From the president.

By Bill Weber

October completes my second year as the B.I.K.E.S. Club president.  I appreciate all the encouragement and help that I have been given. And have enjoyed representing your interests in community events and programs.  If you want to bring new ideas to keep the club fresh and interesting, I will assist any one willing to accept a leadership position.

Now comes the recycled part of the newsletter.

Elections will be held in October so it is time to start thinking about how you can help.

President. Presides at general meetings. Calls committee meetings as needed for McClinchy Mile Ride, picnic, etc. Represents (or appoints someone else to represent) BIKES with outside organizations as needed. 5-8 hours a month.

Vice President. Plans the program at general meetings. Assists with committees. Performs duties of president when needed. 2-5 hours a month.

Treasurer. Deposit membership dues and notify Database Coordinator of updates. Provide monthly financial statement. Pay bills and member reimbursements. 4-5 hours a month.

Secretary. Keeps minutes of general meetings and provides to newsletter editor. Collects club records. Handles correspondence related to McClinchy Mile Ride. 2-4 hours a month.

Ride Mile Coordinator.  Tracks and reports miles for the Frequent Rider Club. 2-4 hours a month.

Newsletter Editor. Compiles and solicits items of interest for newsletter. Lays-out newsletter (currently done in Publisher – we have a nice template). 3-5 hours a month.

We will also be sending the newsletter stuffing volunteer sign-up sheets around at the meeting.

Thanks again for the last two interesting years.  I hope to see everybody at the October meeting

Bill

1. Bicycle Alliance of Washington
Legislative Issues

 By Kristin Kinnamon
Bicycle Alliance of Washington
Board Member

Supporting your local bike club is important. It’s also important to belong to our statewide advocacy organization, the Bicycle Alliance of Washington. The Bicycle Alliance has a lobbyist in Olympia and has a seat at the table of many statewide initiatives and committees. That gives us all a voice in making Washington state more bike-friendly.

As a board member and chair of our Legislative & Statewide Issues Committee, I’m proud to share what we’re working on this year.

Initiative 985 : The Bicycle Alliance has taken a position opposing I-985. While the ballot title states that the measure is intended to “reduce traffic congestion,” it focuses solely on motor vehicles as the means to do so. By requiring a certain amount of state and local money be spent on “congestion relief” measures aimed solely at cars, I-985 puts at risk funding for non-motorized and transit projects. It sets out a “one size fits all” solution to traffic problems across the state, limiting local control and decision-making.

Traffic Actuated Signals: Ever sat on your bike at a traffic light waiting for it to change? Given that bikes are legal vehicles in Washington, it shouldn’t have to be that way. We are developing legislation to require cities to make signals detect bikes and motorcycles and to mark loops to indicate bike placement whenever road work is done in an intersection. All lights would have to comply within two years. As a member of BIKES Club of Snohomish County, I know how important this bill is. We’ve been asking how “improved” intersections on Hwy. 9 will detect bikes. Department of Transportation engineers have told us that, despite DOT bike design standards to the contrary, they don’t have to design signals for bikes.

Construction Zones: Ever been frustrated by construction signs blocking the bike lane or shoulder? Ever suddenly come across a closed sidewalk with no safe alternative? National standards (Manual of Uniform Traffic Code) that are adopted by most jurisdictions require that bicycles and pedestrians be considered when planning for access through construction zones. In practice, construction projects often create dangerous barriers for cyclists when proper planning could provide safe alternatives. Our bill will require compliance with MUTCD standards so that people who use wheelchairs, bikes or their own two feet are considered important user groups when construction zone closures and detours are necessary.

School Transportation Funding: The Bicycle Alliance is a partner is the state Center for Safe Routes to School. We help communities educate, engineer, encourage and evaluate walking and biking programs and facilities for schools. With our bad economy, legislators and school leaders are also wondering how to get the most out of school transportation funding. Did you know state money can be used to bus kids who live within 1 mile of school, but can’t help pay for school crossing guards so kids could walk instead?

We want to give school districts incentives to work for safer roads and walkways in their community, not just more money for buses year after year.

Global Warming: Bicycle Alliance Executive Director Gordon Black serves on the state’s Climate Change subcommittee on transportation. The committee will be supporting policies and legislation that encourage bicycles as an earth-friendly transportation option.

3-Foot Passing: Washington state law already requires cars to pass cyclists at a “safe distances.” Last year we tried to define that as a minimum of three feet. The Washington State Patrol opposed the bill for fear they couldn’t enforce it and truckers wondered if they’d be able to cross double yellow lines to comply. We’ve been studying other state’s laws and will meet with the WSP this month to see if we can change their minds. If not, we’ll focus on enforcing existing laws and educating both drivers and cyclists for now.

Please visit our website for more details on these issues, and to join the Bicycle Alliance in support of this important work: www.bicyclealliance.org.

The BAW Legislative Committee welcomes bike advocates from across the state. If you’d like to be considered for membership, please submit a letter of interest to me at kinnamonk@aol.com