Category: Biking

No bus? Ride with us!

Until the Washington State legislature, King County or Seattle government figure out what to do to provide the bus service we need, some of us can ride bikes to get places and free up seats on the buses that are still running, and free up space on the roads for those who must drive. Bicycle transportation increases roadway bandwidth without increasing roadway width. Kind of like energy conservation by increasing efficiency — getting more out of the existing capacity.

We are here to help that happen, and to make it safe, attractive and convenient for as many people as possible.DSC01296 Here’s a great north-south route in West Seattle: 21st Ave SW on Puget Ridge and Pigeon Point, connecting us to White Center at the south via Myrtle/16th, and connecting to West Duwamish Trail, Alki Trail and the low level bridge to SODO and downtown at the north, via Andover/22nd. No traffic jams, low traffic, peaceful and easy grades. Croft Place here connects to the 26th Ave SW Greenway.

Bikenomics – How Bicycling Can Save the Economy

Who’s street is it?  Are bike riders just freeloaders on roads paid for by car drivers?  What about parking? Are bike riders either elitists or DUIclists?

snv33567_lgSome of us are buying and passing around Elly Blue’s new book — preaching to the choir, but she has good stories and lots of good data to back it up. Talking points for bike advocates, based on values of community, social justice, public health, economics, and fun. Kathy read it on the bus coming back from meeting the author in Tacoma. I read it on a five hour plane ride. Elly inscribed it, “Dedicated to the good work and great energy of West Seattle Bike Connections. Keep on pedaling, we are winning!”  Recommended!  e-book or paperback from Microcosm Publishing

Don

 

We Need Volunteers!

Help us help the community!
Help us help the community!

Do you like bikes?  Do you like riding bikes in, around, and through West Seattle?  Maybe not?  Do you think there could be better infrastructure in place?  We do too!  And we need you to help us out.

Our parent organization (Sustainable West Seattle) is having a volunteer orientation and appreciation event on Saturday, May 3rd 2014 at CrossFit West Seattle (4200 SW Admiral Way).  Orientation for new volunteers will be from 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM, with an appreciation party from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.

More details can be found here…
http://www.sustainablewestseattle.org/2014/04/ty/

Please come if you have any interest in helping West Seattle Bike Connections be better advocates for safe bike facilities.  Or stop by if you want to check out any of the other Sustainable West Seattle projects.  Hope to see you there!

 

Bike Share is Coming!

But not to West Seattle.  Boo!  Here’s another example of how West Seattle is treated like the ugly red-headed step-child of Seattle – no “viable” bike share station locations.  Of course they’re going to be sprinkled all over central and northern Seattle.  But southern and western Seattle?  We just get no love.

So we don't have a "viable" bike share station location in all of West Seattle?
So we don’t have a “viable” bike share station location in all of West Seattle?

So here’s your chance to let them know we want a bike share station.  Wouldn’t it be awesome to have one right at the Water Taxi?  And how about at Alki Beach?  Alki Trail is flat and segregated from automobiles.  Of course, there’s plenty of other possible “viable” locations around the southwest area of Seattle…but they need to know where!

Go to this website and enter your inputs.  No registration required.  We’d love your help and we’d love to see West Seattle included as a “viable” part of this city.

Hope Springs Eternal – Ride to the Mariners’ Game

When Al is not driving kids around West Seattle in a big yellow bus, you might find him riding his bike to a Mariner’s game. About 20 games a season by bike. Why ride? It’s fast, easy, fun and free. Nice bike cage at Safeco Field’s T-Mobile Park’s garage for 150 bikes, right by the staffed booth. Quick getaway after the game. Here’s his ride at the “road opener” celebration this week, and the big glove sculpture all set for cool spring evening games.

bike & trailer at Safeco Feild parking garageKnitted ball glove

 

 

 

Here are the Mariners’ directions on getting to the ballpark by bike, walking, water taxi, …

WSBC meeting Tuesday 4/1 @ 6:30

Please join us  at Home Street Bank,  4022 SW Alaska St
Lots on the agenda, with Bike Month coming up; grant applications; projects at schools; Greenways; intersections; bike corrals; Alki Summer Streets and summer events to plan. Open meeting.  You are invited.

See the Calendar for map, details

Meeting agenda and notes can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qj4O-vYmK_tZi9g5Mv5yme4bwQK7834afbf4zILBoNU/edit?usp=sharing

 

Riding in the Rain

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We’ve been riding in the rain!
In the city.. and in the country.  You can haul your own ark if you are worried about flooding.

Lots of ways to do it comfortably and arrive dry in our mild, moist, maritime climate. Cascade posted some good tips a while back. What are your tips?

Some of ours:

For safety: lights and light colors in daytime, more lights and reflectivity at night.

For comfort riding around town: Venting rain gear, WP mitts if it’s cold, no gloves if it’s warm; consider a rain cape if a jacket is too sweaty, or if it’s warm just wear quick-drying clothes. Waterproof work boots or dress boots or sandals can be easier than bike-specific shoes and booties. Finding the rain gear that works for you allows riding in normal clothes without the need to change when you get where you are going, if you adjust your layers, venting and pace to avoid overheating.

For less maintenance: Consider wider, sturdier tires to take water-filled potholes; disk or drum brakes; long fenders; single speed or internal gears.

Tweed Ride Report

We ride in the rain! It dampened our tweed outfits, but not our spirits! A few intrepid West Seattle Bike Connections members dressed up and rode to Bike Expo at Pier 91, all arriving warm, dry and looking good.  We enjoyed the amazing German bike acrobats, the food, the new bikes, the classic bikes, the presentations by Greenways advocates and by Willie Weir,  all the latest gear, and meeting bike riding friends from all over the city. Lots more emphasis on making bikes a practical way to get around, with bikes and carrying devices for hauling kids and groceries year round.  But plenty to keep weekend club riders and racers happy, too.

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