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| Vol. 1, No. 2 October 2010 |
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In this issue:
Tools: new Seattle Walking Maps, "Walking in Seattle" blog
Options: Seattle staircases, more buses on SR 520, bike boxes and more
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 New Name and Look for Newsletter
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Last month, you may have noticed that the Way to Go newsletter has a new look and a new name, The Walk Bike Rider. This monthly resource is now more easily identified as part of the City's broader efforts to make walking, biking and riding the easiest ways to get around Seattle.
Who is a Walk Bike Rider? You are, and so is anyone else who walks, bikes or rides transit to get around Seattle. | |
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Focus of the Month: Walking | |
Walking: good for you and your community
Current research -- and common sense -- tells us that walking is good for your health. It helps control weight, keep your heart healthy, prevent diabetes, control high blood pressure and reduce the risk of certain cancers. Research shows that walking can also help prevent depression, reduce stress and improve sleep. For older people, walking helps keep the mind sharp, improves balance and reduces the risk of falling. Finally, walking is vital to our communities, providing natural opportunities to interact with friends and neighbors.
Help keep our sidewalks walkable
 Nearly everyone, regardless of age or ability, is a potential sidewalk user. Did you know that Seattle property owners have the responsibility to keep the "Walkable Zone" on the sidewalk near their property clear? Think of the Walkable Zone as a box six feet wide by eight feet tall that extends all the way down the sidewalk. Property owners are responsible to keep the Walkable Zone free of obstacles such as parked cars, recycling bins, plants, ice and leaf litter, and to fix cracks in sidewalks along their property. By keeping this area clear and maintained, we can all help to make Seattle America's most walkable city.
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Tools to Help you Walk, Bike and Ride |
Seattle's Walking Maps now available
 These maps help you choose a walking route that best suits your interests and fitness level. All of the routes on the maps are labeled with the approximate time in minutes it takes to walk each segment and steep grades are highlighted. Three maps are available: north, central and south Seattle. To view the maps online or to order a hard copy, click here.
Walk blog
The "Walking in Seattle" blog is a handy resource that provides walking routes, tools, news and more. | |
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Options to get Around |
 More sidewalks in the city
Fifty-four blocks of new sidewalks have been built in Seattle since 2007. To see before and after photos of new sidewalks on 3rd Avenue West, Airport Way and Sandpoint Way, click here.
Seattle: city of staircases
Seattle has about 500 public staircases to provide connections for pedestrians on our hills. Some of them, such as the Galer Street staircase system in Queen Anne, open an entire corridor to pedestrian travel. Over the last few years SDOT has repaired and improved many aging staircases, which helped inspire two people to climb all of them. Learn about their experience in this video from King5 TV. If you would like to try out Seattle's stairways, SDOT's new walking maps are a great resource.
 Seattle's first bike box
Bike boxes are a kind of queue jump for bicyclists, giving them priority and increasing their safety at stop lights. To learn more, click here.
Bus service on SR 520 increases 20%
In October, bus service on the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge (SR 520) increased by about 130 trips across the lake each day. More increases are on the way in February 2011. For more details click here. | |
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Inspiration and Incentives to Walk, Bike and Ride |
 In her blog post "Stumbling Toward Simplicity" Beth Amsbary shares thoughtful reflections on the decision to sell her car. That was three years ago, and she and her husband have been "blissfully satisfied."
Wheel Options: two trips could win you big bucks
Commute without driving alone just two times from October 17-30 and you could win fantastic prizes including $2,500. Most walk, bike and ride programs operated by the City of Seattle focus on converting driving trips to non-driving trips, but in this program (operated by WSRO,) a trip is eligible even if you have been taking it by foot, bike or bus for months or even years.
Walk Bike Ride (WBR) Challenge: Aug./Sept. winners and more prizes for the current round
 Congratulations to Marisa B. of Uptown for winning the $100 REI gift certificate and to Marc E. of Ballard for winning the $100 Zipcar gift certificate for the August/September round of the WBR Challenge.
 October is Walk to School Month
Let's get more exercise in our kids' lives, cleaner air and less car exhaust at our schools. Walking to school can even qualify you to join the Walk Bike Ride Challenge, which has great family-friendly prizes this round. For ideas and more information on Walk to School Month click here. | |
Reading could win a kid a bike
Kids who read three books between October 16 and December 16 can enter to win one of four bikes from the Fremont Library, Doric Lodge #92 and Wright Brothers Cycle Works. For more information click here or call 206-684-4084. |
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We Would Like to Hear from You |
We welcome your feedback on the newsletter. Please let us know if there's an issue you would like us to cover or if you have a story to share. Email us at waytogo@seattle.gov.  Regards, Dave Allen Way to Go, Seattle! Team www.seattle.gov/waytogo | | v 1.7 |
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