Advocacy News

Interurban Update

From The Herald and Warren Bare

Last month a key group reviewed and approved Snohomish County's proposal to spend $500,000 on   getting the Interurban Trail overpass at 124^th Street open this year. The whole project is expected to cost $4 million. The county estimates that 150,000 people use the       Interurban per year, including many bike commuters.

Construction likely will start in late summer and end by October. The new trail segment will hug the edge of the freeway, connecting the bridge to 128th Street SW.

It can't be the permanent route because the state needs the land to expand the 128th Street SW overpass. That project is not planned for another 10 years.

Meanwhile, the Interurban has been extended south in King County, with new bridges over Hwy. 99 in Shoreline. The trail now ends in Seattle at 110th Street.

Lynnwood Bike Plans in Jeopardy

Email from City Public Works

Lynnwood is in the midst of revising our bike plan.  Regarding our bike lane project, we have received a significant amount of comments from residents who are not in support of the project.

Their primary concern is loss of on street parking in front of some of their homes.  The comments will be provided to our Mayor and Council to see if they still support the project.  Depending on the outcome of their decision, it could have a significant impact on our bike plan.

David Mach, PE, Project Manager

Editor’s Note: Send your input in support of   Lynnwood’s original plan to use a $150,000 grant  to sign and paint bicycle lanes on 208^th, 188^th and 168^th Streets to: City of Lynnwood, PO Box 5008, Lynnwood, WA 98046-5008

Chief Sealth Trail Grand Opening Celebration

You are invited to the Chief Sealth Trail grand opening ceremony on Saturday, May 12. The Chief Sealth Trail is a new multi-purpose trail in southeast Seattle. It will provide connections to the Mountains to Sound Greenway (via bike routes/lanes north of Beacon Avenue), and Sound Transit light rail stations along Martin Luther King Jr Way. www.seattle.gov/parks/proparks/projects/chiefSealth.htm

Burke-Gilman Issues in Lake Forest Park

From Cascade Bicycle Club

King County has joined Cascade Bicycle Club in appealing Lake Forest Park Ordinance 951 to the Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Board. Ordinance 951 sets conditions on the Burke-Gilman Trail that would make it impossible for King County to maintain and upgrade it while observing Federal, State, and County traffic safety standards.

In its effort to prioritize private driveways over the rights of trail users, the ordinance departs from Federal, State, and County traffic safety standards. It is also contradicts three professional engineering reports that suggest ways to improve the trail. According to King County Executive Ron Sims, the ordinance would make it "impracticable for the County to improve the trail to meet current and future demand."

Learn more at www.cascade.org

Ride Leading and Coordination

Each month a volunteer Ride Coordinator has the job of trying to fill our weekend, and weekday, Ride Calendar for the following month. The coordinator contacts regular ride leaders, and will help new or potential ride leaders list and lead their first ride.

When you send in a ride to the Coordinator, please follow the format you see in the newsletter, and make sure to include the ride distance, pace and terrain rating (see chart on Rides page).

Ride leaders are encouraged to support each other’s rides by checking in with the Coordinator on dates to avoid double listings, especially rides at similar paces and distances. Club outings and special events should also be supported. Consider listing a “ride to the ride/event”  or contacting the event leader to see how you can help.

Ride leaders who list at least three rides in the newsletter during the year are invited to our annual  Volunteer Breakfast . Event rides and rides listed only on the website don’t count.