PT Pedalpalooza

Note: The following is copied from the PTpedals webpage.

Inspired by Portland’s Pedalpalooza, and Vancouver, BC’s Velopalooza, PTpedals’ first effort at promoting a continuous stream of bike fun is PT Pedalpalooza 2012, a 5-day series of bicycle activities and celebration of cycling scheduled for July 11-15, 2012.

PT Pedalpalooza’s debut this year includes some steering committee organized activities, but this effort is largely a grassroots-based program of bike fun. ANYONE can plan a ride or activity and put it on the calendar, so others can participate in bike fun! AND the BIKE FUN is not limited to those 5 days in July… those are just the inaugural celebration. The mid-July timing is planned to be a multi-day cycling festival for a “pedalpalooza” celebration of cycling every year. To continue the BIKE FUN and growing our bike community and bike culture, keep planning and posting bike fun rides and things to do all summer and all year long.

PTpedals is a new volunteer-directed, community-based effort focused on promoting bicycling activities, events, culture/community and BIKE FUN for people of all ages and skill levels. Activities for casual bicycle riders (uncertain about riding much distance or pedaling uphill) to experienced road cyclists and mountain bikers are encouraged to plan activities for others and participate in BIKE FUN during PT Pedalpalooza and year-round by checking the PTpedals calendar and joining the e-mail list for ride and bicycling activity announcements at: ptpedals@lists.riseup.net.

Once again, Washington state ranks as the most "bike-friendly"

For the 5th year in a row, the League of American Bicyclists has ranked Washington state as the most bicycle-friendly state in the nation.

For more information:

• Vist the League's Bicycle Friendly State Program webpage for a complete look at the the 2012 state rankings.
• Read about the results on the League's blog.
• Review the report card specific to Washington.

In particular, the League says that, "Washington is the model for all other states on utilizing federal funds for bicycle and pedestrian projects." Also, the state passed a safe passing / vulnerable user law in 2011 that demonstrates recognition of the importance of sharing the roads.

“People in the Pacific Northwest embrace bicycling as part of a lifestyle that honors the environment, healthier living and transportation choices,” said Washington Governor Christine Gregoire. “This title once again confirms that we’re on the right track, supporting bicycling as a transportation option in our communities.”

Update:

• WSDOT press release re: Washington state's ranking (5/25/12)
• For 2010, the most recent data available, Washington was ninth highest in the nation for bicycle safety and our bicycle fatality crash rate was 0.89 bicyclists per 1,000,000 – the lowest in the state’s recorded history.
• The League named Port Townsend a silver-level Bicycle-Friendly Community, up from bronze status last year. 

Overall Bike-Friendly Ranking of States (League of American Bicyclists 2012)

The mission of the League of Amercian Bicyclists is:
To promote bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation and work through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America.

The League was founded as the League of American Wheelmen in 1880. Bicyclists, known then as "wheelmen," were challenged by rutted roads of gravel and dirt and faced antagonism from horsemen, wagon drivers, and pedestrians. In an effort to improve riding conditions so they might better enjoy their newly discovered sport, more than 100,000 cyclists from across the United States joined the League to advocate for paved roads.

The League continues its advocacy efforts today.

  

The ReCyclery re-opening is Earth Day

This Saturday, April 21--also known as Earth Day 2012--is the grand re-opening of The ReCyclery at its new location at the intersection of Blaine Street and Kearney Street in Port Townsend.

A "bike parade" starts from the Farmers Market in uptown Port Townsend at 2:00 PM and heads to the new site adjacent to the community facilities on the Mountain View campus.

The mission of The ReCyclery is Positive Social Change Through Bicycles.

Visit The Recyclery website for details about the event and the organization.

"Longest Day of Trails" walk-run-bike-a-thon June 19, 2011

The Longest Day of Trails, a fundraiser for trail organizations in Jefferson County, will be held on Sunday, June 19, 2011.

This is the second year for this event, which utilizes the Larry Scott Trail to raise money for the Jefferson Trails Coalition as well as Quimper and Pacific Northwest Trails Associations. 

 

Event sponsors encourage everyone from the fiercely-competitive to the family-oriented to join the fun.


To learn more about the Longest Day of Trails, click on this link:
http://longestdayoftrailspt.wordpress.com/

"Nimble Cities"

Slate.com recently gathered ideas for making transportation in and between urban areas more efficient, safe and pleasant. See the results here. Several plans involved specifc "bicycle highways." Imagine...

Non-Motorized Plan update complete

Jefferson County has adopted the 2010 update to its Non-Motorized Transportation & Recreational Trails Plan.

The 2010 Plan will guide the County’s development of active transportation facilities and multi-purpose trails.

Draft County Non-Motorized Transportation Plan Update

Jefferson County is updating its Non-Motorized Transportation & Recreational Trails (NMT) Plan that was initially adopted in 2002. The 2010 Plan update will guide the County’s development of non-motorized transportation facilities and multi-purpose trails, including:

• Larry Scott Trail and the Rick Tollefson Trail


• Safe routes for walking to school


• Sidewalks in commercial areas and adequate roadway shoulders and community trails for walking in residential area


• Pedestrian and bicycle connections to transit routes


• Bicycle commuting routes


• Bicycle touring routes such as the Olympic Discovery Trail
  

Click here for additional information on the 2010 NMT Plan Update, including links to chapters of the proposed NMT Plan.

The Jefferson County Commissioners will conduct a public hearing on the Draft 2010 Non-Motorized Transportation and Recreational Trails Plan at 10:00 AM on May 17, 2010 in the Commissioners’ Chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Port Townsend.

Transportation Secretary on biking, walking, and "what Americans want"

In an April 5 interview with the New York Times, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood talks about the recently updated United States Department of Transportation Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation. Secretary LaHood continues to characterize the policy update as a "sea change." He also states that the support for bicycle and pedestrian investments is "what Americans want."

April 14 Note: "Transportation's Bicycle Policy Hits Potholes"
The Seattle Times / Associated Press reports some backlash from "some conservatives and industries dependent on trucking" concerning the recent announcements of Secretary LaHood.

US DOT Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation

The United States Department of Transportation (US DOT) recently issued an updated Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation - Regulations and Recommendations.

Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood presented at the National Bike Summit and blogged about it on March 15.

Jefferson County will be updating the 2002 Non-Motorized Transportation and Recreational Trails Plan in the coming months. Stay tuned for more information on how to participate.

Rick Tollefson Trail in line for grant funds

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) issued a report to the Legislature in December 2008 pertaining to the grant programs for Safe Routes to Schools and Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety.

Jefferson County Public Works submitted a proposal for consideration under the Ped & Bike Safety program to complete the funding needed to design and construct phase 1 of the Rick Tollefson Trail (RTT) in the Tri-Area of Jefferson County. The RTT is a non-motorized, multi-use path that will eventually run from central Port Hadlock to the Chimacum school campus along State Route 19. The centerpiece of the RTT is the phase 1 stretch from Chimacum Road near the Bob Bates Fields to the northeast corner of HJ Carroll Park by way of the Chimacum valley and over the Chimacum Creek via short bridges.

The WSDOT report lists RTT phase 1 as the #9 project among 92 total. (See page 19 of the PDF.) The first 16 projects in this competitive process are anticipated to be funded. However, the final word will come from the State Legislature in setting the budget during the 2009 session. The County is very hopeful that our project will receive grant funding this year and be ready for construction next year.

The RTT will provide a relatively direct (and enjoyable) path for bicylists and pedestrians (including wheelchairs and strollers) connection between widely-used amenities, which will enable non-motorized travel that avoids busy roadways. The overall goal of the project is to construct an attractive, universally supported, and well-used multi-use trail that is part of a non-motorized network in the Tri-Area. More information on the project can be found in the County's 2009-2014 Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program.

Bicycles as Transportation

If we in Jefferson County hope to meet our goal of reducing carbon emissions to 80% lower than 1990 levels by 2050, we will need to stop traveling or start bicycling. Encouraging bicycling leads to a healthier population reducing the costs of healthcare. It also fosters community. I have never met anyone when driving a car but I meet people all the time on my bike.
Bikes can be used for recreation but they really shine when they are used for daily transportation. I use mine to carry loads from hundreds of pounds to a bag of groceries.
Every bicycle you see means less tax money spent on water pollution, road maintenance, health care infrastructure, military, homeland security, fire and ambulance, and garbage.
If you need help with your bike or how to use your bike more, contact me.