Spotlight of the Month: Engaging in Your Community

"Our residents are the city's greatest resource, so we're making it easier and more effective for you to engage in your community. We're helping increase the impact of your volunteer service, improving your access to government, and helping develop future community leaders." - Mayor Mike McGinn

When it comes down to it, a strong community is about relationships.  It's people who are connected by engaging with each other and sharing experiences.

What does transportation have to do with engaging with other people? When you walk down the street, ride your bike to the store or take the bus, you're engaging in your community, and you're probably not even thinking about it.  A stroll past your friend's house or a bike ride home from work provides opportunities to bump into people and have chance encounters. Your bus ride becomes time to visit with old and new friends. These small interactions add up and help build community.

We want you to know about one easy way you can be engaged, make an impact and have fun: SDOT's Walk Bike Ride Challenge. Switch to walking, biking and riding; receive weekly emails with support and tips; and earn chances to win great prizes.  The July/August round is our most exciting yet with the biggest set of prizes and a friendly competition to see which neighborhood can save the most car trips and miles driven.  So engage your neighbors to join in and support each other to make Seattle a better place to live.  Sign up now and we'll keep you up to date on the competition via the weekly emails. 

Options to Get Around

New Ballard bike lanes

Bike lanes connect Ballard neighborhood
SDOT is adding bike lanes to 20th Ave NW, connecting the Ballard business district to homes and Salmon Bay School to the north.  Start enjoying this new route by early August.  Read more here. 

 
Biking is getting better in Green Lake 

Another bike project you can start using within a few weeks is the addition of bike lanes and sharrows on NE 65th St that will connect the bike lanes on East Green Lake Way N to the bike lanes on NE Ravenna Blvd.  This connects homes, Green Lake Elementary and the shops along NE 65th St to Green Lake Park and the network of bike lanes in the area.  Read more here. 

New sidewalk in South Park improves a walk to the park 
Duwamish Waterway Park is a quiet, secluded spot on the Duwamish Waterway with benches, a large lawn, big trees, a BBQ pit, tables and views of ships.  The park has nice views of water and the old sidewalk connecting to it offered views of large puddles.  The new sidewalk is high and dry, making it an easy walk to the park.  More info is here.

Before and after: sidewalk at S Elmgrove St and 10th Ave S

Jump start your bike ride with the train

Summer is a terrific time for a bicycle getaway.  Get far away fast by putting your bike on AMTRAK. Roll your bike onto a Sounder Commuter train to start your ride at more nearby locations between Tacoma and Everett.

Tools to Make Walking, Biking and Riding Easier and Better

On-line map shows downtown buildings with employee bike parking and more
Commute Seattle's new on-line Center City Bicycle Amenities Map shows downtown buildings with bike parking and showers for tenants, plus on-street bike racks, bike lanes and bike routes. More info is here.
 

Carless vacation tips and tools

A vacation which includes a vacation from the car is becoming more and more popular. This Sightline Institute article lists favorite car-free vacations, discounts to carless travelers, car-free hiking and more.
 

Wi-Fi on Sound Transit

Selected Sound Transit buses and Sounder trains have Wi-Fi. As you travel you can work or play on the internet while someone else takes you where you're going. This sure beats clutching the wheel and staring at taillights.
 

Parking lot turned into public plaza at King Street Station

The old parking lot in front of King Street Station has been transformed into a place for people with benches, trees and other amenities. This makes the trip from Pioneer Square to the International District more pleasant for pedestrians. In September King Street Station will have a grand staircase entrance from the plaza, so train passengers will arrive and depart Seattle via a gateway that is worthy of our fair city and says that we celebrate train riders. Read more here and here.

Inspiration to Walk, Bike and Ride

New York City evolves streets and becomes a better place to live

NYC is evolving many of its streets so more people can move through the city. The result is more bicycle facilities, a more pedestrian-friendly community, healthier residents and a city with more places for people. Check out this video which looks at how New York is transforming itself.

Four Seattle neighborhoods get In Motion this summer
Georgetown, Squire Park, South Park and West Seattle are the lucky neighborhoods where Metro's In Motion program has launched this summer. If you live or work in one of these neighborhoods, you'll be invited to be part of this neighborhood "event" to use sustainable modes. Read more here.

Upcoming

Summer Streets PhinneyWood August 12 and Rainier Valley August 20

The last two Summer Streets events are fast approaching. These neighborhood block parties are a great time to use our streets in a new way, support local business and connect with your community.

• PhinneyWood (Phinney Ridge and Greenwood) Summer Streets opens over a mile of Greenwood Ave N during the monthly Art Walk. Enjoy the farmers' market; bands; a giant piano; sculptors, potters and painters creating art; aerial acrobats; dance lessons; kids' activities; and more.
• Rainier Valley Summer Streets keeps Rainier Ave S in Columbia City open for people after the Rainier Valley Heritage Parade. Enjoy two music stages, a kids' bicycle parade, a somersault city, Art in the Alley and more.

Big bike fun at Cyclefest and BikeMania July 22

This annual family-friendly bike party includes "an awesome schedule of events," including a BMX stunt show by Nick Halsey, bike carnival games, a treasure hunt, bike parade and Cyclefest Outdoor Cinema showing the most treacherous mountain portion of the Tour de France.  This FREE event at Magnuson Park is provided by Cascade Bicycle Club and its sponsors. More details are here.

Bicycle Sundays continue through the summer

Summer is finally here, so be part of Bicycle Sundays on Lake Washington Blvd, a great place to bike or stroll through Rainier Valley free of motorized traffic.  Selected Sundays 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. through September.

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