Bike to Work Week Kickoff Breakfast

The cold and wet weather didn't deter all of the bike riders from attending the Bike To Work Week Kickoff Breakfast at Riverfront Park but it did substantially cut the numbers down. It's easy for me to believe that lots of people are fairer weather riders and choose an alternate transportation mode when the weather is unpleasant. And that's okay. Not everyone has to be a hard core rider.

(Disclosure: Although I risk distancing myself even further from hard core status--not that I was that close to it anyway--I ruefully admit I didn't ride my bike to the Bike To Work Week breakfast. For my penance I will climb Lehman Road from Wellesley to Fruit Hill Road three times...um...just as soon as it's warm and dry outside.)

In spite of the weather, one characteristic that was common to the riders that did attend were the smiles on their faces. Kudos to the many volunteers who worked so hard to make this happen.

BTW volunteers showing off their T-shirts.

The good folks at Pedals2People set up and manned a bike corral.

Roast House coffee provided some much needed warmth.

This was a breakfast. Mountain Gear made pancakes. Lots of people ate them.

REI set up shop and provided some free mechanical assistance.

Mayor Verner addressed the group. It was great that she hung out with everyone in the rain.

Pedal with The Politicians Ride with Councilmen Richard Rush and Jon Snyder.

One of the many hard core who wasn't about to let the weather interfere with his fun. Or breakfast.

Need we say more? Spokane Bikes!

Spokane Bikes

Breakfast. Next Monday. Riverfront Park.

See you there.

Ride in Silence, Ride for Safety: Spokane Joins International Ride of Silence May 19 to Draw Attention to Bicycle Safety

Cyclists generally ride as a pretty chatty bunch, but we ask you to ride in silence the evening of Wednesday, May 19. Like hundreds of cities around the world Spokane will hold a Ride of Silence™ at 7pm to mourn those who have been killed and to raise awareness of cyclists on the road.

The assembly point will be at Sprague and Division where a white “ghost bike” memorializes David Squires, killed March 2, 2010 when he was hit by a driver who reportedly had been drinking.

All riders are welcome. Try to arrive around 6:45pm and meet in the parking lot by Meineke Muffler (which will be closed). For those who need to drive to the assembly point, parking is available at the America West building thanks to building owners Mick and Shelley McDowell.

Rules for participants:

• Follow all the rules of the road (including riding no more than two abreast)
• Wear a helmet; high-visibility clothing recommended
• Have lights on your bike; it will be approaching dusk as we finish
• Ride at no more than 12 mph—an easy pace that enables anyone to participate regardless of fitness level, and a pace appropriate to a funeral procession
• Remain silent during the ride
• Riders will wear black arm bands and those who have themselves been in a bike/motor vehicle crash also wear a red arm band (supplied by organizers)

The Route

• Riverside west from Division to Cedar; left on Cedar
• Cedar south to First Avenue; left on First
• First Avenue east to Washington; left on Washington
• Washington north to Riverside; right on Riverside
• Riverside east to our starting point

The Numbers

Police data show that from 2004 to 2008 there were 353 bike/motor vehicle collisions or crashes reported to the police in the City of Spokane alone. 

That’s 70 per year—more than one a week—and those are just the ones that were reported.

Spokane Valley Ride of Silence

In Spokane Valley, Paul Warner and his family have organized a Ride of Silence in honor of his sister Gloria, killed two years ago in a bike/car crash in Gig Harbor. That Ride of Silence begins at 7 p.m. at the Mirabeau Park parking lot next to the waterfall and runs 12 miles on the Centennial Trail.

Endorsing Organizations

We reached out to participants at the 2009 Bike Summit to ask organizations, businesses and individuals to endorse the Ride of Silence as a safety message that asks everyone to share the road. 

We're pleased that the Spokane Regional Transportation Council, Spokane Regional Health District, SpokeFest Association, Mayor Mary Verner, members of the City Council and others are on the list. We’re still hearing from people so the final list will be posted in the comments to this post later. 

For more on the origins and history of the Ride of Silence see their site.

More Numbers

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety 2008 bicycle fatality statistics

Bike To Work Week Begins Next Week

Bike to Work Week starts next Sunday. Don't let Auntie show you up. If you haven't registered, then go over to the Bike to Work Spokane and do so. Here is the schedule of events:

* May 16 – Education Fair at River Park Square. Bike corral on Main Avenue. Commute Challenge begins.
* May 17 – Pancake Breakfast in Riverfront Park, 7-9am; Music by Liz Rognes. Commuters attending the Kickoff Event will get to RIDE THE EDGE with the freshest and newest coffee from Spokane's own Roast House coffee.
* May 19 – Walk & Roll to School Day: participating Spokane Public Schools
* Various days that week – Energizer Stations at locations countywide. Check out the map which is still being updated.
* May 21 – Wrap-up Party at Steam Plant Grill, 4:30-6:30pm. Registered participants only--must RSVP. You can register here. If you registered last year, then you need to log in and update your registration for this year.
* June 12 – Four-week Commute Challenge ends. Make sure you've logged your biking!
* June 30 (date/location still being confirmed) – Conclusion of four-week Commute Challenge; picnic and results announced.

Getting ready for Bike to Work Week? Picking a route & other tips

One of the most common questions we hear from potential bike commuters as we gear up for Bike to Work Week reflects nervousness over picking a safe route. A few suggestions and tools for you to go with the starter info on the Bike to Work Spokane site:

Warm up. Don't make your Bike to Work Week commute your very first ride of the year. The mild weather this year makes that unlikely for experienced commuters but if you’re a first-timer inspired by the event we want you to be ready for it.

Prep your equipment. Make sure your bike is in good working order: tires pumped, brakes working, reflector/lights if you’ll be riding after dark, helmet straps adjusted, and all the rest. Stop by one of our great local bike shops for a once-over. And now, on to the route:

Scout the route. Consider a practice ride on the weekend so you can work out the kinks or alter your route if need be. This will also help you determine how much time you need.

Scout on your bike, not in your car—perceptions are very different! Recognize that side streets are quieter but those uncontrolled intersections present their own risks. If you usually drive on major arterials that feel too busy on your bike, try shifting just a block or two.

Leave a little early on your first day. Of course, if you’re riding anywhere near downtown Spokane on Monday, May 17, you want to leave early anyway so you can come to the Kickoff Breakfast for some pancakes courtesy of Silver Spoke sponsor Mountain Gear and the chance to “Ride the Edge” with a new custom coffee blend from Pedal Partner Roasthouse Coffee.

Try these tools for route selection.

Just ask Google: Google Maps

• Type in an address.
• Zoom in on the maps and select the "More" tab.
• Check the Bicycling box to see the safest bike routes marked in green on the map. These appear to be bike lanes or signed shared lanes.
• Try “Streets View” to see actual conditions.
• Click “Directions” and add your destination. (You’ll need to choose Bicycling again—default is set to By Car).

This isn’t a perfect tool by any means. The best route from my house to the Riverpoint Campus—“best” meaning better street design and lower traffic count—uses the bike lane on Southeast Boulevard but Google Maps routed me differently. That’s why you still need to scout.

Localized info online: John Speare collected real bike commuter routes via GPS by riding with people who volunteered and mapped them. This shows you routes already in use by area bike commuters.

Localized info online II: MapMyRide.com lets you create a user profile and map routes. Once you’re a member you can search for routes in Spokane. These often include notes about the route that can be very useful (traffic volume, what the street or road is like, resources along the way) and tags indicating type of road and surface. Some are recreational rides or race routes, others are commuter routes. Some even have video! (Security note: You may not want to label a route with “home” in the name—you’re telling people where you live and marking it on a map. Start from a nearby intersection.)

Not-sure-it’s-working localized info online III: Bikely.com is similar to MapMyRide. I couldn’t get the page to load successfully in either Chrome or IE7 but could see a recent cached version in Google. It may work for you.

Localized info online IV: Spokane’s master bike plan shows current and future designated routes. The Maps & Trails page on the Bike to Work site links to various area maps.

Expert people: Get in touch with Eileen Hyatt, SpokaneBikeBuddy@aol.com. She provides personalized suggestions for the best route based on years of experience riding Spokane’s streets. She’ll even meet up with you to check out possible alternatives.

Events with people: Come down (ride down!) to the Education Fair Sunday, May 16, at River Park Square, 10am-4pm. We’ll have information tables and experienced commuters who can talk routes and technique with you.

People you work with: See if there’s a Commute Challenge team forming in your workplace or school (r start one yourself!). Odds are there’s someone whose route matches yours (at least for the last few hundred yards) and you’ll learn where they park their bikes, whether there are showers in your building if that’s important for you, and other insider tips.

After all your prep: Don’t forget to register for Bike to Work Week! When you stand up to be counted it helps us make the case for more of the 5 E’s for bikes: Engineering, Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, and Evaluation.

And above all, have fun.

P.S.: Perhaps the single most common error seen on new bike commuters? Wearing your helmet tipped too far back on your head. Check out brain anatomy, folks—the frontal lobe is a really important part and it’s right in front. Seat the helmet low on your forehead!

Bike Commuter Tips You Won't Get Anywhere Else

Bike to Work Week is coming up soon and I strongly encourage those who haven't tried cycling to work to do so at least once. And then once more. You can find a multitude of commuting tips on the Internet, but I want to share a few that you probably won't find. (I should qualify that some of these are from a guy's perspective.)

1) You will forget something every once in a while. Someone is bound to notice if you're not wearing socks and you can laugh that off. If you like you can tell a funny story about drying off with paper towels after your shower. But it's not necessary for you to share that you're going commando.

2) It's best to double check that you locked the door of the room your changing/showering in before you undress. Your coworkers already have enough to talk about.

3) Nearly 100 per cent of the time you have only a split second to respond to passing cars in which someone screams at you, calls you a name, or yells for you to get off the road. Rather than developing a reflexive "f*#% you!", which could backfire on you occasionally, you can enjoy passing the time by thinking of creative ways to respond if you had their attention for a minute or so.

* The intellectual insult: "A thinking person would disagree with you and also wouldn't waste his time talking to you about it."

* Shame: "Your momma would be so proud to see you now."

* The straight up insult: "I'm trying to see things from your point of view but I can't get my head up my @$$."

* Go Pulp Fiction on 'em: "Well allow me to retort! The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and fu-u-u-u-urious anger...."

Whoa, whoa, WHOA NOW!!! Take a deep cleansing breath. Whew!

This can be an enjoyable exercise as you explore your creativity and pleasurably appreciate your thoughts. But don't go too far. Happy bike commuting!

We got a lot goin’ on, Spokane!

It’s starting to add up. Think about the Spokane cycling calendar now (more info and links to ride-specific sites can be found on the Bike to Work events page).

April: Bike racing season starts with Frozen Flatlands and the Twilight Series organized by Baddlands and the new Ronde Van Palouse put on by Spokane Rocket Velo. Registration opens (soon!) for Bike to Work Week. Traffic skills courses will get you ready to roll if you’re not already used to riding in traffic. A first-ever Bike Shop Swap will be held on Spokane’s Earth Day April 17, and the Lilac Century kicks off the recreational long-ride-with-snacks-and-schwag season.

May: Bike to Work Week 2010 May 16-22 is organized to encourage people to ride bikes not only to/from work but for (fun) transportation in general. Racing season continues. Bike to Work Commute Challenge starts that week and will be extended to run four weeks this year.

June: Commute Challenge results announced. Bike to Work Spokane is putting together some kind of picnic location so we can get together with friends, family and fellow cyclists—hanging out and eating is always the biggest draw at BTW events. On the racing front, the state senior road race and criterium masters’ championships will be held in Cheney this year and the Twilight Series continues.

July: The first Spokane Summer Parkway (our version of Ciclovia) will be held July 11, with Howard Street starting in downtown and heading north a ways closed to vehicular traffic and turned over to people-powered movement. Recreational rides and racing continue.

August: The second Spokane Summer Parkway will be held August 22. Recreational rides and racing continue.

September: SpokeFest—the ride for everyone! Riding, riding and more riding including the classic Tour des Lacs, kids’ races organized by Emde Sports, and more.

October:  Cyclocross racing begins.

November: Cyclocross racing continues.

Gosh, if we just put together a few rides in December, January, February and March we’d have the calendar filled year round. Oh, wait-- come to think of it, those Full Moon Fiasco folks over at The FBC Spokane have us covered there.

Check the calendar and let us know what’s missing. And don't tell us there isn't much cycling stuff happening in Spokane.