Wheel Talk: October 2024
Bike news, advocacy updates, and more for October.
Welcome to Wheel Talk! 👋
Welcome to the first edition of Wheel Talk: the monthly newsletter of North Sound Bikes. Thanks for being here!
Once a month, we'll be sending you a round-up of the local bike news that matters: advocacy wins, upcoming events, local rides, and more.
Our goal? To connect you with easy ways to make biking safer and easier in the North Sound region – and build a strong community.
In this edition:
upcoming bike rides in Shoreline and Edmonds 🚲
a Senator’s visit to the Interurban Trail gap 🚧
a bike-friendly guide to this year’s elections 🗳️
…and more!
Not interested? Unsubscribe at any time.
What’s in a name?
Great question! For us at NSBA, “North Sound” means “the central Puget Sound, north of Seattle.” The map above highlights the cities that NSBA is most involved in today: Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, and Shoreline.
Don’t see your city on the map? If you live an area that you think should be included (Brier, Everett, Woodway..), we'd love to hear from you, and help you with bike advocacy in your city. Send us an email: board@northsoundbikes.org.
NSBA summer highlights ☀️
We had a busy summer: tabling at community events, running “bike rodeos” for young riders, and highlighting gaps in our regional bike network to local policymakers.
Upcoming Events
October leadership meeting
Wednesday, Oct. 16 • 6:30-7:30pm
Join NSBA for our monthly leadership meeting on Wednesday, October 16th from 6:30-7:30pm at the Mountlake Terrace Library.
We'll share updates from around the area: advocacy opportunities, regional planning projects, upcoming initiatives, and more. Come and help make biking safer and easier in your neighborhood!
Shoreline bike tour
Saturday, Nov. 9 • 9:30am-12pm
Join Urbanist Shoreline and NSBA for an informal community ride highlighting Shoreline's current and planned bike and pedestrian infrastructure, future mixed-use developments, and other sites of interest.
Exact route and meeting spot TBA; total distance will be around 5-7 miles. We won't leave anyone behind!
Weekly social rides
Wednesdays in October • 9:30am-
Join NSBA for one of our weekly Wednesday rides from Edmonds City Hall. Rides travel at a social pace, for approx. 8-12 miles.
October 16th, 9:30am
October 23rd, 9:30am
October 30th, 9:30am
News
Senator Liias joins NSBA Interurban site tour, sees potential
From MyEdmondsNews:
“Thirty-five people, including local and state elected officials, gathered [Friday, September 20th] at Edmonds’ Mathay Ballinger Park to learn about and advance efforts to close a gap in the Interurban Trail that is severed by SR 104 in Shoreline.”
NSBA’s Gordon Black led the group – which included 21st District State Sen. Marko Liias of Edmonds, as well as Lynnwood Mayor Christine Frizzell, Lynnwood City Councilmember Julieta Altamirano-Crosby and Mountlake Terrace City Councilmember Rory Paine-Donovan – on a tour of the site. Members of the Leafline Trails Coalition were also in attendance.
As of late September, $165,000 in FY2025 funding from King & Snohomish Counties and the City of Shoreline has been earmarked towards a design study of potential ways to “bridge the gap”: the first step in pursuing state and federal grants for construction.
Learn more about NSBA’s efforts to connect severed segments of the Interurban Trail at the link below.
Get Involved
Comment on the Edmonds Comp Plan
The City of Edmonds is nearing completion of its revised Comprehensive Plan. One key component of the Plan is the transportation element: the list of policies and goals for the next 5 years that will affect bicycle usage and riders' safety.
The city has an in-person informational meeting scheduled for October 16, as well as a webinar on October 21. If you are interested in helping to shape Edmonds’ policy, please check the City's web site and submit comments. Your comments help inform the City that our community cares about biking.
View bike endorsements in WA elections
With November (and elections) just around the corner, it’s a good time to read up on candidates’ support for policies and investments to make biking safer & easier.
Washington Bikes, a statewide advocacy group for people who bike, has just released their 2024 election endorsements. Take a look, and keep their picks in mind as you fill out your ballot.
That’s all for October! Have any questions or comments about this month’s edition? Want us to feature something next month? Just reply to this email.
Thanks for reading, and happy riding! 🚲