011.

The Nominating Committee was appointed in early December 2010, consisting of two board members, two staff members, and two well qualified at-large members. The Nominating Committee has been working hard to prepare a slate of candidates for elections on March 22. Once the newly elected board has been seated, the undersigned members of the board will offer their resignations and pass on governance duties to the new board.   For the benefit of continuity, some members of the current board are open to continued service on the new board, if requested to do so by the new board members.    We maintain our support for the Club, its mission, and the work to date on the strategic plan.   We also believe that good governance, with support from the staff and the membership, is essential to set the direction of the Club and to ensure the Club functions in accordance with its mission and on behalf of the members.  (Note that the process we have outlined here will ensure legal continuity of governance of the Club in accordance with our bylaws.)

To that end, we urge you to help identify leaders within the Club who would be willing to serve on the board, to ensure the Club continues to be a powerful force for bicycling in Washington and part of a national movement which is bringing bicycling into the forefront of transportation policy.  While the Nominating Committee has received many nominees with high qualifications, more nominees are needed to ultimately constitute a full 15 member board.

As part of the transition, we are suspending the work on the Bylaws and the Executive Director Search Committees.   We believe a new board should review both issues as part of its responsibilities for oversight and governance of the Cascade Bicycle Club.

Thank you for your membership and involvement in the Club.  We ask you to continue to support the Club, to be active in its affairs, and to make sure your voice is heard.

Sincerely,

Emiko Atherton

Tim Hennings

Michael Lazarus

Peter Morgan

Jim Oswald

Mary Schroeder

Dave White

Posted in Club news | 10 Comments »

Gearing up in Olympia

Friday, January 14th, 2011 by Chris Rule

This month marks Cascade Bicycle Club’s third session advocating in Olympia for safer and more accessible bicycling in Washington state. Coming up are three critical opportunities to make a difference.

The Vulnerable User Bill is our top priority this year, and it is scheduled for a hearing on Friday, Jan. 21 at 1:30 p.m. in the state Senate Judiciary Committee. Please join us if you can and sign in favor of the bill. Please RSVP by email and let us know if you would like to join a carpool, and we will do our best to accommodate you.

The Vulnerable User Bill has changed a great deal since it was developed a few years ago. We were skeptical when Sen. Adam Kline said at the Traffic Justice Summit in 2008 that bills generally take three years to pass through the judiciary committee.

Lo and behold, we are in our third year. We continue to learn more about the intricacies of judicial administration as we grow support among police and the courts. Last year we came within minutes of the bill reaching the floor of the Senate before time ran out at a critical cutoff date. Stakeholder groups have suggested changes that clarify the role of the courts and lower administrative costs, but the substance is nearly identical to last year’s substitute bill language. Last year’s Frequently Asked Questions are a good primer on the goals and ramifications of this legislation.

Next Friday, many of the hearing attendees will be family members or victims of tragic crashes, and they will need our support.  Stay tuned for more bill information, which will be posted here on the blog.

Also, next Monday, Jan. 17, there is a hearing for the Complete Streets bill, which includes a state grant program to create safer state highways in places where they serve as main streets in small towns.  The bill also adds Complete Streets standards to consider all forms of transportation – including bicycling – when reconstructing state roads. You can sign up if you are free for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday at the Transportation Choices Coalition website.

Finally, Thursday, Feb. 10 is Transportation Advocacy Day, this year’s best opportunity to meet your legislators and personally advocate for pro-cycling legislation and funding for biking, walking and transit projects. Please join Cascade Bicycle Club, Transportation Choices Coalition and many other organizations at United Churches (110 11th Ave SE, Olympia) at 9 a.m. and become a lobbyist for a day.

We’ll gather at the church in the morning for guest speakers and small-group sessions so you get all the detailed information you need to lobby successfully for our 2011 priorities. We will spend the afternoon meeting with legislators. Carpools from Seattle to Olympia and shuttles from the Lacey Amtrak station will be available. To RSVP for the day’s events, visit this page on the Transportation Choices Coalition website.

Thank you for being an advocate, and we hope to see you in Olympia!

Posted in Advocacy, Olympia, Vulnerable User Bill | 5 Comments »

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