Since Kirkland Greenways kicked off the greenways movement on the Eastside with its first meeting in February, they’ve been busy with public meetings, presentations to neighborhood associations and the Kirkland transportation commission and organizing rides.
Turns out that there are many people around Kirkland who really care about making neighborhood streets safer for all users.
Ready to learn more about greenways in Kirkland? Want be part of the greenways movement? Attend one of the upcoming events in and around Kirkland:
Kirkland resident Glen Bluhmann has a vision. He envisions being able to go from his Eastside home to his kids’ school, his favorite coffee shop, the library, that new restaurant he heard about from friends and everywhere else in the Eastside neighborhoods on a complete network of quiet residential streets.
He dreams of safe streets where kids are riding their bikes and playing, families are walking their dogs, and neighbors stop for a quick chat while people in cars ride by slowly, cautious and cognizant of sharing the road with all of these other people.
He envisions this network connected to current and future shared use trails, enabling us all to ride our bikes comfortably and safely to destinations even farther away without ever having to ride in traffic and on a high speed arterial.
Glen is dreaming of neighborhood greenways.
In Seattle there are 20 neighborhood greenway groups who have been working hard over the past 18 months to design and start making their greenway dreams a reality. Now it’s time for the Eastside to start working on theirs.
Come help Glen, a graduate of Cascade’s Advocacy Leadership Institute, and his fellow visionaries kick off the greenway movement on the Eastside!
On Wednesday, Feb. 20, come learn about greenways and share your dream. Where would you like to be able to walk or bike to?
Attendees will be encouraged to mark up maps of Kirkland and the rest of the Eastside to indicate your favorite neighborhood destinations, existing safe walking and biking routes and dangerous conflict areas.
The City of Seattle is taken its first steps toward creating healthier, safer and connected neighborhoods, now it’s time for the Eastside cities to do the same. Help Kirkland Greenways work with the City of Kirkland and the other Eastside cities to turn these visions into reality.
Details:
What: Kirkland Greenways Kickoff Meeting When: Wednesday, Feb 20. 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Where: Houghton Fire Station #22, 6602 108th Ave. NE, Kirkland
There are many recreational rides throughout Washington State but few carry a message as strong as the Cycle the WAVE ride on Sept.16. Now in its fifth year, Cycle the WAVE (Women Against Domestic Violence Everywhere) is a non-competitive, women-only cycling experience intended to unite women and their communities to increase awareness of domestic violence and raise critical funds for domestic violence programs.
While the domestic violence statistics are grim–one in four women are affected by domestic violence–the event is meant to inspire fitness and camaraderie while increasing awareness and instilling hope.
“In addition to raising money, it was very important to us to raise awareness and to give hope to women in those situations and let them know that there are resources. There is help,” said Sharon Anderson, Cascade member and founder and ride coordinator of Cycle the Wave.
Additionally, the ride itself is a fun, safe, girl power-inspiring event.
“When we started we had no idea it would be such a great draw for women. There’s a large demand for women-only rides,” said Anderson. The ride celebrates women by pampering its riders with well-stocked rest stops, gift bags, flowers, spa treatments at the finish line and “other fun, girly stuff,” said Anderson.
Cycle the WAVE is the brainchild of Anderson and her fellow organizers from the Lakemont Ladies Cycling Club, a women’s recreational club, and Rising Star Guild, a group of Eastside moms who wanted to remain engaged in their community in a purposeful way as their school-age children grew up by raising funds for the Eastside Domestic Violence Program (now LifeWire). Both troubled by the tragic impact of domestic violence, the groups came together to host the 2008 Cycle the Wave event.
“It was a perfect way to combine my passion for cycling and to continue my community service,” said Anderson.
The inaugural event drew 233 riders and raised $20,000 for Eastside Domestic Violence Program. The following year it grew to 604 riders and more than $66,000 was raised. By 2011, the word had spread and 1,115 female riders came out to support the event, raising $130,000.
“This year we are hoping for 1300 riders, weather dependent,” said Anderson.
Anderson said that many survivors join the ride, and some even share their stories.
“It’s really empowering for them to get on a bike and complete an all-women’s ride like this,” she said.
To entice women of all fitness levels, Cycle the WAVE offers four different rides. There’s a 12-mile “Little Sister” route for new or younger cyclists, a 25-mile “Girly Girl” ride through the rolling hills of Bellevue’s quiet neighborhoods, a 42-mile “Middle Sister” route, and a 62-mile “Burly Girl” route which offers hills and challenges for stronger riders.
All routes start and end in Issaquah and weave through Bellevue, Maple Valley, Renton and Newcastle–which are communities all served by LifeWire.
And while men can’t ride in Cycle the Wave, they are an important part of making the event a success.
“We love our men. They are an incredible piece of helping the riders by fixing flats, encouraging riders, and volunteering.”
Registration for riders and volunteers is still open, so visit www.cyclethewave.org to register and learn more about Cycle the WAVE.
On Tuesday, Aug. 14, the Port of Seattle Commission voted to approve the sale of portions of the 42-mile Eastside Rail Corridor to King County, ending a multi-year process and placing the corridor in public ownership to benefit many generations to come.
Commissioners also agreed to grant King County a permanent easement over a portion of the corridor that still has freight service. The easement will allow King County to develop a recreational trail connecting Kirkland, Redmond and Renton.
The transaction now goes to the King County Council for final approval.
The Port of Seattle acquired the corridor in 2009 and agreed to lease the southern portion of the corridor to King County for both use as a trail and possibly an Eastside transportation corridor.
Over the years, King County, Sound Transit, Puget Sound Energy, and the cities of Kirkland and Redmond all joined the effort to preserve the corridor and keep the parcel out of the reach of private developers.
King County is considering the corridor for development as a dual-us corridor—with the potential to meet future public transportation needs while still providing connections to South, East and North King County through a series of biking, walking and hiking trails.
Join us for two exciting nights of racing at the Velodrome track this weekend for the 2012 Marymoor Grand Prix track championships.
The event promises some of the fastest, most exciting and spectator-friendly bicycle racing in North America. Think about it: one gear, no brakes, riders inches apart on a banked oval at speeds up to 40 miles per hour! This is bike racing in its purest and most exciting form and simply a “must do” this summer. As an added bonus, Cascade Bicycle Club members get free admission both nights–just show your card at the entry gate.
Also, bring the kids for the Kiddie Kilo races on both evenings. The Kiddie Kilo is for children ages 2 through 12 on all types of bikes. While officially a fun-lap, many kids go for it as they circle the velodrome in age/size graded groupings. Entry is free – but a parent is needed to sign a waiver. Bring whatever bike you have, your helmet, and get ready to ride! Participatory prizes for all!
So round up the family, plan a picnic dinner, and expect a wild time at King County’s Marymoor Velodrome on Friday, July 20, and Saturday, July 21.
Cascade Bicycle Club is a non-profit organization creating more livable communities by promoting health & recreation through bicycle activities, advocacy, & education.
The event promises some of the fastest, most exciting and spectator-friendly bicycle racing in North America. Think about it: one gear, no brakes, riders inches apart on a banked oval at speeds up to 40 miles per hour! This is bike racing in its purest and most exciting form and simply a “must do” this summer. As an added bonus, Cascade Bicycle Club members get free admission both nights–just show your card at the entry gate.
