Bike Happy: When bikes ruled Seattle
EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks again to Brock Howell of Bike Happy for putting together this comprehensive weekly newsletter.
TOP THINGS TO KNOW & DO- Watch excellent videos about bicycling history.
- Seattle Bike Blog called for Mayor Durkan to implement protected bike lanes on Rainier Avenue S and to reset the Move Seattle Levy/Plan with priority to walking and biking.
- JBLM has bikeshare.
There are three great videos for you to watch this week. First, Knute Berger provides a brief history of Seattle bicycling in the 1890s. Then Hennessy (yeah, that Hennessy) produced a series of short inspirational videos of Major Taylor, including one about the "Six Day Race" at Madison Square Garden.
- Thursday, Apr. 19
- Saturday, Apr. 21
- 9-1:30pm, Earth Day Ride in University Place
- 9:45-Noon, Good Weather's Saturday Morning Cruise
- Monday, Apr. 23
- 6-8:30pm, Hello Bicycle Casual Social Ride
- Wednesday, Apr. 25
- Thursday, Apr. 26
- iDatalabs CEO talks about how he achieves a work-life balance, in part by biking. GeekWire.
- A summer romance that started with a bike theft and a trip to a bike shop rekindles 40 years later. Times Colonist.
- PSE says your old refrigerator could become a bike, if you recycle it. KING5.
- Former Seattleite Maddie Carlson writes about her first Ladd's 500 in Portland. BikePortland.
- Be prepared for the spring-time sunshowers. Biking in the Rain.
- Are wide or narrow handlebars right for you? Jan Heine's Blog
- Thursday, Apr. 19
- Sunday, Apr. 22
- Tuesday, Apr. 24
- 7-9am, Cascade's Bike Everywhere Breakfast
- 5:30-7:30pm, Move Seattle Oversight Committee meeting
- 6:30-8pm, Queen Anne Greenways meeting
- Wednesday, Apr. 25
- Thursday, Apr. 26
- 6-7:45pm, Beacon Hill Safe Streets meeting
- eBikes
- "Pilot program would allow e-bikes on 5 popular trails in Seattle," KOMO.
- The new state e-bike law goes into effect this summer, which allows e-bikes powered up to 20mph to ride on trails, bike lanes, and sidewalks where local law also allows. Curbed.
- "E-bikers, these sidewalks are made for walking," Doug McDonald, Crosscut.
- Seattle
- "Mayor Durkan is right, we do need a 'reset' on Move Seattle - to prioritizing biking," SBB.
- "Finding a Balance Between Green Transportation and Safety," Rachel Hart, Seattle Mag.
- "Ideal of congestion pricing faces real-life roadblocks in Seattle," Jon Talton, Seattle Times.
- "Creating Bike Lanes Isn't Easy. Just Ask Baltimore. Or Boulder. Or Seattle." WSJ.
- North Seattle
- South Seattle
- "Rainier RapidRide remake concepts fall short + Mayor Durkan should push SDOT for a more visionary plan," SBB.
- Central Seattle
- "With plan to start construction later in 2018, WSDOT ready to talk 'Rest of the West' plans including new Montlake lid," CHS Blog.
- SDOT will start the second phase (Jackson St to Rainier Ave) of the 23rd Avenue Paving & Rechannelization Project this year, but SDOT has removed the bus-only lanes through Montlake for phase 3 (John St to the Montlake Cut). CHS Blog.
- Eastside
- Kirkland will construct an impressive set of biking and walking improvements this and next year, including for Lake Washington Blvd and Market Street, neighborhood greenways in the Rose Hill neighborhoods, a trail connection from the Cross Kirkland Trail to the Redmond Central Connector Trail, and walking routes to A.G. Bell and Juanita Elementary Schools. Kirkland Views.
- "Cycling Seattle's new 520 Trail, which opens vistas, links communities," Bill Thorness, Seattle Times.
- Neighbors in Motion tackling Mercer Way shoulder paving and biking safety, MI Reporter.
- North King & Snohomish Counties
- Bothell keeps massive urban park as housing boom continues," Q13.
- Pierce County
- Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) and Pierce Transit have a bikeshare program called "GO Bike"! Nisqually Valley News.
- State
- Washington may rename the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. Seattle Times, Seattle PI.
- Research
- Hi-Viz: "A recent study from researchers at the University of Bologna adds to a growing body of evidence regarding their effects of laws that require bicyclists to wear high-visibility clothing." Planetizen.
- Thursday, Apr. 19
- 5-7pm, Seward Park Crit Series (Seattle)
- Saturday, Apr. 21
- 7-7:30am, Liige-Bastogne-Liige Live Viewing at Rapha
- 7am-4:30pm, Cascadia Dirt Cup: Chuckanut Enduro (Bellingham)
- 9am-1pm, NWCCC Championship Road Race (Palouse, WA)
- 11am-2pm, Little 500 Watch Party at Peddler Brewing
- Sunday, Apr. 22
- Monday, Apr. 23
- 6pm, Monday Night Gravel Kermesse Worlds (Renton)
- Tuesday, Apr. 24
- Wednesday, Apr. 25
- 5:30-8pm, NW MTB: Wednesday Night Worlds (SeaTac)
- Thursday, Apr. 26
- 5-7pm, Seward Park Crit Series (Seattle)
- 5:30-8:30pm, NW Epic Series Registration Party (Tukwila)
- 6:15-7:15pm, Panel Discussion: Inside Triathlons (Kent)
- Seattle Critical Mass, Apr. 27
- Washington Bike Summit, Apr. 29-30
- Bicycle Sundays: Twelve Sundays, May 20 - Sept. 16
- Obliteride, Aug. 11
Bike Maintenance & Retail
Mechanics & Retail Staff, Gregg's Cycles
Bike Product Industry
Sales and Marketing Specialist, Sportworks
Director of Sales and Marketing, Sportworks
Product Design and Development Engineer, Sportworks
Bike Education & Training
Major Taylor Ride Leader/Instructor, Cascade
Summer Camp Head Counselor, Cascade
Summer Camp Counselor, Cascade
Counselor-in-Training (Seasonal), Cascade
Walk N Roll Teacher Assistant, Intercity Transit
Bicycle Specialist - Recreation Leader II, City of Auburn
Specialized Recreation Cycling Assistant - Recreation Leader I, City of Auburn
Commute Services & Other Outreach
Sounders FC Bike Valet Parking Manager & Assistants, Bike Works
Outreach Ambassador - South Bellevue #1, Alta
Outreach Ambassador - South Bellevue #2, Alta
Outreach Ambassador - Kent, Alta
Policy, Planning, & Engineering
East King County Policy Manager, Cascade
Designer - Level 1, Alta
Group Leaders - Senior Associates, Alta
Public Space Management Inspector, SDOT
Traffic Records & Data Supervisor, SDOT
Supervising Project Manager, SDOT
Transportation Planning Intern, Bellevue (5/11)
Multimodal Transportation Planning Specialist 3, WSDOT (4/29)
Communications, Development, & Management
Development & Communications Coordinator, Bike Works
Program Coordinator, Bike Works
Staff Accountant, Cascade
In the past week, six bikes were reported as stolen to SPD, not counting stolen bikes part of burglaries and assaults. Help fight back by (1) registering your bike on Bike Index, and (2) always locking up your bike with a U lock, even inside a bike room. Bicycle Security Advisors provides additional information on how to keep your bike safe.
TIPAt night, don't use a flashing or strobing white light as a headlight - it's illegal and makes it very difficult to see for fellow on-coming riders (especially on a trail), as well as drivers. It could even cause seizures. During day-time hours when the sky might be overcast but there's more ambient light, a flashing light is less of an issue but still illegal under state law. Kitsap Sun.
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