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Seattle Public Schools Superintendent José Banda will bike to school with Bryant Elementary students in celebration of National Bike to School Day

Friday, May 3rd, 2013 by

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Seattle Public Schools Superintendent José Banda will bike to school with Bryant Elementary students in celebration of National Bike to School Day

An estimated 3,500 kids across Seattle region will bike to school on Wednesday, May 8

 What: Bryant Elementary school students, family members and public officials to bicycle en masse to school and hold a press conference about biking to school

Who: Seattle Public Schools Superintendent José Banda, Seattle School Board President Kay Smith-Blum, Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, Cascade Bicycle Club Education Director Julie Salathé, Bryant bike to school organizers and families

When: Riders gather at Top Pot beginning at 8 a.m. Ride departs at 8:40.

Ride start point: Ride starts from Top Pot Doughnuts at 6845 35th Ave NE, Seattle, WA.

Ride ending point and location of press conference: Bryant Elementary School, 3311 NE 60th St, Seattle, WA

 

A stream of Bryant students and parents riding on Bike to School Day 2012. Photo (c) carfreedays on Flickr. Click photo to view more photos from last year.

SEATTLE, MAY 3, 1013 – Following the “May is Bike to School Month” recognition at the Seattle Public School Board meeting on May 1, we are happy to announce that Superintendent José Banda will join students and families of Bryant Elementary School, School Board President Kay Smith-Blum, Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, Cascade Bicycle Club Education Director Julie Salathé and community members on a group bicycle ride to celebrate National Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 8, 2013.

The group will gather at Top Pot Doughnuts beginning at 8 a.m. and depart for the 1-mile ride to school at 8:40.

Bryant Principal Kim Fox will welcome students and families in a Bike to School Day rally and press conference to be held on the school’s playground.

“Biking to school addresses two issues that the school district faces: students’ well-being as it relates to academic achievement and transportation costs,” said Superintendent Banda. “Studies show that students who get regular exercise are more attentive in class and reach higher achievement levels. More students biking to school means lower transportation costs, which translates into more funds for our classrooms. Ultimately, supporting bicycling will help us find happier, healthier, more focused students at their desks.”

The Seattle School District has partnered with Cascade Bicycle Club to offer its Basics of Bicycling curriculum in elementary schools for the past 15 years. The program teaches bike safety to 7,300 SPS students annually.

Last year at the Bike to Work Day rally at Seattle City Hall, school board president Kay Smith-Blum made a commitment to support biking to school.

“I’m pleased to report that we’re making progress,” said Kay Smith-Blum, school board president. “The district has partnered with Cascade Bicycle Club in grant-funded programs to encourage biking to school at four elementary schools this spring. And maybe most importantly, grassroots programs are sprouting across the District. Over 25 schools have active Safe Routes to School programs with parents and other partners promoting biking and walking to school.”

“That’s a start,” Smith-Blum said. “There’s much more we look forward to accomplishing in the near future through our pending Green Building Initiative, by taking walking and biking access into account when designing school grounds.”

“The Bryant Elementary School staff has been supportive of our bike to school efforts, but it also takes committed, active parents leading the charge,” said Clint Loper, parent of students at Bryant and Eckstein Middle School and a co-founder of Walk.Bike.Schools, which was formed last year to foster collaboration among walk and bike to school organizers throughout Seattle.

Full racks at Bryant Elementary on Bike to School Day 2012. Photo (c) carfreedays on Flickr. Click photo to view more photos from last year.

“The grassroots growth in bike to school programs over these past several years has been phenomenal,” Loper said. “It is beneficial for our kids in so many ways, and they are voting with their bikes and sneakers that kid-powered commuting is their favorite way to get to school. I encourage parents at schools throughout the city to work together so we can make every corner of Seattle safe and inviting for kids to bike to school.”

“Bike to School Day is a shared vision for our community – a vision where people of every age and ability feel safe and comfortable to bicycle in their neighborhoods,” said Julie Salathé, Cascade Bicycle Club Education Director.

“Next Wednesday’s event is an important signal from the district that they are committed to that vision, too,” Salathé continued. “We can already see great progress being made at individual schools and by groups like Walk.Bike.Schools. Now we are looking to our leaders to adopt policies and fund infrastructure that will make it safer and easier for kids to walk and bike to school.”

“I love seeing our bike racks full of kids’ bikes,” said Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw. “It means Seattle families are making the leap and working together to make biking to school not just a hope, but a reality for more kids. However, neighborhoods are still lacking in routes that are safe enough for everyone. We need to change that. I’m committed to establishing safer school zones and neighborhood streets that work for all our residents and give them safe choices in the way they travel to schools and other local destinations.”

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Media contact:

M.J. Kelly, Cascade Bicycle Club
(206) 853-2188 m.j.kelly@cascadebicycleclub.org

Teresa Wippel, Seattle Public Schools
(206) 252-0203

About Cascade Bicycle Club

Founded in 1970, Cascade Bicycle Club is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization based in Seattle, Washington, serving 15,000+ members and more than half a million cyclists in the Puget Sound community. Cascade is operated by a 13-member volunteer Board of Directors, 34 professional staff and thousands of volunteers. More information about Cascade Bicycle Club’s advocacy, commute, education and riding programs is available online at http://www.cascade.org/ or by calling (206) 522-3222.
Find us online: Twitter|| Facebook || Pinterest || YouTube

 

Posted in Bike Month, Education, Kids on bikes | 8 Comments »

Fatality in SODO today — take action for safer streets

Wednesday, May 1st, 2013 by

Our hearts go out to the family and friends of all who were involved in this morning’s fatal crash. Like everyone, we are awaiting information from Seattle Police Department’s Traffic Collision Investigation Squad.

Though we don’t know the complete circumstances that led to this morning’s fatal bike/truck collision on West Marginal Way at Hanford, we do know that our city and state leaders must focus more on making our roadways safer for everyone, whether they drive, haul freight, walk, take transit or pedal a bike. No one wants to be involved in a terrible collision. While Cascade Bicycle Club is working to educate people who bike and raise awareness of roadway safety and courtesy, we cannot do this alone.

Throughout Seattle, people agree that making our streets safer should be our top transportation priority. Unfortunately, our transportation dollars are being siphoned to build costly new highway projects at the expense of fixing the roads we already have, and making them safer for everyone.

In a 2011 report to the Duwamish Transportation Management Association (DTMA), Cascade identified the intersection of South Hanford and Alaska / East Marginal Way as a barrier and in need of improvement. It’s tragic that it may take a loss of life to have these safety improvements taken seriously. It doesn’t have to be this way.

It’s time we stopped talking about making our streets safer and started making the necessary investments to get it done. We can – and we must – work together to make our city safer for everyone to get around.

Tell the City Council to invest in making our streets safer for everyone>>

 

Posted in Uncategorized | 12 Comments »

Happy Earth Day!

Monday, April 22nd, 2013 by

Pass it on!

Posted in Photos | 3 Comments »

Joe Platzner named interim executive director

Tuesday, March 19th, 2013 by

Related post: Chuck Ayers announces resignation from Cascade Bicycle Club

Written by Daniel Weise, President of the Board of Directors

Boardmember Joe Platzner

On behalf of the board of directors, I am pleased to announce that Joe Platzner has been appointed to the interim executive director position of the Cascade Bicycle Club. Joe was elected to the board in October 2012, and took his position in January 2013. He brings extensive leadership experience as well as a lifelong passion for cycling to the club. We are confident in his abilities to be an effective interim executive director.

In April, Joe will start working alongside Chuck, assuming the full executive director role on Monday, April 15. Joe and the board have agreed on four main goals during the transition:

     - Execute our current commitments. Provide a seamless transition operationally.

     - Recruit the most capable, experienced and visionary ED for the club.

     - Ensure that the permanent leader inherits the best possible operation.

     - Have fun.

Welcome Joe Platzner to interim executive director role

I’m flattered to have this opportunity. I owe much to Cascade. Cascade pulled me back into cycling with STP, and their work helped create much of the infrastructure I use every day. There are so many exciting projects we can bring to fruition where Cascade has helped lay the groundwork. In my neighborhood, for example, Cascade can influence game-changing projects with regional significance such as the BNSF corridor and the missing link in the mountains to sound greenway.

I look forward to working with the staff, volunteers, and community partners to better understand the club’s operations and to help find the best leader we can. Cascade will have no problem attracting a fantastic group of candidates from which to choose. I suspect our most difficult task will be to choose from wonderful options.

This is an interim full-time position; I’m not applying for the permanent position. I will be on leave from the boards of both Cascade and Bicycle Alliance of Washington while I’m on as ED. I expect to leave most big decisions to the next ED, but I will be fully engaged in the operations of the club, and one can expect changes as are usual with any transition. I’m looking forward to engaging with all of the staff; I’d welcome as many conversations as possible to be on bikes on coffee shop runs.

 

Executive director search process

A search committee has been formed, comprised of deputy director Kathy McCabe, and board members George Durham, Mo McBroom, Joe Platzner, Charles Ruthford and Don Volta. Finding the best leader for Cascade is a significant responsibility. We will conduct a national search to attract the best talent possible. We expect to open the position for application within a few weeks. We will circulate it through all our communication channels, including the website, blog, Braking News, social media and Cascade Courier. Members who would like to recommend candidates for consideration should send information to CBCEDSearch@cascadebicycleclub.org.

Posted in Board of directors, Club news | 1 Comment »

Look Twice for Bikes

Tuesday, March 12th, 2013 by

This weekend at the Seattle Bike Expo, we unveiled a new roadway safety campaign, Look Twice for Bikes.

Why Look Twice for Bikes?

Some of the most common collisions between cars and bikes are preventable by looking out for each other. Let’s look out for each other and make our communities safer.

We created a reflective teal sticker for your car, your bike bags or wherever you’d like to send the message that you Look Twice for Bikes. It’s a similar format to the popular Give 3 Feet stickers. A bumper sticker on a car is an easy way to spread the word that you Look Twice for Bikes and to encourage other drivers to follow your lead.

We also created a small window cling for inside a car. The cling is a reminder to vehicle occupants to look twice before opening the door into traffic. Do you have young people in your household who are learning to drive? This may be a useful tool for reminding them to Look Twice for Bikes when they’re driving.

Look Twice for Bikes is easy to remember and put into practice.

What can drivers do?

Look Twice for Bikes when you are…

OPENING YOUR CAR DOOR:

Depending on how you are parked, your door may swing open into the pathway of traffic. If a person riding a bike is passing by, they could be harmed if the door hits them or causes them to swerve into traffic to avoid hitting your door.

Drivers:

  • * Did you know that it’s your legal responsibility to make sure the roadway is clear before opening your car door?
  • * Before opening your door, look twice behind you to ensure there are no bicyclists approaching.
  • * An easy way to remember this is to open the driver’s side door with your right hand. As you turn your body to reach for the door handle, you’re perfectly positioned to double-check your side mirror for approaching traffic.

Bicyclists:

  • * Avoid riding in the door zone by giving yourself a little more than an arms-length from parked vehicles.
  • * Scan ahead for taillights and people’s heads in parked cars indicating that the driver might be ready to pull out or exit the vehicle.
  • * Note your lane position. Where you position yourself within the lane depends on several factors: lane width, your speed relative to vehicle traffic and intersections.
  • * In most urban areas, the best place to ride in general traffic is three feet from the right edge of the lane. The right edge may be a curb, a soft shoulder, parked cars or moving vehicles. This position:
    • - is visible from both following and oncoming traffic.
    • - puts you farther from the “door zone” along parked cars.
    • - allows you to ride in a predictable, straight line.
    • - creates room for you to maneuver around rocks, potholes and storm drains.
    • - is legal in all states.

TURNING

The most common cause of a car-bike collision is when a driver is making a turning movement. There are many different factors grabbing people’s attention as they maneuver through an intersection. Make sure you look twice.

Drivers:

  • * When turning right, signal, check your mirror AND look over your shoulder to make sure no one on a bike is in your blind spot.
  • * When turning left, look carefully for oncoming bikes as well as cars. People on bikes can sometimes be less obvious if they obscured by large vehicles. Always signal before turning, and yield to oncoming bicycle traffic, which has the legal right of way.

Bicyclists:

  • * Most crashes between motorists and bicyclists occur during turns. Look twice at intersections.
  • * Occupy the center of the lane at intersections.
  • * Look for a car’s turn signal. If the car in front of you is making a right turn, yield or pass on the left if it is safe.
  • * If an oncoming vehicle is making a left, make eye contact with the driver.
  • * You can also increase your visibility by using lights and bright clothing.
  • * Signal your intent to turn.

APPROACHING A CROSSWALK

Children often ride bicycles on sidewalks to get around, until they have the skills and knowledge to ride on their neighborhood streets.

The legality of riding a bicycle on the sidewalk varies from city to city. In Seattle, riding on a sidewalk is permitted. Even where allowed, it is not necessarily safe. In fact, riding on the sidewalk is a significant cause of car/bike crashes. If you must ride on the sidewalk, ride at a walking pace, yield to pedestrians, and either stop or yield at driveways and intersections.

When bicyclists enter crosswalks at a fast pace, they are at risk of being hit by a driver who isn’t looking for them.

Drivers:

  • * When driving through a crosswalk, especially at trail crossings, look twice and yield the right of way to bicyclists and pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Bicyclists:

  • * Slow down when entering the crosswalk.
  • * Don’t assume a driver has seen you. Even if a driver is looking for you, it can be challenging for them to see you until you are nearly in the crossing.
  • * Look left, right, left just like a pedestrian would.

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE

Drivers:

  • * Order a window decal to remind yourself to Look Twice for Bikes.
  • * Put a sticker on your car to remind others to Look Twice for Bikes.

To get a decal or bumper sticker, visit one of our Energizer Stations or outreach tables at Cascade events. To have one mailed to you, give us a call at (206)522-3222 or email cmpa@cascadebicycleclub.org.

Bicyclists:

  • * Brush up on your urban riding skills in one of our many classes. Whether you’re new to bicycling or have been riding for years, a class will help you ride on the road with skill and confidence.

 

Posted in Education | 7 Comments »

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