Archive for September, 2011

Cycle Oregon volunteer missing

Friday, September 23rd, 2011 by M.J. Kelly

One of our members forwarded us a note from Cycle Oregon about Mark Bosworth, an event volunteer, who is missing. Bosworth vanished after he left a booth on Main Street, near Riddle High School, around 11:30 p.m. Friday. If you’ve seen someone fitting his description, please contact the police right away. Here’s the flyer. There is a $10,000 REWARD for information that directly results in locating Mark.

Mark Bosworth, a Rider Services volunteer for the past four years, has not been seen since 11 p.m. Friday night in Riddle, when he parted ways with a friend and was believed to be headed back to his tent. We don’t know anything about his whereabouts since then, and we’re asking you to try to recall if you encountered Mark or have any idea of where he might have gone. Mark, pictured here, had complained of exhaustion and headaches, and may have been acting erratically Friday evening.

An extensive search-and-rescue effort is underway, and we’re hoping you can provide information that could help. If you recall seeing Mark at any point Friday evening or Saturday, please contact the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office right away at 541-440-4471.

Make it count

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011 by Tessa Greegor

The Fremont Bridge sees the most bicycle crossings of any bridge in the state. The count project helps us gather similar key data from across the state.

Ever wonder how many people bicycle or walk through a given intersection in your community?  Unfortunately, that data may not exist.  The solution: The Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project. For the fourth consecutive year, volunteers around the state will be collecting data about bicycling and walking along streets, trails and intersections around Washington.  Granted we won’t be counting at every possible location, but with over 200 count locations statewide, we’ll have a great snapshot of bicycling and walking in communities around Washington.

We’re working with the Washington State Department of Transportation and local jurisdictions around the state  to collect valuable data about bicycling and walking in 30 cities. However, this project would not happen without the incredible volunteer support around the state.  Last year, we had hundreds of volunteers who helped count. If you’re interested in volunteering, your two-hour commitment is invaluable to this data collection. Not to mention… it’s fun!  Kick back with a coffee and clipboard, relax, and observe people as they move through an intersection (and don’t forget to count them)! Sign up here.

This year, bike counts are taking place on Sept. 27, Sept. 28 and Sept. 29. And your help is needed! We have all the volunteers we need in Seattle, Spokane, Kirkland, Bothell, Shoreline, Redmond and Renton — thank you! But more volunteers are still needed in:

  • Bellevue
  • Bothell
  • Bremerton
  • Ellensburg
  • Ferndale
  • Issaquah
  • Kelso
  • Longview
  • Mercer Island
  • Mountlake Terrace
  • Oak Harbor
  • Olympia
  • Richland
  • Shoreline
  • Tacoma
  • Vancouver
  • Walla Walla
  • Yakima

While we’re doing well on volunteer recruitment, that’s a pretty big list where gaps in vital data collection are at risk. The Washington State Documentation Project is an important step toward improving our system for collecting and analyzing bicycle and pedestrian data. Ultimately, this data will play a valuable role in planning, designing and funding bicycle and pedestrian projects, and will help us understand the factors that influence the levels of bicycling and walking in our communities.

Being a bicyclist is not required to help with counts! Please, volunteer. And click that “share it” button below to urge your friends, colleagues and family members to help.

Moving Planet: Day of Action and Safe Streets Social

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 by Serena Lehman

People ride bikes for many reasons. There are the people who race cyclocross. There are those who ride for exercise. And there are those who ride just because it is fun (that’s me!).

A reason for riding that is rapidly growing in popularity is riding for transportation. Not only does riding to work save you cash and provide exercise, it is also is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel. In a time of climate change, it is important for us all to do our part in reducing our impact on the planet.

Moving Planet

This Saturday there will be over 2,000 events all across the globe rallying around the message “Moving Beyond Fossil Fuels”. In my humble opinion we have one of the best events happening here in Seattle.

There will be parades of people all around Lake Union, workshops, a rally, food carts, music and more!

Saturday, Sept. 24

Move Yourself
9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Lake Union

Join the parade of boats and bikes, feet and wheels, pedaling, rowing, sailing, walking, dancing, and skating all around Lake Union. End at Lake Union Park (860 Terry Ave N, Seattle) at 1 p.m.

Take Action Workshops
10 a.m. – 2 p.m., China Harbor Restaurant

Learn how to be a powerful advocate at two concurrent workshops: Power Past Coal and Transportation for Washington. Join with others to take action opposing coal export terminals in our state and supporting good transportation choices for our communities. Sponsored by Earth Ministry, Sierra Club, and Climate Solutions.

Have Fun! Get Active and Learn More
10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Lake Union Park

Lunch at tasty food trucks, get info about climate action from non-profit partners. Join the 350.org parade from 1-2pm while Black Whales play! Try eBikes, get an Undrivers License, Skate Like A Girl, try Stand-Up Paddleboards, do Yoga for Bikers, check out FamilyBike Expo, take FeetFirst walks, join a mini-yacht flotilla, and more! Lake Union Park is at the south end of Lake Union 860 Terry Avenue N.

Rally to Move Beyond Fossil Fuels
2 p.m.– 3 p.m. Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Ave N
.
Come jam to music starting at 1 p.m. and rally for a sustainable future at 2 p.m. Show your support for moving beyond fossil fuels while enjoying inspirational speakers, community information booths, and a crowd photo for 350.org.

Speakers will include:

  • Michael McGinn, Mayor of Seattle
  • Christopher Williams, Seattle Parks & Recreation Superintendent
  • Sarah van Gelder, YES! magazine Executive Editor
  • KC Golden, Climate Solutions Policy Director
  • Lisa Quinn, Feet First Executive Director
  • Rev. Rich Lang, University Temple United Methodist Church

Want to go to the events but don’t know how to get there by bike? Rides are being led to the event from all over Seattle to make it easier for you. Riding with a group to an event is always more fun, so please join us!

From the South end:

  • Columbia City: Davey Oil of Bike Works and Serena Lehman of Cascade are leading a ride from Bike Works from their Columbia City location at 3709 S Ferdinand. Leaving 10:30 a.m. sharp!
  • West Seattle: Stu Hennessey and John Reardon lead from Alki Bike and Board 2606 California Ave SW in West Seattle at 10:30 a.m
  • West Seattle: Marge and Ron Evans lead from Jack Block Park in West Seattle at 11 a.m.

From the Central area:

  • Capitol Hill: Allyson Welsh and Albert Meerscheidt leave  Cal Anderson Park at 9:45 a.m. Because it is such a short ride, the group may circle the lake before stopping at Moving Planet Seattle.

From the North end:

  • View Ridge: Jim Mathieu and Al Miller lead from Bryant Park across the street from the PCC at 10:15 a.m. They intend to meet the group from Wallingford at Gas Works Park around 11:15 a.m.
  • Ravenna: Sander Lazar leads from Ravenna’s Cowen Park Grocery, 1217 NE Ravenna Blvd 10:30 a.m.
  • Ballard: Michael Snyder leads from Ballard Commons Park at 22nd and 57th at 11 a.m.
  • Wallingford: Cathy Tuttle and Cindy Riskin assisted by Cascade’s Robin Randels leave Wallingford Center at 45th and Wallingford Ave N at 11 a.m. They will stop at Gas Works Park around 11:15 a.m. to meet other bike groups including the E-Bike Network Ride with Larry Gales and Seattle Electric Bike Co.

Wow. You have no reason not to ride!

After all the day’s excitement, a group of people will also be doing a slow bike ride honoring those that have recently died while bicycling. Says Tom at the Seattle Bike Blog: It’s planned to be slow, welcoming and respectful. All are encouraged to join the ride, whether you’re a seasoned biker or haven’t touched a bike in years. The ride is about respecting and protecting life on our roads.

Who’s riding on Kitsap this Sunday?

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 by M.J. Kelly

With the first day of autumn upon us, we invite you to join us on Sunday for our last big cycling event of the year, the 19th annual Kitsap Color Classic.

If you haven’t ridden the KCC, come give it a try. Sometimes the weather is wet (been there, dripping) and sometimes the weather is glorious (been there, much better!) This weekend, the forecast is looking partly sunny and high 60s ever changing, Pacific Northwest weather, nothing to stop most of us from some time in the saddle.

Online registration is closed, so meet us on Sunday morning in Edmonds or Kingston with cash, check or credit card to register for the ride. Save some time by bringing a registration form already completed, and you’ll zip through the registration booth and be on your way to the ferry in no time.

Oh yes, the ferry! A lovely ferry ride is included in every Edmonds registration fee for the 8:50, 9:40 and 10:30 a.m. sailings. Once on the Kitsap Peninsula, you can choose a route from 14 miles to 64 miles.

Cascade cycling events are fundraisers for the organization, and are vital to our ability to create a better community through bicycling. When you ride with us on Sunday, you can be proud that you’re supporting Cascade’s work in schools and on the streets.

Already registered? Invite a friend!

2011 Annual Membership Meeting

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 by Chuck Ayers

Whether you are new to Cascade or a longtime member, there is always something to learn about your club. At our Annual Membership Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 11, Cascade staff and board members will give a “state of the club” address and be on-hand answer your questions. Board candidates will also introduce themselves, take questions and tell you how they would contribute to the future of the club. The membership meeting is a great way to get to know your club, its staff and its leaders. Even if you’re not a member, you can come learn why Cascade is the largest and most effective bicycle club in the country. We hope to see you there!

Annual Membership Meeting
Tuesday, Oct. 11
7 – 8:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30)
REI Seattle, 222 Yale Ave. N, Seattle

Portland is coming to us

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 by M.J. Kelly

Neighborhood Greenways, where your teens can bike to school instead of asking for the car keys. Great way to start the day! (From flickr by gregraisman)

When I stop and look around, I see more people embracing bicycling every which way. In my neighborhood over the last week, I’ve seen kids biking to school on their own, several parent-chaperoned ”bike buses” (with parents I didn’t think would ever bike commute!), crowded bike racks at the grocery store, a pile of bikes at the local playground and people coming and going on bikes who are clearly commuting to and from work.

The movement is happening, and by many indications, it’s looking toward Neighborhood Greenways. What’s a Greenway? It’s a pleasant family-friendly street where it’s common to see families enjoying a bicycle ride together, kids walking to school or to the park, and even the occasional on-street basketball game.

Greenways are often near arterials or connect arterials, providing a quiet, low-traffic, low-speed, low-stress route for walking and biking in a community. I’m sure you can imagine a few candidates in your own neighborhood that would make ideal Greenways — maybe even the one outside your living room window. They’ll be enticing for your interested-but-afraid-of-traffic neighbor who really wants to bike more. Or at all! They’re cheap, easy and not just about bikes. Portland has ‘em, and we want ‘em.

In Portland, these streets are quickly forming a cohesive network that’s turning bicycling into a relaxing, safe and sensible mode of transportation for short trips by everyday Portlanders. By solving neighborhood concerns around safe walking and biking, these new neighborhood streets have also brought an increased sense of community and an improved quality of life for their residents.

We’re in a bit of luck! This week a couple of Greenway gurus are in town from Portland to share how Greenways have made a significant difference in their city.

Mark Lear and Greg Raisman
from the Portland Bureau of Transportation
Thursday, Sept. 22
7 to 9 p.m.
University of Washington, Savery Hall 264

Please join us, and invite your friends through Facebook.

If you’re inspired by the idea of Neighborhood Greenways (which would be great routes for bike buses and walking school buses), get involved. Your movement IS a movement!

Velodrome seeks new program director

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011 by M.J. Kelly

Current bike commuter; future track racer.

Ah, Friday night racing at the track. It’s a great place to have a picnic with the family and see bike racing up close. Dreams of glory are dashed and fulfilled. And that’s just the Kiddie Kilo!

Of course, the Marymoor Velodrome Association is much, much more, including races, camps and classes. If you think you’ve got what it takes to help the MVA programs be successful, throw in your helmet for the  new Program Director position. While the Director does not have to be a bicycle racer, the MVA says that a working understanding of track cycling is a big plus.

All interested parties should submit a cover letter and resume by 9/26 to admin@velodrome.org. Here are the details:

The Program  Director (“Director”) will be the Chief Program and Operational Officer of the Marymoor Velodrome Association (“MVA”), a 501c(3) non-profit organization that provides track cycling educational and racing opportunities for the public. As such, the Director will  be responsible for managing the safe and professional operation of these educational and racing programs.  This position requires an individual with a  “can do” attitude who will demonstrate inititiative and take ownership of projects.  This position has a wide range of responsibilities, including (but not limited to):

●     Managing Nightly Event Managers to ensure that summer racing programs are running well, adjusting and fine-tuning for a safe and rewarding race experience  (spring and summer)

●     managing educational staff to ensure safe and consistent implementation of the MVA’s children’s and adult cycling programs

●     leading the charge in fundraising by seeking out grants to support programs (educational, children’s development, or racing) and/or corporate sponsorship

●     working with the annual auction chair to help put on the Spring MVA auction

●     Coordinating and communicating duties with the MVA’s extensive volunteer network.

●     Coordinating facility up-keep with King County Parks and maintaining a healthy relationship with them.

●     Point-of-contact and manager of the MVA facilities at the track. Identifiying problems or needed repairs, managing their completion.

●     Working with the Treasurer to ensure timely payment of financial obligations & reports to Board.

●     Working with and attending MVA monthly board meetings.

●     Being the face of the organization to the media and public.

Finally as the Chief Operational Officer, the Director  will work with the  MVA treasurer to prepare financial reports and budgets for the board and prepare 990’s for the IRS. This position will report directly to the member-elected MVA Board.

While the Director  does not have to be a bicycle racer, a working understanding of track cycling is a big plus.  An understanding of how a night of bike racing progresses in terms of event planing and time management is a plus.

Compensation – DOE

Get down to the library for fun free classes

Monday, September 19th, 2011 by Robin Randels

Photo credit: Mark Paciga

The Seattle  Public Library has teamed up with various organizations — including us at Cascade — to bring you the FREE Urban Self-Reliance Series. Join us at various branches during the month of October to learn what you need to know about riding a bike to and from work and school or around town.

Discover answers to  those burning questions like “How do I carry my stuff?” and “What about my hair?” Learn everything from how to lock your bike (hint: cheap cable locks are a bike thief’s dream), where to ride in the road (hint: you can do better than hugging the right edge of the street) and how to use the bike infrastructure (hint: bike boxes increase your visibility) to how to ask your employer to create a bike-friendly workplace (hint: secure parking and showers go a long way).

Free yourself from traffic jams, enjoy better health and see your city up-close from the seat of your bike.

Find us at:

Our friends at Freeattle are as excited as we are about the series. Biking, sewing and canning oh my!

We can do better

Thursday, September 15th, 2011 by M.J. Kelly

Thank you to everyone who joined us on short notice at this morning’s press conference to start a community dialogue about making our roadways safer. This is just the beginning of an important conversation, and we need you to continue to be a part of the change.

More and more people are walking, biking and using transit to navigate the streets of Seattle, which is good for everyone. We — drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists — share the public right of way. We also share the benefits of less congestion, better air quality and healthier people.

Therefore, it is our shared responsibility to create a safe environment and to look out for each other. No traffic fatality is acceptable. We can do better.

Our call to action today is to make our streets safer in two ways: through better conduct and through better infrastructure.

CONDUCT: Every person helps set the tone on the streets. Seattle is a vibrant, urban environment, full of people. We are all trying get where we need to go, safely and efficiently. It is every person’s shared responsibility to look out for each other. Put down the phone. Stop texting. Unplug your ears. We can do better.

Drivers:

  • Slow down, and look twice. There are vulnerable users all around you. Look over both shoulders for people crossing the street and for bicycles alongside. The five seconds you might save by driving fast or not stopping can cost a life and irrevocably change your own.
  • Be a community pace car. We are in control every time we get behind the wheel. Observe the speed limit, don’t run red lights, and come to complete stops at stop signs. Yield to pedestrians. Expect to see bicycles.

Bicyclists:

  • Slow down, and look twice. The minute you’re shaving off your commute by racing down the trail and blowing traffic signals can cost a life, possibly your own.
  • Follow the rules of the road. Be an ambassador of best biking conduct. Be predictable, be visible, and be vigilant. Stop at traffic signals.
  • Make eye contact and signal your intent. Drivers want to know what you’re doing. Making eye contact will help you see who isn’t looking for you.
  • Look for pedestrians. It is a cyclist’s responsibility to yield to pedestrians.

Pedestrians:

  • Make eye contact. Pay attention to the environment around you. Communicate with drivers and bicyclists so your intent is known. You are the most vulnerable roadway user out there.

INFRASTRUCTURE: We must improve our roadways for better public safety. That means funding and implementing bicycle, pedestrian and transit enhancements.

We’re asking our elected officials to lead the way by setting policies, allocating funding and implementing plans that encourage and protect all users. Public safety is at stake, and addressing it must be a priority. People should not be dying on our streets due to politics.

People of Seattle are encouraged to get involved in their communities. Join the Neighborhood Greenways movement, for example, to show that your neighborhood wants these improvements.

What do we want to see as a result of today’s event?

  • Zero fatalities. We want to see a recommitment from our cities and our state toward the vision of zero traffic fatalities.
  • An informed, engaged public. More people who thought they were on the sidelines are coming together and realizing they can do something to make our city better and safer.
  • Less rhetoric. We want to hear a decrease the divisive, inflammatory rhetoric so that a civil and responsible conversation can take place about how to make our city streets safer and better.
  • Leadership. We call on our elected officials to make protecting our most vulnerable roadway users and improving public safety a top priority.

Press conference announcement

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011 by M.J. Kelly

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 13, 2011

CASCADE BICYCLE CLUB CALLS FOR SAFER ROADWAYS

COMMUNITY LEADERS COME TOGETHER
FOR NO MORE TRAFFIC FATALITIES

SEATTLE, WA – Following a spate of recent traffic fatalities, we invite the community to come together, hear from community leaders, and learn how we can address the issues.

The bottom line: We can – and must – do better.

More and more people are walking, biking and using transit to navigate the streets of Seattle. In our dense, urban environment, the public right-of-way is shared by all of us — drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. It is our shared responsibility to create a safe environment and to look out for each other. No traffic fatality is acceptable. We can do better.

Our call to action to you is to tackle these problems in two ways: through better conduct and through better infrastructure. Please join us.

PRESS CONFERENCE DETAILS:

Date: Thursday, Sept. 15

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Speakers 9:45

Location:  The public space located on the median of NE Campus Parkway, located between 15th Ave NE and University Way N

Map: http://g.co/maps/na5ew

Speakers will include:

Tom Rasmussen
Seattle City Council member
Chair, Transportation Committee

Joe McDermott
King County Council
Chair, King County Board of Health

M.J. Kelly
Cascade Bicycle Club
Director of Communications

Contact:

M.J. Kelly
m: 206-853-2188
alt: 206-522-3222
e: m.j.kelly@cascadebicycleclub.org

About Cascade Bicycle Club:

Founded in 1970, Cascade Bicycle Club is a 14,000+ 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, 28 professional staff and thousands of volunteers. More information about Cascade Bicycle Club’s advocacy, commute, education and riding programs is available online at www.cascade.org or by calling (206) 522-3222.