Fall is in full swing: discover new opportunities to build community around biking in the North Sound. 🚲🍂

In this edition:

• Wednesday, 10/15 (tonight!): our October meeting (6-7:30pm) at the Lynnwood REI community room

• Elected officials ride in support of cycling

• Students show their mettle to pedal at Brier Elementary

• Friday, 10/24: our first fundraising dinner, Pedal and Plate (sold out!)

• Wednesday, 11/19: our November meeting at the Mountlake Terrace Library

…and more!

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Pedal & Plate: sold out!

Friday, October 24th • doors open at 5:30pm

World traveler and raconteur Willie Weir will headline our first fundraising dinner, Pedal & Plate, on October 24 at the Lake Ballinger Center in Mountlake Terrace.

Tickets are now sold out, but you can make a donation-in-lieu – or sign up for our waitlist, in event of cancellations – at the link below:

🚴 Elected officials ride in support of cycling

Congressman Rick Larsen and four city council members (two each from Shoreline and Edmonds) were among around 25 participants at a cycling celebration put on by NSBA at Mathay-Ballinger Park, Edmonds. A group of five rode from Shoreline City Hall and more than fifteen pedalled from Five Corners in Edmonds: all the officials rode bikes.

Larsen (D-WA-02) said he was optimistic about an upcoming infrastructure bill in Congress that would support safety enhancements for cycling and walking.

Shoreline city council member John Ramsdell, who is retiring at the end of this year, talked about planned improvements on N. 200th Street, which is part of the Interurban route between Shoreline and Edmonds, while Edmonds council member Will Chen gave an enthusiastic endorsement of a bridge over SR 104 on the Interurban Trail. Shoreline council member Keith Scully talked about the importance of grassroots efforts, such as those being made by NSBA, as vital in bringing issues to officials’ attention. Coffee was donated by Caffe Ladro.

“Our rides were joined by a great swathe of the community, from grandparents to kids eager to enjoy the new Mathay-Ballinger park connection to the Interurban. This shows the importance of safe infrastructure to nurturing an inclusive community that can work for all of us.” – Forrest Baum, NSBA board president

🏫 Students show their mettle to pedal at Brier Elementary

On September 30, Edmonds Council Member Will Chen joined NSBA Board Members Peter Hallson and Margaret Elwood to observe a “Let’s Go” physical education  class with third graders at Brier Elementary. Teacher Jody Wallis exhibited his passion for teaching signaling, checking for traffic, safely riding and stopping, and of course wearing a helmet, as he led about 30 students through practice drills along painted lines and traffic cones in the covered outdoor PE area. Despite the rain, almost  all of the students chose the optional circuit around the paved path around the field during the 30 minute class.

“It was as much fun seeing the excitement on Peter Hallson’s face as it was seeing the children riding and improving their bicycle skills as part of their school day,” said board member Margaret Elwood. 

Let’s Go is a school-based bicycle education program piloted in the Edmonds and Seattle school districts and now expanding state-wide. The program is administered by Cascade Bicycle Club, which provides students with bikes. At Brier Elementary, teacher Jody Wallis has also acquired bikes for students to use over the years he has been teaching bike safety.

Additional visits to observe Let’s Go in action are being coordinated by Peter Hallson and school district coordinator Jenni McLaughlin in other elementary  schools in the Edmonds School District. (Board member Hallson was instrumental in creating the program initially in just a few schools in the ESD.)

🗳 Edmonds Proposition 1: bike impacts

Edmonds faces a financial crisis, and Proposition 1 (a levy lid lift) will appear on the November ballot. If approved by voters, the measure would allow the city to raise property tax revenue above the state’s 1% annual limit, preventing further cuts to services and staffing.

For North Sound Bicycle Advocates, the measure is especially relevant. Passage would allow Edmonds Public Works to take a stronger role in leading a study of potential routes for the proposed SR 104 Interurban Trail bridge. Mayor Mike Rosen has indicated support for the bridge and for the city to take the lead, subject to staffing capacity. The City of Shoreline already has staff advancing work on a pedestrian-bicyclist bridge over I-5 at 148th Street, near the Shoreline South light rail station.

🚧 Shoreline exploring street improvements

The Shoreline City Council will hear of potential safety improvements on N. 200th Street at its meeting on October 13. N. 200th is part of the on-street routing for the Interurban Trail between Echo Lake (opposite the Aurora Village Transit Center) and Meridian. Currently, riders have to make a right on N. 200th and then a left onto Meridian Avenue heading northbound from Shoreline to Edmonds. The city is taking input to explore whether a two-way bike path on one side of the street or bike lanes on both sides the length of the section from Meridian Avenue to the transit center is better. The meeting is scheduled to start at 5:45pm at Shoreline council chambers at city hall. NSBA will be providing testimony to the council. 

NSBA November meeting

Tuesday, Nov. 19 • 6-7:30pm

Join NSBA for our November meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 19 from 6-7:30pm at the Mountlake Terrace Library.

The meeting is open to all who are interested in our work to improve biking conditions and street safety in north King and south Snohomish counties.

Come hear updates, share your ideas, and get involved in shaping our growing organization!

Help us make biking safer and easier in the North Sound! 👋💙🚲

Volunteer with North Sound Bicycle Advocates! We’re a community-powered, all-volunteer organization.

Just reply to this email: we’ll find a match for your skills, interests, and availability.

That’s all for October! Have any questions or comments about this month’s edition, or want us to feature something next month? Just reply to this email.

Thanks for reading, and happy riding! 🚲