There's a 10%-off coupon available online (just print it out) good for a discount on lights at many of our local bike shops:
I'm disappointed in REI for not participating.
Sponsors:
Showing posts with label Event. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Event. Show all posts
Monday, October 31, 2011
Bike Light Coupon - Good Through Nov. 30
A vast number of groups are sponsoring an effort to help people get lights on their bikes, and just generally be more visible when riding at night. It's billed as "See & Be Seen." I think the "Reflectorize Your Walk & Ride" events are probably part of the same endeavor. 
Friday, September 30, 2011
Recap of Bike/Ped. Talk
That was a very enjoyable evening. Spending my Friday night in the rotunda of the Whatcom Museum listening to ideas about improving transportation was definitely worthwhile.
While the talk was sponsored by the Bellingham Transportation Commission as a part of the public outreach for the Pedestrian Master Plan, the evening was just as much about biking, and almost as much about public transit, as it was about walking. The main speaker, architect (and project manager for the City of Portland Office of Transportation's Keep Portland Moving project) Ellen Vanderslice had a slide show of ideas that she ran through. Each had a photo from Portland, showing the idea in action. To be honest, she didn't present any ideas I hadn't heard before. Apparently I read too many bike blogs.
Two things stood out for me about the evening. First, I was encouraged that the attendees (some 40 of us) weren't all middle-aged. It's not just the hard-core bike commuter demographic (i.e. middle-aged white men) who is interested in this topic. There were definitely some 20-something folks in attendance. The other great thing was Mayor Dan Pike's obvious enthusiasm for making our transportation system work better for everyone. Of all the ideas presented in the slide show, afterward he focused on bike boxes and neighborhood greenways (formerly known as bicycle boulevards) as good ones, and I don't disagree. Hopefully he can give a few pushes in the right places to get the ball rolling on starting to implement those ideas here in Bellingham.
At least two audience members asked questions about the possibility of adding cycle tracks (see this post) in specific locations. I'm very supportive of the idea of cycle tracks in general, and it would be great if the city could find places in town where they are good solution.
Here's a video about neighborhood greenways in Portland. Recently there has been a push for them in Seattle, too.
Portland's Bike Boulevards Become Neighborhood Greenways from Streetfilms on Vimeo.
Added 10/1: Third item to note: Bellingham is already implementing quite a few of the ideas mentioned by Vanderslice, esp. curb bulb-outs, pedestrian refuges, and ped. activated flashing lights. And while TRI-MET has 2-bike racks on their buses, WTA has 3-bike racks!
While the talk was sponsored by the Bellingham Transportation Commission as a part of the public outreach for the Pedestrian Master Plan, the evening was just as much about biking, and almost as much about public transit, as it was about walking. The main speaker, architect (and project manager for the City of Portland Office of Transportation's Keep Portland Moving project) Ellen Vanderslice had a slide show of ideas that she ran through. Each had a photo from Portland, showing the idea in action. To be honest, she didn't present any ideas I hadn't heard before. Apparently I read too many bike blogs.
Two things stood out for me about the evening. First, I was encouraged that the attendees (some 40 of us) weren't all middle-aged. It's not just the hard-core bike commuter demographic (i.e. middle-aged white men) who is interested in this topic. There were definitely some 20-something folks in attendance. The other great thing was Mayor Dan Pike's obvious enthusiasm for making our transportation system work better for everyone. Of all the ideas presented in the slide show, afterward he focused on bike boxes and neighborhood greenways (formerly known as bicycle boulevards) as good ones, and I don't disagree. Hopefully he can give a few pushes in the right places to get the ball rolling on starting to implement those ideas here in Bellingham.
At least two audience members asked questions about the possibility of adding cycle tracks (see this post) in specific locations. I'm very supportive of the idea of cycle tracks in general, and it would be great if the city could find places in town where they are good solution.
Here's a video about neighborhood greenways in Portland. Recently there has been a push for them in Seattle, too.
Portland's Bike Boulevards Become Neighborhood Greenways from Streetfilms on Vimeo.
Added 10/1: Third item to note: Bellingham is already implementing quite a few of the ideas mentioned by Vanderslice, esp. curb bulb-outs, pedestrian refuges, and ped. activated flashing lights. And while TRI-MET has 2-bike racks on their buses, WTA has 3-bike racks!
Bike/Ped. Speaker Tonight
Sorry I'm tardy at noting this...
The Bellingham Transportation Commission is hosting a speaker in the old Whatcom Museums Rotunda Room. Architect and pedestrian advocate Ellen Vanderslice will speak on "Walking and Bicycling Toward A More Livable Bellingham: Lessons Learned From Portland." The event is free to the public.
What: Ellen Vanderslice
Where: Old Whatcom Museum, 121 Prospect St.
When: 7pm-9pm
City press release.
Herald article.
The Bellingham Transportation Commission is hosting a speaker in the old Whatcom Museums Rotunda Room. Architect and pedestrian advocate Ellen Vanderslice will speak on "Walking and Bicycling Toward A More Livable Bellingham: Lessons Learned From Portland." The event is free to the public.
What: Ellen Vanderslice
Where: Old Whatcom Museum, 121 Prospect St.
When: 7pm-9pm
City press release.
Herald article.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Whatcom Creek Trail: Link Missing No More!
The Meador/Kansas/Ellis path is almost ready to go!
The last section of off-street path between Lake Whatcom and Bellingham Bay is going to be dedicated this week. Sounds like quite the to-do, with local notables, light refreshments, and a group ride or walk along the trail.
You're welcome to attend.
City of Bellingham press release
When: 1pm Thursday 9/29
Where: 1825 Ellis St. (outside Platt Electric Supply)
The last section of off-street path between Lake Whatcom and Bellingham Bay is going to be dedicated this week. Sounds like quite the to-do, with local notables, light refreshments, and a group ride or walk along the trail.
You're welcome to attend.
City of Bellingham press release
When: 1pm Thursday 9/29
Where: 1825 Ellis St. (outside Platt Electric Supply)
This ped/bike bridge over Whatcom Creek was added alongside the Meador St. bridge.
At least some of the new section of trail is paved with a new concrete conglomerate that's been getting some attention. It's partially made out of old porcelain toilets. I think the photos above and below show it, but I'm not positive. It looks a bit like rice crispies instead of regular concrete. Above you can see the difference between what they're used for the path vs what they're using for driveways.
I haven't ridden on it, but it looks like it has very high rolling resistance. We'll have to see.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Reminder: Bellingham Bike In TONIGHT
5pm to late!
Bay Street in front of the Pickford!
Live Music! Food & beer! Bike Show! Gear & bike decorating!
And at dusk, the Traveling Pickford Show will screen some short bike-related films, and then Pee-Wee's Big Adventure.
The Facebook event notes there will be a few folding chairs, but it's a good idea to bring your own.
Admission by donation, proceeds go to the Pickford.
More info., including the bike show categories, is at the Pickford.
Friday, August 12, 2011
3rd Annual Bellingham Bike-In
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| http://www.pickfordevents.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/PFC-Bike-In-Slide6.jpg |
Power yourself to this outdoor event -- biking highly encouraged.
Where: Bay Street, in front of the Pickford
When: Sat. Aug. 20, 5pm
Schedule:
- 5:00 pm – Beer garden open, Bike Show n’ Shine registration
- 5:15 pm – Music by Smokewagon begins (Rockabilly)
- 8:15 pm – Show n’ Shine winners awarded, other announcements, prizes
- 8:45 pm – Bicycle shorts and feature film: Pee Wee's Big Adventure
More info. at pickfordevents.com
Sunday, July 10, 2011
How Should the Baker to Bay Trail Cross James St. (near Sunset Pond)?
The City is in the planning stage for projects to improve James St. near Sunset Pond. The projects will replace two old bridges, and the road will be widened to add sidewalks, bike lanes, and a center turn lane.
Later projects in the same vicinity are planned to add a new section of Orchard St. that will connect the existing stretches on either side of I-5 via a tunnel under the freeway. I don't know if it's part of the same project or not, but there's also a plan to add a multi-use path along Squalicum Creek from Sunset Pond west, also under the freeway. This will be part of the Baker to Bay Trail.
Traffic Talk reports that the city planners are asking the City Council which one of four options they want for having that new trail cross the improved section of James St. -- the answer will have an impact on the design and possibly the placement of one of the replacement bridges.
Drawings of the four options, via Traffic Talk
Staff Report to council, with descriptions of the four options
If you have opinions on how the trail should cross James St., tell your City Council Reps. They'll be discussing it on Monday the 11th, first at a meeting of the Public Works/Public Safety Committee (that's Barry Buchanan (CHAIR); Jack Weiss; and Gene Knutson), and then at the full Council meeting. The committee meeting is at 1:25-2:45 in the Council Chambers, and the full Council meeting is at 7pm. Agenda.
Later projects in the same vicinity are planned to add a new section of Orchard St. that will connect the existing stretches on either side of I-5 via a tunnel under the freeway. I don't know if it's part of the same project or not, but there's also a plan to add a multi-use path along Squalicum Creek from Sunset Pond west, also under the freeway. This will be part of the Baker to Bay Trail.
Traffic Talk reports that the city planners are asking the City Council which one of four options they want for having that new trail cross the improved section of James St. -- the answer will have an impact on the design and possibly the placement of one of the replacement bridges.
Drawings of the four options, via Traffic Talk
Staff Report to council, with descriptions of the four options
If you have opinions on how the trail should cross James St., tell your City Council Reps. They'll be discussing it on Monday the 11th, first at a meeting of the Public Works/Public Safety Committee (that's Barry Buchanan (CHAIR); Jack Weiss; and Gene Knutson), and then at the full Council meeting. The committee meeting is at 1:25-2:45 in the Council Chambers, and the full Council meeting is at 7pm. Agenda.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Complete Streets Workshop & Walk, 7/13
Several local organizations are hosting a guest speaker for an evening about Complete Streets, the idea that public right-of-way should work for all modes of transportation, not just cars. The event is free and open to the public.
What: Talk by Peter Lagerway (multi-modal planning expert, Senior Planner at Toole Design Group), and walk around downtown
When: Wed. July 13, 6:30-8pm
Where: the old Pickford Theater, 1416 Cornwall Ave.
Facebook Event Link
Sponsors:
What: Talk by Peter Lagerway (multi-modal planning expert, Senior Planner at Toole Design Group), and walk around downtown
When: Wed. July 13, 6:30-8pm
Where: the old Pickford Theater, 1416 Cornwall Ave.
Facebook Event Link
Sponsors:
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Sunday, June 5, 2011
Monday 6/3 Hearing on Eliza St./Mall Connector: Comments to City Council
This coming Monday night the Bellingham City Council meeting agenda includes 30 minutes for a public hearing on the 2012-2017 Transportation Improvement Program. This is your opportunity to speak against Project # 6: Eliza Avenue Multimodal Arterial Connection. I've written about it before. This is the project that will turn a quiet stretch of Eliza into an extension of the mall, thereby choking off the safest portion of the cycling commute between Whatcom Community College and parts south.
The meeting is at 7pm in the City Council Chambers -- here's the agenda.
I urge you to attend and speak against this project.
If you can't, please email the City Council and tell them your concerns. Here's what I wrote to them:
-------------------------
Council Members,
I'm writing to oppose Project #6 in the 2012-2017 TIP, "Eliza Avenue Multimodal Arterial Connection". This project, as described in the TIP, will have a negative impact on the safety of bicyclists commuting to Whatcom Community College from the south -- and there are more of us all the time.
It proposes to bring arterial-levels of traffic to a road segment (Eliza between Northwest and Matanuska) that cannot handle both that much traffic AND bicyclists at the same time. The price tag of the project is low because it's not a complete project. It will create a hazard where there currently isn't one.
Please do not support this project until it is redesigned to take the safety of bicyclists into account. It should not go forward without, at a minimum, removing parking from both sides of Eliza and also adding bike lanes to both sides. The most preferable alternative is fund the entire sidewalk/curb/gutter/bike lane portion of the project at the same time as building the mall connector.
I wrote to you last year about this project as well.
There's more information at my blog:
http://bellinghambikeblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/eliza-stmall-connector-bad-for-bikes.html
I would speak against it Monday's Council Meeting, but I work at that time and can't make it.
Please tell me you're not going to put me in with mall traffic on a road with no bike lane.
Thank you,
Sunday, May 22, 2011
One Step Closer to a Completed Whatcon Creek Trail
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| http://www.cob.org/government/departments/pw/projects/images/es-413-meador-kansas/es-413-vicinity-large.jpg |
Public Works Project Overview page.
UPDATE: City Council approved the bid, according to the Herald, which notes there are hopes construction will begin in June.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Happy Bike to Work & School Day!
I hope you had a chance to transport yourself around town in the glorious sunshine. I stopped by one Celebration Station this morning on my way to check in on our garden plot.
Thank you to all the volunteers staffing the stations, to all the businesses who donated goodies, to Whatcom Smart Trips folks for organizing it, and to all the bikers and walkers out there today!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Bike To Shop Event, May 20
It's a pretty good tie-in, since quite a few of the 22 Celebration Stations (PDF map) in town are located at or near grocery stores: Sehome Village, the Public Market on Cornwall, Haggen on Meridian, Haggen at Barkley, Community Food Co-op at Cordata, and near The Market at Fairhaven. If you're biking past a grocery store on your commute, then you could pretty easily stop for groceries, too!
Bike to Shop day has three locations this year:
The Market at Fairhaven
3125 Old Fairhaven Parkway, Bellingham
(at the I-5 exit for Fairhaven Parkway)
Terra Organica
1530 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham
(at the corner of Cornwall and Flora)
Haggen Food and Pharmacy
2814 Guide Meridian Street, Bellingham
(at the corner of Illinois and Meridian)
The 'event' part of it is that a Celebration Station will be in front of each store from 10 am to 5 pm (the other Celebration Stations are scheduled for 6:30 - 9:30 am).
In preparation for this event, I decided to take a look at each store's bike parking facilities. See what I found on my ride after the jump.
The 'event' part of it is that a Celebration Station will be in front of each store from 10 am to 5 pm (the other Celebration Stations are scheduled for 6:30 - 9:30 am).
In preparation for this event, I decided to take a look at each store's bike parking facilities. See what I found on my ride after the jump.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Team Up Kick-Off
The bike racks were overflowing, the snacks and the beer were tasty, I got a cute bike pin, and I am super excited about the shirt they gave to us Team Leaders -- I [bike] B'HAM! I shall wear it proudly under my top layer(s).
It's May 1st and my team has at least 2 points already -- G. & I biked over to work on our garden plot today.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Pedestrian Master Plan: Workshop
The City of Bellingham is working on a Pedestrian Master Plan, and they'd like your input. The first public workshop is coming up:
When: Wed. May 11, 2011 from 5:30 to 7:30
Where: City Council Chambers (210 Lottie St.)
If you can't make the meeting you'll be able to watch the presentation online via Bellingham TV Channel 10 and submit comments online at cob.org/walk.
Source.
When: Wed. May 11, 2011 from 5:30 to 7:30
Where: City Council Chambers (210 Lottie St.)
If you can't make the meeting you'll be able to watch the presentation online via Bellingham TV Channel 10 and submit comments online at cob.org/walk.
Source.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Our team is ready to go...
Maybe I'll see you at the everybodyBIKE Kick Off Reception on Friday at Chuckanut Brewery?
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
May is Bike Month: Team-Up for everybodyBIKE
Once again this May Whatcom County residents are being encouraged to use human power for transportation instead of driving with the Team-Up for everybodyBIKE event. Join a team, log at least three trips with Whatcom Smart Trips, and you're eligible for raffle prizes. There are also team prizes for the top scoring teams.
Teams are 4 to 6 people, and can be organized around anything you like -- family, friends, work, school, whatever. The key is to find someone to be a Team Leader. That is the person who will register your team online.
Team Leaders get invited to the kick-off event at Chuckanut Brewery on Friday, April 29 (they can bring team members if they RSVP...).
So, what's your team going to be called?
Teams are 4 to 6 people, and can be organized around anything you like -- family, friends, work, school, whatever. The key is to find someone to be a Team Leader. That is the person who will register your team online.
Team Leaders get invited to the kick-off event at Chuckanut Brewery on Friday, April 29 (they can bring team members if they RSVP...).
So, what's your team going to be called?
Bike & Gear Swap, Sat. April 30
Whatcom Events is hosting a swap for bikes & gear: the Great NW Recreational Gear and Bike Swap. It's a fundraiser for The Bike Shop, a nonprofit that teaches kids to maintain & repair bikes -- 10% of sales price is donated.
When: Sat. April 30, 2011. 10 - 4
Where: Bellingham Sportsplex (1225 Civic Field Way)
Entrance fee: $2 to enter before noon, kids <12 y.o. free
If you're going to bring stuff to swap, you should register ahead of time.
Contact: Matt or Whatcom Events 758-2035 or thebikeshop1@gmail.com
When: Sat. April 30, 2011. 10 - 4
Where: Bellingham Sportsplex (1225 Civic Field Way)
Entrance fee: $2 to enter before noon, kids <12 y.o. free
If you're going to bring stuff to swap, you should register ahead of time.
Contact: Matt or Whatcom Events 758-2035 or thebikeshop1@gmail.com
Meeting TONIGHT re. Galbraith Mtn.
WMBC is hosting a Galbraith Mountain Community Forum TONIGHT, April 18, 2011.
Where: Bellingham City Hall Council Chambers
When: 7 p.m.
This isn't a City Council meeting, but apparently some elected officials will attend.
More info. at http://www.whimpsmtb.org/
This is all concerning the future of recreation on the mountain now that the owners have decided to disallow access.
Where: Bellingham City Hall Council Chambers
When: 7 p.m.
This isn't a City Council meeting, but apparently some elected officials will attend.
More info. at http://www.whimpsmtb.org/
This is all concerning the future of recreation on the mountain now that the owners have decided to disallow access.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
TBD Meeting Mon. 3/28 on Bike/Ped Projects
1pm, City Council Chambers.
Public comment is listed on the Agenda (there's a link on this page), if you have something to say to them.
Article from the Herald.
Public comment is listed on the Agenda (there's a link on this page), if you have something to say to them.
Article from the Herald.
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