The

Advocate
The Bicycle Alliance Advocates for Bicyclists and a Bicycle-Friendly Washington
JUNE 2010

L e g i s l at i v e S e s s i o n W r a p U p
The 2010 legislative session was a
whirlwind of activity and the Bicycle
Alliance of Washington walked away
with a victory! The Alliance and its
members (you!) were instrumental in
passing the cell phone and texting bill,
which goes into effect June 10. (See
sidebar for more info on this law.)
“The Bicycle Alliance mobilized
citizen support, provided connections
to other powerful advocates,
and contributed insights that
kept the campaign on a win-
ning course,” stated Lowell
Weiss, the activist who
spearheaded the Driven to
Distraction campaign. “The
cycling community really
put this bill over the top and
no group was more effective
in mobilizing cyclists as the
Bicycle Alliance,” he added.
We also weighed in on a bill that will
allow golf carts to travel on designated
streets with speed limits of up to 25
miles per hour. The Bicycle Alliance got
the language amended to prohibit golf
carts from using signed bike lanes.
Our Legislative & Statewide Issues
Committee is meeting in Seattle on June
12 to review unfinished priorities
Continued on page 7
Hang Up
or Pay Up!
Effective June 10, 2010, motorists in
Washington State can be fined $124
for texting or using a handheld cell
phone while driving. No cell phone
use is allowed for 16- and 17-year-
old drivers.
The Driven to Distraction Task Force,
of which the Bicycle Alliance is a
member, is working on an education
campaign to get the message out.
The Task Force is reviewing similar
campaigns and research around the
country to learn about attitudes,
behavior, and practices that make
positive change. For instance,
several companies have developed
software that locks a phone if you
are traveling 10 miles per hour or
more. Check www.nodistractions.
org for more info.

H u b & S p o k e T o u r : N e x t S t o p Va n c o uv e r

The Bicycle Alliance of Washington, BikeMe! Vancouver and the Vancouver Hub & Spoke
Bicycle Club are hosting a Hub & Spoke gathering for Vancouver/Clark County Vancouver
cyclists on Thursday, June 24th at Niche Wine & Art.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
This outreach event coincides with a Transportation Improvement Board (TIB)
meeting and Ralph Wessels, Bicycle Alliance board member and the TIB non-mo-
5:30 p.m.
torized board member, will be on hand to answer questions about TIB funding for
bicycle and pedestrian projects. There will also be brief presentations from local Niche Wine & Art
officials and advocates about current cycling projects and issues. 1013 Main Street, Vancouver
“I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Vancouver since 2001 when then
Mayor Royce Pollard won the Bicycle Alliance’s Golden Gear Award for cycling Complimentary appetizers
advocacy,” said ED Barbara Culp. “He instilled a love of riding in the city for and no-host bar
families and children and since that time the city and county have made signifi-
cant improvements to the roadway system. I am particularly eager to hear from RSVP to Louise at
local advocates, to learn about the Clark County bicycle/pedestrian plan update, 206.224.9252 x303 or
and hear what new great strides the City of Vancouver is planning.”
louisemc@bicyclealliance.org
 The Advocate ( 2 ) June  2010

NEWS from around the state

Tri-Cities Launches Bike
Coalition
By Jeff Petersen, President of 3RBC & Bike Alliance Board member
include initiating and expanding the Share the Roads
The Tri-Cities region enjoys a confluence of waterways program and raising awareness. The leadership is diverse
that include the Columbia, Yakima, and Snake Rivers—and with representatives from transit, health, law enforcement,
average 300 days of sunshine per year. These conditions transportation, and the cycling community. We are excited
inspired local bicyclists to form the 3 Rivers Bicycle Coalition about the future of safe bicycling in and around the Tri-
(3RBC) in early 2010. Cities and developing a strong relationship with the Bicycle
Alliance of Washington.
The mission of the 3RBC is to provide a bicycle advocacy
and resource organization that promotes improved quality More info on the coalition can be found at www.3RBConline.
of life in and around the Tri-Cities area of Washington org and on their Facebook page.
State. The 3RBC has already received funding from the
Columbia Center Rotary Club for the first 3-4 “Share the
Road” bicycle routes in Richland. The Richland City Council
approved receipt of this donation to the City on May
4, 2010 and expressed appreciation for the activities of
the Coalition and was enthusiastic about extending the
routes to additional “shared” roads. The first routes were
completed at the end of May. Early bird special ends July 27
The coalition’s objective is to help local communities $10 discount to Bike Alliance members
become bicycle friendly consistent with the League of
American Bicyclists (LAB) criteria. Their 2010 priorities Rapsodybikeride.com

Bike Advocacy Flourishes in Spokane

Originally published on the Bicycle Alliance blog

The Bicycle Alliance has worked with Spokane citizens for The advocacy seeds we have sown in Spokane have taken
a number of years to help bring biking to the forefront. root and are flourishing. The cycling climate has improved
We helped local cyclists hone their advocacy skills, assisted and the City recently received national recognition from the
with the development of a regional trails plan, organized League of American Bicyclists with a bronze level Bicycle
community support for the completion of the Fish Lake Friendly Community designation!
Trail, and advocated for the adoption of a bicycle master
plan. Jon Snyder, city councilmember and bike commuter said,
“We've come a long way in
the past few years thanks to a
popular groundswell for urban
cycling, but there's much more
to do. I think Spokane is one of
the nation's best cities for close,
accessible, diverse recreational
cycling. When you combine that
with a great push for bicycle
transportation you end up with
an outstanding place to live.“

Fish Lake Trail ribbon-cutting

 June  2010
Use Caution on the
Hood Canal Bridge
By Barbara Culp
In July 2009, Secretary
of Transportation Paula
Hammond cut the ribbon
to celebrate the newly
rebuilt Hood Canal
Bridge. Cyclists from all
over Kitsap, Jefferson and
Clallam counties joined the
celebration but their joy
soon turned to dismay as
they rode across the bridge
and encountered many
safety hazards.
A list of critical “fixes” was
developed by the Olympic
Region Cyclists’ Association
(ORCA) and it was
presented in person and
via letters to the Olympic
Region WSDOT. This spring
Gordon Black of ORCA and
I traveled to Olympia to
present the needed repairs
at the state headquarters
of the WSDOT.
At that meeting the
following corrections were
agreed upon as soon as
possible to close out the
original bridge construction
project:
1 Fix the longitudinal gap
in the grated decking.
(2 cyclists have crashed
in those.) Foam has
been installed but is also
coming up in places.
2 Apply a non-skid coating
on exposed steel joints.
Reported to have been
corrected.
( 3 ) The Bicycle Alliance of Washington
Alliance Announces
New Board President
Citing a growing
need to tend to
difficult family
health issues out-
of-state, Kristin
Kinnamon stepped
down as President of
the Bicycle Alliance
Board in May. Ted
3 Fix the edges of all hinge Inkley has assumed
plates; fix the rivet heads the role of President.
that extend above; reduce He has over 12 years
the vertical ridges at all of service on the
joints; fix deck drains; Board, including
improve signage and a prior stint as
striping; and align hinge President. Kristin Kinnamon oversaw
plates with direction significant transitions during her
of travel. Reported as During her 18-month
tenure as Board President.
corrected. tenure as President,
Kristin oversaw a transition of the Bikestation to Bike Port,
Unfortunately the bridge moved staff office space adjacent to the Bike Port facility,
Secretary Hammond and welcomed the return of Barbara Culp as Executive
opened has the same 3’ Director. Kristin will remain on the Board and continue to
wide steel plates installed serve on the Executive Committee as 2nd Vice President.
across the bridge deck
as the “old” Hood Canal The Board and staff thank Kristin for her dedication and
Bridge. Those must be leadership, and welcome Ted to his new role as President.
replaced to make the
bridge safe for cyclists.
That larger “fix” requires
additional transportation
enhancement money to
initiate a new project to
replace the existing steel
plates across the bridge
grating with 8’ wide
decking. Since that meeting,
I have been assured by
WSDOT that the money will
be available in July.
However, that means the
design phase starts in late
summer and will probably
miss this year’s construction
season. That means we
won’t be celebrating this
safety fix until Memorial
Day 2011. Stay tuned to
the Bicycle Alliance website
and blog for updates.
Ted Inkley, new Board President, spent time
cycling in Denmark.
 2009 Annual Report
Legislative Efforts Safe Routes to School
Each year, hundreds of bills are submitted to the Washington Nearly 800 students in the Moses Lake, Bainbridge Island
State legislature for review and approval but only a few and Oak Harbor school districts have learned to bike, walk
reach the Governor’s desk for signature to become law. and use transit safely thanks to the Road Safety Education
The Bicycle Alliance is proud to report that two bills that Pilot Program managed by the Bicycle Alliance. The project
we drafted on behalf of cyclists reached the Governor for was funded by the State legislature through the Office of
signature. Superintendent of Public Instruction. We will work with the
State and other possible funders to expand this curriculum
Our traffic signal bill requires that all new traffic signals to other school districts.
and substantially upgraded ones must
be capable of detecting bicycles and
motorcycles. Jurisdictions must also set
up a procedure for recording signal
complaints and prioritize those most in
need of detection improvements.

Our Safe Routes to School bill strengthens

the existing program by codifying it.
This underscores the importance of
non-motorized transportation and the
value of daily physical activity for young
people, and sets the stage for seeking
long term funding in the future.

The Bicycle Alliance relies on our

members to be activists and we host
a Transportation Advocacy Day in
Olympia during the legislative session.
We partnered with many other groups
to make this event a success and over 100
Policy Director Dave Janis partnered with Feet First staff to
citizen advocates participated in the 2009 event. Scores of
give a presentation at the National Safe Routes to School
others made their voices heard by writing or calling their
Conference in Portland, OR. We also joined with Feet First
legislators in response to our action alerts.
to provide Safe Routes training for the City of Bonney Lake
and Sumner School District.
Policy Making
The Bicycle Alliance worked to build bridges between the Share the Road
cycling community and state agencies. Our staff met with
The Bicycle Alliance used proceeds
Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond and her staff
from the Share the Road license plate
to discuss issues raised by cyclists concerning the Hood Canal
to print and distribute educational
Bridge modifications, which has created safety issues for
materials, teach bike safety curriculum
bicyclists. We are seeking ways to improve safety within
to driver education instructors at the
the DOT’s budget constraints. We also began work with
Washington Traffic Safety Education
WSDOT on developing a better line of communication to
Association conference, and work with
the cycling community regarding planned installation of
the Department of Licensing to survey
rumble strips.
driver education schools about the
The Bike Alliance represents cyclists on the statewide implementation of bicycle and pedestrian
Transportation Improvement Board, Washington Coalition awareness curriculum. We produced and
to Promote Physical Activity, National Alliance for Biking printed a combined Share the Road Tips
and Walking, Safe Routes to School National Partnership sheet for motorists and bicyclists, and we
Steering Committee and the Puget Sound Regional produced and printed a Share the Trail
Council’s Transportation Policy Board. rack card.
 2009 Annual Report
Outreach
The Bicycle Alliance staff and board members traveled
around the state to meet with bike clubs, community
groups, bike boards, our members and the public to discuss
cycling issues and strategies for successful advocacy. In
2009 we talked to over 750 people in Edmonds, Spokane,
Olympia, Wenatchee, Seattle, Bellingham, Tacoma,
Lynnwood, Redmond, Seatac and Vancouver.

Bike Club/Rides Partners

Bicycle Transportation
The Bike Alliance conducted 15 commute workshops in
2009: 11 in King County and 4 in Spokane County. Staff
also fielded numerous e-mail inquiries, phone calls and
walk-in requests for commute information, route planning
and bike maps.
We also manage the Bike Port (formerly Bikestation), the
24/7 bike parking facility in Seattle’s Pioneer Square. In
2009, we tallied 1751 uses by Bike Port plan holders and 109
short term bike parking uses. Bike Port manager Every Day
gave a presentation on bike parking facilities at the Pacific
Intermountain Parking & Transportation Association’s
conference.
Volunteers
Over 232 individuals gave
their time to the Bicycle
Alliance in 2009. These
volunteers donated over
4900 hours doing things
ranging from data entry
and month end mailings,
to tabling at community
events, doing commute
workshops, organizing
our annual auction,
testifying at public
meetings, attending
Transportation Advocacy
Day and serving on the
Board.
Thanks to the following bike clubs and groups
who supported our advocacy efforts with financial
contributions from event rides and related grants
in 2009: BIKES of Snohomish County, Capital
Bicycling Club, Courage Classic, Cycle the WAVE,
Port Townsend Bicycle Association, Phil’s South
Side Cyclery, Skagit Bicycle Club, Spokane Bicycle
Club, Spokane’s Aurora NW Rotary Club, Tacoma
Wheelmen’s Bicycle Club, Tri-City Bicycle Club,
Vancouver Bicycle Club, Wheatland Wheelers
Cycling Club, West Sound Cycling Club.
Special thanks to the 5 bike clubs that organize
the annual Ride Around Puget Sound (RAPSody),
proceeds of which benefit the Bicycle Alliance: BIKES
of Snohomish County, Capital Bicycling Club, Cyclists
of Greater Seattle (COGS), Tacoma Wheelmen
Bicycle Club, and West Sound Cycling Club. Visit
rapsodybikeride.com.
2009 Major Donor ($250 and above)
Thank you to: Stephen Albrecht & Katherine Berndt, Fraser
& Deirdre Black, Amy Carlson, Anthony Chen, King Cushman,
Chelle Davidson, Brian & Yumiko Dorsey, John Duggan,
Kathryn Gardow & David Bradlee, Gabe Grijalva, Adam
Hasson, Nancy Helm, Pamela Jones, Kristin Kinnamon, Matt
Leber, Nancy MacKerrow, Bobby Mullins, Bob Myrick, Jadine
Riley, Jadine Rolcik, Willie Weir, Dena Wessels, Terry Winger,
BIKES of Snohomish County, Boeing, Capital Bicycling Club,
Elliott Family Foundation, Group Health, JP Morgan Chase,
Kongsgaard-Goldman Foundation, Lee & Hayes, Microsoft,
New Belgium Brewing Company, Phil’s South Side Cyclery,
Phoebe Haas Trust, Port Townsend Bicycle Association, REI
Foundation, Skagit Bicycle Club, Tacoma Wheelmen Bicycle
Club, Tri-City Bicycle Club, Unico Properties, Vancouver Bicycle
Club, Vulcan.
The Bicycle Alliance of Washington is a member
of EarthShare Washington and participated in work-
place giving campaigns. We had 265 businesses and
individuals who donated nearly 500 items to our
annual auction.
 2009 Annual Report

Income
Contributions $182,281
Membership $64,504
Grants $18,500
Events $131,614
Programs & Contracts $165,018
Other $18,866
TOTAL $580,783

Expense
Operational Support $36,470
Programs $433,910
Events $29,958
Development & Fundraising $54,915
TOTAL $555,253

2009 Board Members Staff

Dave Janis
Kristin Kinnamon Bob Duffy Liz McNett Crowl Acting ED/Policy
President, Marysville Lacey Mount Vernon Director
King Cushman Sarah Gelineau Bobby Mullins Every Day
1st Vice President, Tonasket Seattle Commute Programs
Seattle Julie Gregg Jill Priest Director
Thom Skaanland Seattle Olympia Donna Govro
2nd Vice President, Ted Inkley Erin Weber Office Coordinator &
Enumclaw Seattle Prosser Membership Assistant
Eileen Hyatt Karen Kuever John Whitlow Louise McGrody
Secretary, Spokane Seattle Bainbridge Island Outreach &
Mark Thomas Communications
Amy Lutz Manager
Treasurer, Redmond Spokane
Ralph Wessels JoAnn Yoshimoto
Dave Manelski Development Director
Past President, Gig Seattle
Harbor
Joan McBride
Mary Anderson Kirkland
Bellingham
David McLean
Rick Browning Seattle
Seattle
 June  2010 ( 7 ) The Bicycle Alliance of Washington

Tour de Fat
Tour de Fat will again be
meandering and pandering, Saturday, July 31
spreading the good word
about the bicycle! New Belgium
10am – 4pm
Brewing’s traveling bike festival
features live entertainment,
GasWorks Park,
a costumed bike parade for Seattle
kids and adults, a car-for-bike
trade, beer garden and food
vendors. Proceeds from Tour de Continued from front page
Fat benefit the Bicycle Alliance
and discuss possible new priorities
of Washington and Bike Works.
to take on for 2011. This Committee
We need volunteers to help meeting is open to anyone. Please RSVP
us staff this event! We need to Dave Janis, 206.224.9252 x302 or
folks to help with set up and davej@bicyclealliance.org if you’d like
clean up, check IDs, sell beer to participate. Check our Legislative
tokens, pour beer, serve water, Page under Programs at www.bicy-
and staff the Bike Alliance info clealliance.org for meeting details and
table. All volunteers receive more information about our priorities.
a Tour de Fat t-shirt and free
beer token. Contact Louise Many thanks to the volunteers
McGrody at 206.224.9252 x303 around the State who serve on our
or louisemc@bicyclealliance.org Legislative Committee, and a special
if you’d like to help out! thank you to our capable lobbyist,
Michael Temple.

Share the Road license plates available at any vehicle licensing office or get a mail-in application at BicycleAlliance.org
WASHINGTO
N
YES!
BK

I would like to become a member of

the Bicycle Alliance of Washington

 $35 Individual Name

Send checks payable to:
 $60 Family
Address Bicycle Alliance of Washington
 $100 Patron
309A Third Ave S
 $250 Sustaining City, State, Zip
Seattle, WA 98104
 $500 Life
Phone
 $15 Student/Senior or Living Lightly Thank you! The Bicycle
 Your preferred amount $ E-mail Alliance of Washington is
a 501(c)(3) organization.
 $150 Affiliate (clubs, businesses, organizations) Please charge my: Your donation is 100% tax-
 I am already a member – this is a renewal.  American Express  Visa  MasterCard deductible.
 I am interested in monthly giving. Card # Expires The Bicycle Alliance occasionally
 I would like to volunteer. exchanges its mailing list with
Signature
 I would like to receive e-mail alerts. organizations involved in similar
 I would like information on commuting by bicycle.  My check is enclosed issues. If you DO NOT want to
 My gift will be matched by my employer: have your name exchanged,
please check here. 
Employer form included.
Thank you! The Bicycle Alliance of Washington is a 501(c)(3) organization. Your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
 The Advocate ( 8 ) June  2010

Show Your BIKE Pride!

The Alliance will participate in the Seattle Pride Parade
again this year, and we want bicyclists to help us put
Save the Date!
on a real show! On Sunday, June 27th, come cycle to
18th Annual Auction
disco music, and decorate your ride for a great time and
Sowing Seeds Statewide
wonderful community spirit. Contact Every Day, 206-224- Help us sow the seeds of bicycle
9252 x 304 for more details and to sign up. advocacy statewide by joining us
at our annual fundraiser! Check
www.bicyclealliance.org/auction
for updated information. Accepting
donations now!

Saturday, October 23, 2010 at 5:30PM

Pride riders from 2009 Seattle Center Fisher Pavilion

Non-Profit Org
US Postage
PAID
Seattle, WA
Permit No. 4826

Address Service Requested

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Read our blog: http://bicyclealliance.blogspot.com
Sign up for our E-Newsletter: louisemc@bicyclealliance.org