B.I.K.E.S. Club of Snohomish County

Hello!

We are hoping you can help us get the word out that we have opened a bicycle parts, repair, service shop in Snohomish, called Snohomish Bicycles.

The store is run by my husband (Martin) who has been an avid road cyclist for 15 years.

He is currently open on Saturday, Sundays and Holidays and hopes to be full time in June.

We are located at the head of the Centennial Trail in Snohomish. Shop phone number is 360-863-6408. We are willing to offer BIKES members 10% all parts.

Thanks for helping to spread the word!

Wendy & Martin Mollat
Snohomish Bicycles

Good news on a key bill backed by the Bicycle Alliance

A bill (HB 2564) that beefs up safety content of the drivers' education curriculum by adding information about bicyclists to the drivers' manual has cleared the state House. The bill was voted out of the House on Tuesday afternoon. To make it into law, the Senate must now likewise give its approval.

The Senate will begin looking at this bill immediately. The Senate companion bill is SB 6420. Sometime this week please contact your senator to urge his or her support for this important piece of legislation to help ensure a generation of better trained drivers more informed about how to share our roads safely with bicyclists. They need to hear from many people across the state in order to understand how important this is!

Key points to make when calling or writing your senator:

* This bill had overwhelming support in the House (73-22, 3 excused)

* There is no cost (no fiscal note) to the state to add bicyclists to the drivers' manual

* It's in line with material already prepared by the Department of Licensing, which supports the legislation

* Recognizes changing conditions on our roadways (more bicyclists)

* Will increase safety for bicyclists by better training a new generation of drivers

Without delay, contact your senator and urge support for this important piece of safety legislation.

The Bicycle Alliance is also promoting a budget item to fund a pilot project in three school districts. Watch for information on the progress of that.

Gordon Black

Executive Director

Bicycle Alliance of Washington

PO Box 2904

Seattle WA. 98111

(206) 224-9252 Ex. 300

www.bicyclealliance.org

Bike To Work Day Volunteers Needed!!

I need BIKES Club volunteers from 6-9 a.m. on Bike to Work Day, May 16 in Marysville, Everett Station, Boeing (4:30-8:30 a.m.) Lynnwood, Bothell.

Volunteers can cover only part of a shift if needed (but at least 1 1/2 hours).
Volunteers will help provide goodies to riders and promote the club.

Contact Kristin, 425-348-2369.

Sharing Wheels Annual Kids Bike Swap

Hi everyone,
It's almost time for the Annual Kids Bike Swap. Sunday June 1st from 11am - 3pm.
We will need volunteers throughout the day; set-up, bike check-in, bike fitting, mechanic station, helmet fitting, check-out and clean-up.
We will be having work parties starting next week to fix up bikes.

Dates:
Monday - April 28th 1pm - 7pm
Tuesday - April 29th 3pm - 9pm
Thursday - April 30th 1pm - 7pm

May will be:
Mondays - 1pm - 7pm
Tuesdays - 3pm - 9pm
Thursdays - 1pm - 9pm
Sunday May 11th - 11am - 3pm

Email Ron for more info: rontoppi.sharingwheels@verizon.net

Thanks,
Ron

Survey

I am a student at the University of Washington working with a group of engineers on the UW Business Plan Competition. We are working on an "intelligent" shoe that would help increase performance and reduce the risk of overuse-injury for cyclists by monitoring ankle position and movement. Currently we are trying to collect information from potential users and I was wondering if you could send the message and survey link below to your group's members? If you have any questions I can be reached via email: erikroby@gmail.com.
Thank you very much for your help.
-Erik Roby

Please take a moment to participate in this important research project. Your responses are critical to us. This survey will take 5 minutes or less to complete.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Ov4t1t8Ic9Xye1bmGs3_2bmA_3d_3d

Ride Around Puget Sound

You can now register for the Ride Around Puget Sound (RAPSody). The 165-mile ride will be held on August 23 to 24. There are several new aspects to the ride this year. The route travels on several new, scenic corridors and takes riders across the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge (on a 10-foot bike path). Sorry, no ferries!
Jerseys instead of T-shirts are available this year.

The start and end for RAPSody is at Tacoma Community College. Most people choose to ride RAPSody is two days and stay at the Shelton High School overnight. There is also a one-day option that begins on Saturday and traverses the entire course.

Cost is $80 through July 20, $90 until registration closes on August 17. If you are a member of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington (BAW), you receive a $10 discount. You can also join when you register to receive the discount. More information is available at www.rapsodybikeride.com.
You can register online at www.active.com or download a form from the website.

All RAPSody proceeds benefit BAW’s statewide advocacy and education.
RAPSody is hosted by B.I.K.E.S. Club of Snohomish County, Capital Bicycle Club, Seattle Bicycle Club,
Tacoma Wheelmen's Bicycle Club and West Sound Cycling Club.

To volunteer to help at the BIKES foodstop during RAPSody on Aug. 23 ,
contact Kristi Knodell at 360-658-2462 or kknodell@aol.com.
Volunteers receive a T-shirt, socks, and can purchase the jersey at cost (must do so by June 30).

Support Marysville Trail
The city of Marysville has heard opposition for a planned bike-pedestrian trail from Hwy 528 to Soper Hill. http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080219/NEWS01/780428720&SearchID=73310048040429

A handful of residents in the immediate area of the trail are opposed to the project based on unfounded fear of lost property value (actually, trails increase value) and crime (nope, popular trails put good citizens out and about, generally reducing crime)

City staff and elected officials need to hear our support for this and other trail and bike plans. Please write to:jballew@ci.marysville.wa.us and also to mayor@ci.marysville.wa.us

Tell Olympic National Park to remove the proposed ban on bicyclists

Action Alert from the Bicycle Alliance of Washington
            Hurricane Ridge Road inside Olympic National Park is a popular summer destination for bicyclists who like the challenge of a 17-mile road rising from virtually sea level to 5420-feet. Park managers have been planning to repave the road for several years and Congress has provided $12.7 Million to repave and repair 12 miles. The road recently sustained storm damage.
               Citing “safety,” the park is planning to ban bicyclists for the entire two year duration of the road repairs. The road will remain open to all other vehicle traffic, including motorcycles.
            We believe that this is an unnecessary exclusion of bicyclists on what is a federally funded road open to all other forms of traffic. Write to your members of Congress and interim park superintendent Sue McGill and let them know that the proposed ban is totally unacceptable. Request that McGill meet directly with the Bicycle Alliance and other bicycle groups to reach an improved solution.

Enter your zip code to obtain the name of your member of Congress: http://www.house.gov/htbin/zipfind

Washington’s two senators can be reached by email or by calling a local office:

Senator Patty Murray: http://murray.senate.gov/contact/

Senator Maria Cantwell: http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/office_locations.cfm

Olympic National Park
Sue McGill, Superintendent
Olympic National Park
600 E. Park Avenue
Port Angeles, WA 98362
sue_mcgill@nps.gov

Key points to raise:

	Hurricane Ridge Road is a popular destination for bicyclists
	Bicyclists who ride this road tend to be very experienced, fit riders
	The road will remain open to all other vehicle traffic
	State, county and city governments in Washington manage to accommodate bicyclists during reconstruction projects without any problems
	No construction work will take place at weekends, but the ban is to remain in place then too
	Olympic National Park did not contact a single bicycle group in its out-reach efforts, even though bicyclists are the most affected users
	Contractors routinely deal with bicyclists on other road projects – this project is no more a safety issue than other road works. Background on the issue is available at: http://peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080216/NEWS/802160303&template=printart Information on recent storm damage to Hurricane Ridge Road: http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/current-closures.htm

Interurban and Centennial Trail maps

Community Transit has recently published the detailed Interurban and Centennial Trail maps on our website, www.communitytransit.org. You may request a hard copy of the entire map by calling 425-353-7433.

B.I.K.E.S SUGGESTION BOX

Click on the link above to send suggestions, questions and website related ideas to the BIKES Club Board Members.

Pictures from the Storage locker project that
Warren, Bill Weber and Tim Wise worked on.

Road Closure Information

King County

http://www.metrokc.gov/tran.htm

Construction projects

http://www.metrokc.gov/kcdot/roads/cip/default.aspx

Snohomish County

http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Public_Works/Divisions/road_maint/road_closures.htm
Road_Maint/Road_Closures.htm

Washington recently joined a handful of other states offering specialty license plates featuring the "Share the Road" message. The Bicycle Alliance of Washington, the only state wide voice for bicyclists, worked with the Washington State Department of Licensing on the design and approval process.

The idea of the plates is to raise awareness of bicyclists' rights to safely use the road.

The plates can only be purchased from the Department of Licensing for $40.00 plus any applicable fees.
The Bicycle Alliance will receive $28.00 from each plate sold and renewed. The twenty-eight dollars are tax deductible.

The Alliance will use the proceeds to fund safety and education programs, including providing mini grants to schools and community groups to fund programs and projects.

Follow this link to visit Bicycle Alliance of Washington for more information

B.I.K.E.S is a Snohomish County bicycle club that promotes cycling for fun and exercise.
Volunteer ride leaders sponsor rides each weekend year-round,
and some leaders maintain regular weekday ride schedules.

If you would like to join, just complete the online application form and mail it to the address
provided along with your registration fee.

B.I.K.E.S rides range anywhere from 10 to 100 miles in length, with varying levels of difficulty.
Upcoming rides and contact information are posted in the club's monthly newsletter,
Chainwheel Chatter.

The Snohomish County area is hilly (mostly gently rolling) and the climate is temperate.
Routes generally follow scenic valleys or lowlands with views of farm lands, rivers,
lakes and snow-capped peaks.
Some rides are scheduled for the scenic San Juan Islands, others for Eastern Washington
(where the sun shines more often), and still others further south in the Seattle area.
Club dues are $15 (individual) and $20 (includes family).

Ride and Club Updates Are On The Web!