The

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

B i c y c l e A l l i a n c e E x pa n d s B i k e B o a r d A d o p t s 2 0 1 1
Safety Education Statewide L e g i s l at i v e P r i o r i t i e s
The Bicycle Alliance Board adopted its 2011
Thirty-five school districts legislative priorities at its August meeting.
across the state will now Recommended by our legislative committee,
benefit from the Bicycle with representatives from around the state,
Alliance of Washington’s the priorities include:
highly successful pilot bike
education program, which Traffic safety education—require driving
was introduced during the schools to teach the Department of Licensing’s
2008-09 school year. approved curriculum for safe driving around
cyclists and pedestrians.
That original $76,000 grant
has resulted in two new grants Mutual courtesy and safe passing—clarify the
being awarded to the Bicycle laws that define safe and courteous behavior
Alliance that total nearly for cyclists and motorists, including legislation
$500,000! This is a wonderful governing how much space motorists should
investment towards bike give cyclists when passing.
safety education for students Complete streets—create a grant program for
across Washington. communities that adopt a “complete streets”
The Bicycle Alliance is proud policy to ensure that their streets are designed
to be one of 59 recipients of and built to accommodate cycling and walking.
Students learn to stop at an intersection. a Seattle King County Public Lower speed limits—Give communities broader
Health: Communities Putting authority to lower speed limits to 20 miles an
Prevention to Work grant. This grant will take the bike safety education hour in neighborhoods with high pedestrian
program (Basics of Bicycling) to the Auburn, Highline, Kent, Renton, and bicycle traffic. Studies have shown that
Seattle, and Tukwila school districts. Trailers and bikes will be purchased lower speed limits sharply reduce the rate of
for the districts to share, so all the students have a bicycle to use during injuries and deaths.
class. In addition, Feet First will teach pedestrian safety.
Liability—Impose reasonable limits on the
The Non-Profit Assistance Center will help with community organizing liability of communities that sign bicycle
and language translations. While we have worked with several schools routes or produce bike maps. Currently, some
in these districts, it will be the Bike Alliance’s first time working with communities do not mark or map routes
many of these districts. because they fear they will be found liable for
We also received a grant from the Office of Superintendent of Public injuries suffered by cyclists who use the routes.
Instruction (OSPI) to train teachers in 29 school districts around the state The Bicycle Alliance will also support legislation
in the Basics of Bicycling, thanks to a Washington State Department to better protect vulnerable road users such
of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School Program grant. Schools that as cyclists and pedestrians, require the State
have received safe routes to school grants from WSDOT will be invited Department of Transportation to assess the
to apply for the training. external costs of driving when assessing the
“I am absolutely thrilled,” exclaimed Barbara Culp, Executive Director costs and benefits of its projects, and provide
of the Bicycle Alliance. “These two awards are the result of years of adequate transportation funding for cycling
knocking on the doors of policy makers and legislators to talk about and walking in general.
the obesity epidemic and the importance of active transportation. These Visit our Legislation page at bicyclealliance.org
awards validate that work, and will impact the lives of thousands of for more background and updates.
children and adults!”
 The Advocate ( 2 ) September  2010

NEWS from around the state

Heels on Wheels bike with style
If women in Georgia can do it, so can women in Seattle,
Vancouver, and all over Washington State. Women on
bicycles are coming together to turn heads and enjoy dinner
out on the town, giving a more approachable face to what
it means to ride a bike. Special bike gear is not required or
even encouraged, but a friendly attitude and a willingness
to pedal in "going out to dinner" clothes is. The goal is to
show that riding a bike can be an extension of everyday
life and not just an athletic sideshow.
Sparked by a "Heels on Wheels" ride in Atlanta, Seattle
cyclist Kat Marriner joined with Barbara Culp, Juliette Delf
and Rebecca Staffel to start a monthly meet-up inviting
women friends who were willing to shed the "I am a cyclist"
look for a more urban chic night on the town. The guest
list expanded to encourage women who rarely ride beyond
their neighborhood to pedal to restaurants downtown and
different neighborhood centers.

Vancouver-based mother, business owner and cyclist Leah

Jackson organized Heels on Wheels in her community. Their
first meet-up was held in August and there are plans to do
this monthly.

Read more about the Seattle Heels on Wheels at www.

Actual heels are not required—but a willingness to shed
the "I am a cyclist" look is.
yellowtentadventures.com/heels-on-wheels. Then invite
your friends to join you pedaling to a night out on the
town. Check the events section of bikeportland.org or the
Bike Me! Vancouver Facebook page for the Vancouver Heels
on Wheels announcements.

Outreach Corps Success

By Katie Ferguson
On the weekend of July 31, our Outreach Corps members did an extraordinary job:
They made it possible for the Bicycle Alliance to have a presence at three separate
events—the Great Peninsula Future Festival, Tour de Fat, and South Sound Velo’s
Individual Time Trial Championship—over two days. Along the way, the Corps
succeeded in educating over 500 people about the Bicycle Alliance’s efforts, gathering
over 200 new contacts, and giving away a free messenger bag and Share the Road
jersey to a couple of lucky winners.

These exceptional volunteers spent a combined total of over 45 hours representing

the Bicycle Alliance to everybody from beach cruiser-riders to hard-core bike racers
to even the occasional motorist. A special “thank you” to Barb Wilkie and John
Whitlow for their above-and-beyond contributions, and to all the other volunteers
who staffed a table for us that weekend. “Thank you” may sound inadequate, but
I’ll say it anyway, on behalf of the entire Bicycle Alliance staff and membership.

For those of you interested in spending your time making a difference, consider
applying for the Bicycle Alliance’s Outreach Corps. This is a group of people who love
talking to others about bicycling, who find initiating conversations with strangers
stimulating, and who are willing to learn how to serve as a good representative for
the Bicycle Alliance. Contact me, Katie Ferguson, at katief@bicyclealliance.org to
request an application and schedule an interview. I’m excited for the change that
we can make together.
 September  2010 ( 3 ) The Bicycle Alliance of Washington

B i c y c l e A l l i a n c e S t r at e g i c J o i n M e at t h e
P l a n n i n g E f f o r t U n d e r w ay
1 8 t h A n n u a l A u ct i o n !
If you don’t care where you’re going, then any path By Jeremy Vrablik
will take you there. But if you want to reach a goal,
Fall is here. Or is it? Who can tell the way this year has gone?
then you’d better have both a destination in mind and One thing is for sure though—the Bicycle Alliance’s annual
a map to guide you. auction is coming up next month, and it will be an exciting
and fun-filled evening.
Organizations are like people: they can’t reach a goal
unless they know what they want and how to achieve it. My name is Jeremy and I’m a co-chair for this year’s auction.
Last spring, with this in mind, the Bicycle Alliance Board of If you’ve attended past auctions, you may have seen me
Directors began a strategic planning process to refine our riding the conference bike around the fountain at break-
goals and sharpen our focus as an advocacy and education neck speeds, standing guard over some of the most amazing
organization during the next several years. desserts ever made, accidentally bidding on a fish shaped
soap box derby ride thinking I was buying a big fish, or just
The strategic planning process, which is being facilitated by
having a great time. I hope you’ll join me for this year’s
Jeremy Grandstaff of the Washington, D.C.-based Alliance
event! (Continued on page 4. See box for details)
for Biking and Walking (formerly the Thunderhead Alliance),
began with a full-day retreat last spring, at which board
members discussed issues facing the Bike Alliance and
shared their goals for the organization. These goals included
raising our profile, improving our marketing, clarifying our
mission, increasing our membership, and broadening our
constituency.

This fall, a Board committee will draft a proposed strategic

plan to accomplish the goals discussed at the retreat. Early
next year, the Board and other interested people will meet
again to refine and adopt the plan.

Look for updates on the strategic planning process on the Jeremy Vrablik (L), celebrates another successful auction
Bicycle Alliance website, bicyclealliance.org with other volunteers.

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.
 The Advocate ( 4 ) September  2010
Continued from page 3
th
The auction is a great chance to come out and show your Join us for our 18 Annual Auction!
appreciation for the Bicycle Alliance. We are all united
under the banner of bicycle rights, and the fundraising Sowing the Seeds
that happens at the auction is key to maintaining our work
throughout the year. It’s also a great place to meet up
Statewide
with like-minded people and share ideas. And the auction
October 23, 2010, 5:30-9:30 PM
items are great too! They range from unique getaways
and experiences to event entries and outdoor gear—and Seattle Center Fisher Pavilion
if you’re lucky, a fish-shaped bike.
Tickets: $75 each or $750 for a table of 10
Be proactive!
$70/$700 if purchased by September 30.
Use the online ticket form, mail in,
or call Donna Govro at 206.224.9252 x300.
The event features a few other things to make it a special Make a donation to the auction using our online
evening. The wine grab bag is back by popular demand.
donation form at bicyclealliance.org/auction or call
Now raise your hand if you love beer. Ok, now that everyone
has their hands up, we’ll add a beer grab bag also. And Louise McGrody at 206.224.9252 x303.
after you’ve had your dinner, wine, and beer, you’ll need Thanks to our Sponsors!
dessert. That’s where the dessert dash comes in. Trust me,
the desserts will be worth dashing for, even in bike shoes.

I look forward to seeing you there and to sharing a pint

together, to toast the night and the seeds of change that
GRAPHIC DESIGN
katmarriner.com

are being sown for the benefit of all Washington bicyclists!

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