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Bike For Pie Date Set -- August 18 -- and Registration is Open |
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Registration is now open for what might be the Northwest's most original cycling event - Bike for Pie. Squeaky Wheels' signature event combines four great elements - bicycling, Bainbridge Island scenery, summer weather and, of course, pies. There are again two routes available - a challenging 32-mile ride that loops around the island and features a rest stop with savory pies hosted by Friends of the Farm, and the family-friendly 12-mile ride. You are welcome to choose whichever you think will pan out best for you and your family. Both include a mouth-watering selection of fruit pies served at Fort Ward, which is now under the management of Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park District.
Entry fees for 2013 are as follows:
Challenge ride (two pie stops) - Adult = $20; Child,14 and under, $10
Family ride (one pie stop) - Adult = $10; Child, 14 and under, $5
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Read more...
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Olympic Drive Mobility Plan |
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Olympic Drive - the short section of roadway from the Winslow ferry dock to Winslow Way - is ... well, let's just say it has lots of room for improvement. It doesn't serve the wide range of users well and it creates a poor first impression of Bainbridge.
Olympic Drive is our front porch and it is long and unwelcoming. Cyclist and cars joust. Visiting pedestrians search for a cute town nestled among tall trees. Commuters rush past this asphalt and concrete jumble.
The City of Bainbridge Island has applied for a WA State DOT grant to make improvements to enhance non-motorized safety and improve the experience for all arriving and departing the Island.
A lot of work has gone into getting to the grant submitted. There are many players and organizations supporting the grant. If the grant is awarded there will be a public process to discuss the final elements and details of the improvments. Squeaky Wheels has developed a concept plan for the work - see the graphic below.
And thank you to Senator Rolfes, Council members Lester and Blair, and City of Bainbridge Public Works and many others for making significant contributions toward getting us this far!
TO VIEW PLAN FULL-SIZE, CLICK HERE
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Bikes and Ferries |
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Committee Tackles Ferry/Bike Issues
Washington State Ferries (WSF) now has a committee to discuss - and hopefully address - ferry issues important to bicyclists. Squeaky Wheels has long championed bicycle issues with WSF and was a catalyst for the formation of this committee. Board members Ross Hathaway and Gordon Black as well as regular commuters Morgan Coleman and Lisa Maccio will represent the interests of cyclists on the committee. If you have ideas or suggestions that you wish to be brought to this committee, contact either
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or Gordon -
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Note: Olympic Drive is frequently congested; some cyclists choose to beat (or avoid) the motor vehicle traffic by riding on the left side of the double yellow stripes at the road centerline. This is both dangerous and illegal. A better approach, and one made practical by the volume of cyclists during commute hours, is to ride in the left lane. Usually this maneuver includes waiting for the lead motorcycles to pass before moving to the left lane from the right lane, but once in the left lane, motor vehicles will stay behind you when you act as a group, rather than as individual riders. Remember, it is legal to take the lane when making a left turn. Be safe and practice courtesy to other road users. |
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Safer Roads Campaign |
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Written by Gordon Black
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Monday, 28 November 2011 19:25 |
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Last November, just before the election, Squeaky Wheels launched a campaign to have five road safety projects given top priority. The five roads are: Eagle Harbor Drive between Bucklin Hill and Wyatt; Lynnwood Center Road between Fletcher Bay and Blakely Avenue; Fletcher Bay Road between New Brooklyn Avenue and High School Road; and Miller Road between Tolo Road and Koura Road. These roads all lack shoulders - some such as Miller have heavy traffic, including frequent truck trips. Eagle Harbor Drive is a critical route simply because all traffic from Winslow to the south end, uses it.
Signs encouraging people to contact the city council were placed on these roads - due to weather and vandalism, most have now been lost. But not lost is the goal of Squeaky Wheels to get these roads improved. To that end, Squeaky Wheels board members have been meeting with council members urging them to select and fund one project for 2012, and make a similar commitment for the four remaining projects. Squeaky Wheels has not taken a position as to whether a bond issue or a locally imposed car tab fee should be used to raise the money necessary to fund a 2012 project but given the city's detierorating roads and financial situation, it seems unlikely that the city can squeeze funds out of its existing budget for roads.
Earlier, the city council rejected Squeaky Wheels' call to use part of the settlement with Washington State Ferries to fund one project in 2012 - Eagle Harbor Drive at the head of the bay: the $2M obtained from WSF will be used exclusively for water-related projects. You can help make the case for the city to fund a project in 2012 by contacting your city council member.
For individual city council members, see www.ci.bainbridge-isl.wa.us/city_council.aspx
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Smart Riders are Safe Riders |
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Written by Dana Berg
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Wednesday, 11 May 2011 07:32 |
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Knowing and following the rules of the road are the best way to stay safe while pedaling. Whether you are a new rider or a seasoned commuter, double check that you follow these simple steps:
Ride on the correct side of the road, the right, with traffic
Stop at stop signs
Be visible day and night-wear something bright in daytime, add lights, front and rear, at night
Take the lane, but don't cross the yellow center line, when exiting the ferry
Wear a well fitted helmet
And you also need to be savvy enough to expect the unexpected. One of the most common surprises is the right hook-a driver passes you and then immediately turns right in front of you. And also the crossing driver-a car pulls out from a side street directly in front of you. These drivers are behaving illegally, but you, as a bike rider, need to be able to avoid them to stay safe. A police officer once told me that it is extremely hard to catch a cyclist by surprise, as they seem to be very tuned into their surroundings. That is true of a seasoned cyclist and it is one of the joys of cycling for me. |
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