Newsletter Page 1

March 2006

Click here if you want to download the March pdf (Adobe Acrobat version) of the Newsletter

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B.I.K.E.S. Next Meeting, Thursday, March 9, 2006

From the President

Club Meeting 7 p.m. Feb. 9,

Our monthly club meeting will be a potluck and McClinchy preparation party at Patty Garrett's house in Arlington. The club will provide the main dish, you bring a salad, side dish or dessert to share for dinner at 6 p.m.

At 7 p.m. we'll begin organizing registrations, t-shirts and other stuff to be ready for the big day on Saturday. Call Patty before 8 p.m. for directions and ideas on what to bring at
360-435-0146.

Seeking New Newsletter 'Angel'

For many years B.I.K.E.S. Club member Bev
Rossiter has been our faithful newsletter angel, picking up the newsletters at the Everett PUD and bringing them and the newsletter "box" to that month's stuffing party. After an hour or so she leaves with the prepared newsletters and puts them in the mail the next day.

Well, Bev retired from biking several years ago, and now she has retired from work and her regular B.I.K.E.S. Club newsletter duties. So we need a new B.I.K.E.S. Club member to take on this commitment of two to three hours each month. The pay is poor, but the rewards are great. You get the satisfaction of contributing to cycling in Snohomish County even if, like Bev, you haven't rolled your bike out of the garage in quite a while.

For more information on how you can meet club members when they're not dressed in lycra, call Kristin at 360-658-2462.

Bev, A BIG Thank you to you for
the great job!

Olympic Cycling Classic May 20, Port Angeles, www.olybikeride.com

Lance Armstrong Foundation Ride for the Roses Sept. 24, Portland, Ore. www.livestrongride.com

Got a Pet Peeve?

If you see a road hazard for cyclists you’d like to report to the proper authorities, start with www.bikewatch.org. It’s a new website set up to report problems in Washington State.

Club News

McClinchy Mile Ride March 11

This annual fund raiser offers every member a chance to be involved with the club. You can ride, volunteer or do both!

All ride proceeds support the club, and the club in turn has used McClinchy profits to support bike helmets for kids, Snohomish County Bike to Work Day, neighborhood bike rodeos, Sharing Wheels and other local efforts.

One dollar from every rider goes to the Bicycle Alliance of Washington, which supports bike advocacy and education statewide.

All miles are club miles for the Frequent Rider
Program, but you must report your own to John Carlin.

Volunteers who put in at least three hours get a free shirt or sweatshirt, and we'll take you out to dinner afterwards, too. To volunteer, call Kristin at 360-658-2462. To ride, show up on Saturday from 8 - 11 a.m. at Post Middle School.

Upcoming Dates

BIKES Club Sharing Wheels Work Party,
April 22

Bike to Work Day, May 19

Yakima Wine Ride Weekend ?
May 20 and 21 More information in the next newsletter.

Seattle Bike Club Guided Tulip Ride 2006

Saturday April 8, 32 mile loop with groups going at different paces to accommodate tulip tip-toe-ers along with those who just want to see a blur of color as they whiz by.

Click here to view Other Club Rides
(soon to be updated)

The date for the LIVESTRONG Ride Portland has changed to July 30, 2006.

This event was originally scheduled to mark the anniversary of our first LIVESTRONG Ride Portland, September 24, 2005. The date has changed, but the importance of the LIVESTRONG Ride Portland has not.

We're still counting on your support! By participating, you help the Lance Armstrong Foundation inspire and empower people
affected by cancer.

We deeply regret the inconvenience this change may cause and sincerely hope that you will join us on our new date, and together we will do something bold in the face of cancer. Visit http://livestrongride.org

Update on 124^th Street Overpass

Work is visible on the new bike-pedestrian overpass of I-5 north of 128^th Street in Everett. The overpass has long been a planned improvement to the Interurban Trail, and is now a Dept. of Transportation project. Unfortunately, when the overpass is done this summer, it may be a trail to nowhere. The DOT has not been able to negotiate with a property owner on the east side of I-5 to allow a trail across his property which would connect with the next section of the Interurban.

However, that property owner now would like to develop his land, so Snohomish County is working to negotiate the trail as part of the development plan. Note that the state Attorney General’s Office has expressed the legal opinion that bike-ped trails are not eligible for “eminent domain” proceedings, meaning the property can’t be “condemned” for the public good unlike land needed for a road widening or public facility.

Ride leaders take note!

John Carlin is the new Miles Coordinator.
Please send him your ride miles effective Dec. 11, 2005 through Holiday Party 2006.
Contact info: johnecarlin@comcast.net, 425-778-4529
The signed ride sheets still go to Kristin for club record-keeping.