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Vol. 3, No. 4  April 2012

In this issue: 

Spotlight on:     May is Bicycle Month-Safety First

Options:            Duwamish Trail is Ready for Spring

Tools:               Group Health Bike to Work Challenge

Inspiration:       Discover Urban Cycling

Happenings:     Think Outside the Car

ThemeMonthSpotlight of the Month:  Bicycle Safety

May is National Bike Month, an opportunity to celebrate the unique power of the bicycle and the many reasons we ride. Whether you bike to work or school; to save money or time; to preserve your health or the environment; to explore your community or get to your destination, get involved in Bike Month and help get more people in your community out riding, too!   Find safety tips here.

OptionsHeaderOptions to Get Around

Roosevelt bike laneN.E. Seattle Neighborhood Greenways Action is Afoot and "A-Bicycle!" Neighborhood Greenways could be a key resource for making it safer and easier for kids all over town to skip the minivan and ride bikes or walk to school. Watch the SDOT Director and the City Traffic Engineer talk about Greenways at a recent meeting and follow SDOT's accomplishments as we construct seven miles of Greenways this year.  

 

  

Roosevelt bike laneDuwamish Trail Ready for Bike Month:  Crews repaired this flat, multi-use trail, improving safety for both cyclists and pedestrians.   Looking for an easy walk or bike ride?  Read more about the Duwamish Trail, which starts from the lower South Spokane Street Bridge and follows West Marginal Way SW, south to the First Avenue South Bridge.  

 

Seattle Transit Master Plan Adopted.  Seattleites continue to call for more transit.  The Seattle Transit Master Plan is the blueprint for improving connections among Seattle neighborhoods via high-quality transit Read the plan to learn more about what using transit could be like in the future.

 

Countdown to the First Hill Streetcar opening in spring 2014 has officially begun.

Construction began in April on a 2.5 mile route that will connect First Hill, Capitol Hill, Yesler Terrace, the Central Area, International District and Pioneer Square. Read more

 

Tools to Help You Walk, Bike and Ride

Have Your Children Outgrown Their Bikes? Visit the 2012 May 12 Kids Bike Swap and Trade and trade them in for Bigger Ones. Bike Works refurbishes used bikes to bring to the Kids' Bike Swap. Bring a bike that your kid has outgrown and trade it for a "new" one.

 

Roosevelt bike laneNew RapidRide Bus Shelters Popping Up. Time to come in out of the rain as new bus shelters like this one in West Seattle and Downtown become increasingly familiar sights, improving the public transportation experience for all.

 

Roosevelt bike laneJoin a team for May Bike to Work Month. Spring is on the calendar and in the air. More people are using bicycles for transportation than ever before. Expect to see more bicyclists on the road as temperatures moderate, daylight lingers and April showers yield to May Bike to Work month challenge. Join thousands of bicyclists in the Puget Sound Region in Cascade Bike Club's Group Health Bike to Work Challenge. Join or form a team, save gas, time and money and win prizes. Group Health Challenge. Get information, ideas and support here

 

Walking Seattle's Neighborhoods: Is Walking Seattle the blog for you? Get inspiration, share information and find support for your walking experience

 

Roosevelt bike laneMay kicks off Seattle's Fifth Annual Summer Streets Events. Unleash creativity and energy; try healthy active transportation; ride a bike without worrying about cars. Walking to local stores and restaurants can change the way you and your family think about travel. Come out and play May 18 in Ballard and May 20 in Alki

 

Roosevelt bike laneBike safely through Alaskan Way Viaduct construction zones.

Cycling in and around construction projects is never easy, but don't let it stop you.  As you move through construction areas, be alert for route changes.  Here's what's happening now.

- New bike lanes on East Marginal Way South coming in late May.

- Alaskan Way south of King Street is closing; bicyclists and pedestrians will use a detour onto Port of Seattle property.

- Two temporary left turn lanes at South Atlantic Street & East Marginal Way South will help manage truck traffic.  Make sure drivers see you when walking and cycling. 

 - Bright yellow signs at Terminal 46 remind truckers to share the road with cyclists.

 

Tips for cyclists: make it easy for truckers to see you: wear bright clothing and use lights. Information Hotline 1-888-AWV-LINE 

InspirationTips and Inspiration to Walk, Bike and Ride

Driving is so "last century!" Young Americans are driving less; read why and how this trend is likely to continue.

 

Discover lots of reasons to ride a bike. Hear stories from Bryce, Elece and Dartanyon about the ways they connect with their community by incorporating cycling into their daily lives

New smart phone applicationhelps regional planners understand cyclists' needs.  Starting May 1st, Puget Sound Regional Council is asking bicyclists to record all their bicycle trips using a innovative smart phone application called CycleTracks.Read more here.

 

Roosevelt bike lane"We should do this again next week?" The mere thought of hauling a sofa, a dinette set, a bed and a bed frame down a flight of stairs and into a moving truck is enough for some of us to break a sweat. Now imagine hauling all of it in one trip, five miles across town, by bike.  Read more here.

UpcomingHappenings and How to Get There

 

West Seattle CoolMom hosts Think Outside the Car Event on April 28. Pick up an "Un-driver's License," donate bikes and participate in Children's Bike Rodeo at the Westside School in West Seattle from 10 to 2 p.m.

  

Roosevelt bike laneSeattle celebrates Cinco De Mayo Take Metro bus route #36 or Link Light Rail to El Centro De La Raza at 2524 16th Ave. South on Beacon Hill. Plan your trip here.

 

Roosevelt bike laneThe first Bicycle Sunday of 2012 is May 6.  The 2 1/2-mile course on Lake Washington Boulevard between Seward Park and Mount Baker Beach will be closed to motor vehicle traffic from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on those days. That makes the shoreline stretch a magnet for everyone from families on bikes to road cyclists completing a loop around Lake Washington.  Read more here.

 

 

 

  

Roosevelt bike laneMay 9 is International Bike to School Day, a great opportunity to instill active habits and healthy lifestyle while spending time with your kids. Get basic information, tips for parents; then take the Bike to School Challenge.

 

 

 

 

Roosevelt bike laneBikes & Bagels on May 11. If you work in Center City Seattle and will be bicycling to work Friday morning, stop by McGraw Square for a free coffee, bagels and fun prizes compliments of Commute Seattle. Chat with other cyclists and get Information about plans to update the Seattle Bicycle Master Plan.

Subscribe, Share Feedback and View Past Newsletters

Subscribe to the Walk Bike Rider, your monthly newsletter with quick tools, information and inspiration to help you walk, bike and ride.  Subscribing is quick and easy, and you may unsubscribe any time.  We appreciate your feedback and suggestions.  Please keep the comments coming.

 

Current and past newsletters are on our newsletter web page

 

Regards,

Way to Go, Seattle! Team

www.seattle.gov/waytogo

 

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