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Wiith the City of Seattle committed to becoming the most bicycle-friendly city in the country, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has launched BikeSmart. BikeSmart has two primary goals:
- to encourage more people to ride their bicycle
- to improve bicycle safety
One of SDOT’s most popular publications is the free download Seattle Bicycling Guide Map. The map presents information about cycling in Seattle in a clear, easy-to-use, and friendly format. The map is updated annually and includes information about facilities including green bike lanes, bike boxes, and signed routes. To request a Bike Smart Seattle kit mailed to your address fill out the online order form at Bike Smart Seattle. The kit comes complete with a Seattle bike map, coupons, calendar of events, and more.
There are several bicycle clubs and advocacy groups in and around Seattle, with membership beginning as low as $15 per year and that offer rides and other benefits of interests to bicyclists.
Bicycle clubs and advocacy groups in Washington State
- Bicycle Alliance of Washington (BAW) members believe that bicycling in Washington is inexpensive, healthy and fun, and that bicycles are a viable transportation alternative. BAW advocates for bicyclists and a bike-friendly Washington. Membership is $35/Individual and $60/Family. If you purchase (or renew registration on) a special design Washington Share the Road License Plate for your vehicle, you get a free Individual Membership to BAW. Special design license plates cost up to $45 , in addition to standard licensing fees. Contact your local Washington state vehicle licensing office to determine the exact cost of special design plates for your vehicle.
- Cascade Bicycle Club is a non-profit organization based in Seattle, Washington and serves more than 13,000 members in the Puget Sound bicycling community. The mission of CBC is to Create a Better Community through Bicycling. Memberships start as low as $35 for individuals.
- Cyclists of Greater Seattle (C.O.G.S.) is a Seattle Area cycling club with great rides, fun people and social events. Single/family membership $16/$20.
- Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance is the state’s largest mountain bike advocacy and trail building group focused on protecting sustainable mountain biking opportunities in Washington state. Membership begins at $30.
- Evergreen Tandem Club is for riders of tandem bikes. Membership is $25 / tandem team
- Redmond Cycling Club is a group of individuals joined together for inspiration, camaraderie, and enjoyment through challenging cycling. Membership is $15 for individuals/families.
- Seattle Bicycle Club is a not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to the interests of recreational cyclists. Club interests are recreation, exercise, safety and camaraderie. The Seattle Bicycle Club does not charge a membership fee.
National bicycling clubs
- Adventure Cycling Association inspires people of all ages to travel by bicycle, explore landscapes and the history of America for fitness, fun, and self-discovery.
 Enjoy this historical 3-minute video showing a five-day time lapse of the demolition of the south mile of the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle. Demolition by Rhine Demolition. Time lapse video by Marcus Donner/Puget Sound Business Journal. A photo was taken every 2 to 3 minutes from the 13th floor of the Norton Building.
The Seattle Public Library will host 17 workshops as part of the “Urban Self-Reliance” series in September and October at several Library locations. Learn how to live a more practical, sustainable life by growing and preserving your own food, using a bike as a healthy and economical means of transportation and more.
The workshops are free and open to the public. Registration is not required, except where noted below. Seating may be limited based on room capacity. Free parking is available at the branches; parking is available in the Central Library garage at the regular rates.
Here is the list of workshops and locations.
“Can You Eat Your Lawn: Using Permaculture Tools to Create Edible Landscapes” – Laura Sweeney, owner of Terra Flora Farm will discuss easy, practical, low-maintenance options for home food production, including edible hedgerows, sheet mulching and more.
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Montlake Branch, 2401 24th Ave. E., 206-684-4720
“DIY Seismic Home Retrofitting” – Experienced home retrofit contractors and experts will show participants how to assess and retrofit their homes using the City of Seattle’s free pre-engineered plans. This workshop is presented in partnership with the Seattle Office of Emergency Management and Seattle Department of Planning and Development. Registration is required; call the Seattle Office of Emergency Management at 206-233-5076 to register.
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 at the Douglass-Truth Branch, 2300 E. Yesler Way, 206-684-4704
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2 at the Greenwood Branch, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N., 206-684-4086
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 at the Queen Anne Branch, 400 W. Garfield St., 206-386-4227
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Southwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave. S.W., 206-684-7455
“Apartment Gardening with Amy Pennington” - Learn simple ways to add homegrown goodness to your urban home with gardener and food writer Amy Pennington.
- 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Northgate Branch, 10548 Fifth Ave. N.E., 206-386-1980
- 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4 at the West Seattle Branch, 2306 42nd Ave. S.W., 206-684-7444
“Small Sparks Neighborhood Matching Grants” - Learn about the Small Sparks Fund from Thomas Whittemore, neighborhood district coordinator for Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods. Seattleites can apply for up to $1,000 for community improvement projects.
- 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Douglass-Truth Branch, 2300 E. Yesler Way, 206-684-4704
“Introduction to Bike Commuting” - Join a certified Cascade Bicycle Club instructor and learn how to share the road with traffic, plan the best route to work and more.
- 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Capitol Hill Branch, Harvard Ave. E., 206-684-4715
- 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4 at the Greenwood Branch, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N., 206-684-4086
- 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 at the Ballard Branch, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W., 206-684-4089
- 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at the High Point Branch, 3411 S.W. Raymond St., 206-684-7454
- 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20 at the Lake City Branch, 12501 28th Ave. N.E., 206-684-7518
“Bicycle Maintenance” - Learn basic bike maintenance techniques from instructors from The Bikery, a non-profit community bike project.
- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 at the University Branch, 5009 Roosevelt Way N.E., 206-684-4063
- 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2 at the Beacon Hill Branch, 2821 Beacon Ave. S., 206-684-4711
- Noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Queen Anne Branch, 400 W. Garfield St., 206-386-4227
- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Fremont Branch, 731 N. 35th St., 206-684-4084
- Noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Capitol Hill Branch, 425 Harvard Ave. E., 206-684-4715
“Simple Sewing (Bags/Pillows/Potholders)” - Sew Up Seattle will teach beginners the basics and encourage those with experience to create a project using donated scraps. Registration is required; call the branch to register.
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Magnolia Branch, 2801 34th Ave. W., 206-386-4225 (This session will focus on pillows.)
- 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3 at the Columbia Branch, 4721 Rainier Ave. S., 206-386-4721 (This session will focus on potholders.)
- 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Lake City Branch, 12501 28th Ave. N.E., 206-684-7518 (This session will focus on bags.)
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Delridge Branch, 5423 Delridge Way S.W., 206-733-9125 (This session will focus on potholders.)
“Keeping Chickens in the City” - Learn the basics of keeping chickens in the city, including starting with chicks, feeding and housing requirements and more. This workshop is presented in partnership with The Seattle Free School.
- 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6 at the Lake City Branch, 12501 28th Ave. N.E., 206-684-7518
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 at the Green Lake Branch, 7364 E. Green Lake Dr. N., 206-684-7547
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 at the Montlake Branch, 2401 24th Ave. E., 206-684-4720
- 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10 at the Southwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave. S.W., 206-684-7455
- 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10 at the Beacon Hill Branch, 2821 Beacon Ave. S., 206-684-4711
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Broadview Branch, 12755 Greenwood Ave. N., 206-684-7519
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Ballard Branch, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W., 206-684-4089
- 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25 at the Northeast Branch, 6801 35th Ave. N.E., 206-684-7539
“Hand Sewing: Repair DIY (Do It Yourself)” - Learn everyday sewing skills, including how to sew on a button, handpick a zipper, patch a garment and more. Registration is required; call the branch to register.
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 at the Wallingford Branch, 1501 N. 45th St., 206-684-4088
- 5:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19 at the Greenwood Branch, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N., 206-684-4086
“Basic Canning/Jam Making” - Learn about canning equipment, how to can safely, resources for recipes and instruction and recommended tips from a pro. This workshop is presented in partnership with The Seattle Free School.
- 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11 at the Queen Anne Branch, 400 W. Garfield St., 206-386-4227
- 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13 at the Lake City Branch, 12501 28th Ave. N.E., 206-684-7518
- 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17 at the West Seattle Branch, 2306 42nd Ave. S.W., 206-684-7444
- 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18 at the Northeast Branch, 6801 35th Ave. N.E., 206-684-7539
- 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25 at the Magnolia Branch, 2801 34th Ave. W., 206-386-4225
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30 at the Ballard Branch, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W., 206-684-4089
“Make Your Place: Non-Toxic House Cleaners with Raleigh Briggs” - Learn easy, affordable recipes for products you can use to clean your home, your body and even your pets.
- 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11 at the Ballard Branch 5614 22nd Ave. N.W., 206-684-4089
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Columbia Branch, 4721 Rainier Ave. S., 206-386-1908
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Green Lake Branch, 7364 E. Green Lake Dr. N.
“Preserving for the Pantry with Amy Pennington” – Learn how to preserve local and seasonal produce with gardener and food writer Amy Pennington.
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Capitol Hill Branch, 425 Harvard Ave. E., 206-684-4715
“On the Wild Side at Green Lake: A Mushroom Hunt Primer” – Become familiar with wild mushrooms and gain practical knowledge about safe wild mushroom gathering, preservation techniques, mushroom recipes and more.
- 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19 at the Capitol Hill Branch, 425 Harvard Ave. E., 206-684-4715
- 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25 at the Green Lake Branch, 7364 E. Green Lake Dr. N., 206-684-7547
“Learn About the West Seattle Tool Library” – The West Seattle Tool Library is a community-led project providing pay-what-you-can access to a wide range of tools, training and relevant advice. Learn how to become a member and support this neighborhood project.
- 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20 at the Lake City Branch, 12501 28th Ave. N.E., 206-684-7518 (Please note: there will be an information table at the branch, but no class.)
- 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24 at the Capitol Hill Branch, 425 Harvard Ave. E., 206-684-4715
- 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at the South Park Branch, 8604 Eighth Ave. S., 206-615-1688
”Hand Sewn Upcycle Without a Machine: An Appliqué and Fancy Stitch Workshop” – Make an appliqué, learn about reverse appliqué and other decorative techniques. Registration is required; call the branch to register.
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Wallingford Branch, 1501 N. 45t St., 206-684-4088
”Finding Edible Weeds in Your Garden and Lawn” – Seattle author and expert forager Langdon Cook will talk about how to use your backyard as an exotic produce aisle.
- 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26 at the Beacon Hill Branch, 2821 Beacon Ave. S., 206-684-4711
”Disaster Supply Kit” – Learn how to put together your own disaster supply kit during this hands-on workshop.
- 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27 at the Lake City Branch, 12501 28th Ave. N.E., 206-684-7518
- 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Ballard Branch, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W., 206-684-4089
- 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Broadview Branch, 12755 Greenwood Ave. N., 206-684-7519
For more information, call the Library at 206-386-4636 or Ask a Librarian.
Exotics@RTC is a weekly Saturday gathering from 8:30 – 11am of car enthusiasts at Redmond Town Center (Google map). It’s the largest weekly car gathering north of Los Angeles. It’s free, family friendly and outdoors.
- E@RTC is located in the parking lot behind Borders and next to Desert Fire. When attending the event, please try to use the Bear Creek Parkway entrance to minimize noise in the shopping center. The event starts at 8:30am, usually ending between 10:30 and 11:00. To get the best parking option, please show up early.
You never know what will show up on a weekly basis, whether it is the only Verde Ithaca Lamborghini LP-670 SV in the US, the fastest production car in the world (the SSC Ultimate Aero), or the President of Lamborghini.
For more information or to check the calendar, visit the Exotics@RTC website. To get updates, follow @ExoticsAtRTC on Twitter or visit the Exotics@RTC Facebook page.
- Memorial Weekeend: Saturday, May 30, 2011, E@RTC hosts the Lexus LFA, the first supersports from the Lexus brand. The LFA is a handbuilt auto and only 500 will be built.
Zipcar is an alternative to the costs and hassles of owning or renting a car and is also more flexible than public transportation. If you’re unsure if Zipcar and car sharing is for you, review the saving scenarios or use the savings calculator to figure out your average monthly savings of owning a car vs. being a zipster.
Today, Sound Transit marks the first birthday of Central Link light rail, which during its inaugural year of operations attracted an estimated six million riders, adding up to major environmental savings and better quality of life. Had those six million riders driven cars instead of climbing aboard Link, Sound Transit estimates they would have consumed 93,000 barrels of oil to make 1.8 million gallons of gasoline.
Quick facts about Link’s 1st year of service:
Total light rail train miles travelled: 1.2 million
Estimated ridership for the first year: 6 million
Average rider trip length: 7.1 miles
Passenger miles travelled: 43 million
Light rail trains run every 7.5 minutes during peak hours and every 10 or 15 minutes at other hours of the day, offering a fast and convenient way to move around. Light rail stations offer easy connections to buses that serve other destinations throughout the region. Commuters can secure bicycles at Link stations or bring them onboard the trains.
“This is a great achievement for a region that has embraced light rail after years of waiting,” said Sound Transit Board Chair and Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon. “Thanks to light rail, the people of this region have saved time, money and precious natural resources. We’ll only see those savings grow as we expand the system to the north, east and south.”
Related posts:
$4-5 round-trip transportation to Sea-Tac airport begins Dec 19, 2009 aboard Link light rail
Win a Family Trip to Victoria offered by Cascadia Kids. The trip includes a two-night stay at the Royal Scot Hotel & Suites and round-trip tickets for four (two adults, two children) from Seattle, aboard the Clipper.
This contest begins at 9:00 p.m., April 12, 2010 and ends at 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time on Monday, April 19, 2010.
For contest rules or to enter, see http://www.cascadiakids.com/win-a-family-trip-to-victoria-bc/
The Draft Transportation 2040 Plan is now available for review and comment. The comment period runs through March 9, 2010. Comments received will be summarized for the Transportation Policy Board on March 11, 2010. The Executive Summary of the plan is 16 pages and provides an overview of the plan. The complete Draft Transportation 2040 Plan is 144 pages.
The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) is the regional planning organization for the four-county (King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish) central Puget Sound region of Washington state. PSRC is tasked to create a sustainable transportation system through planning for regional transportation under authority provided by state and federal laws. As the state-required Regional Transportation Plan, Transportation 2040 meets substantive and procedural requirements of Section 47.80.030 of the Revised Code of Washington.
The central Puget Sound region, one of the principal metropolitan regions in the Pacific Northwest, includes 82 cities and towns and covers an area of nearly 6,300 square miles. The region’s geography and topography is diverse, including urban, rural, and resource lands, plus hills, mountains, and lakes from sea level at Puget Sound to over 14,000 feet at Mount Rainier.
Transportation 2040 outlines how this region should invest in transportation to accommodate rising population and travel demands, while remaining flexible and responsive to the ways in which the region and the world will change over the next 30 years. The goal is to provide a sustainable transportation system that meets the needs of those who live and work in this region.
The Draft Transportation 2040 Plan document, all supporting materials, and a link to submit comments, can be found on the PSRC web page at www.psrc.org
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