Advocacy News

Cascade Celebrates Statewide Expansion of Bike Education to Students Across Washington

Admin Example — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 22:17:12 +0000

Cascade Celebrates Statewide Expansion of Bike Education to Students Across Washington Admin Example Tue, 11/22/2022 - 14:17

Publication/Release Date

Tue, 11/22/2022 - 06:17

News Category

Advocacy News

Author

Paul Tolmé

Read time

1 min read

Content Blocks

The 2022 Move Ahead Washington law expands investment in bike, walk and roll initiatives across the state.
A new Washington State Department of Transportation contract with Cascade will help grow our groundbreaking Let’s Go bicycle education curriculum and Major Taylor Project clubs serving Black and Brown youth into statewide programs for students.
“Teaching our youth across Washington how to safely and confidently ride bikes for transportation and recreation is one of the most important and powerful things we can do to improve the health and wellness of our children."

Washington state is poised to become a national leader in youth bicycling education thanks to a new statewide bike safety education program that will reach students from elementary through high school.

The historic Move Ahead Washington funding package, passed in March 2022, will improve biking and walking infrastructure for students across the state and help them get to school more safely. Move Ahead Washington also creates a new School-Based Bicycle Safety Education Program.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has selected Cascade Bicycle Club to help implement two new bicycling education programs: one for elementary and middle schools, and a second for junior high and high schools.

Inspired by Cascade’s Let’s Go curriculum in Seattle and Edmonds and a previous Safe Routes curriculum funded by WSDOT, these school-based programs would be the largest statewide youth bicycling education initiatives of their kind in the nation. The after-school program for junior high and high school students is similar to Cascade’s Major Taylor Project, which serves and mentors Black and Brown youth and youth from systemically underserved communities--teaching them bike knowledge and leadership skills.

Cascade will work with local bike advocates and educators in communities across the state to implement the school-based bike education curriculums, which will phase in over 16 years and are expected to reach 90 percent of Washington state students by 2039.

The Legislature directed WSDOT to prioritize the school-based programs in communities where equity, safety, and community plans point to the highest needs. Each year the Legislature will receive a report on activities underway, program accomplishments, and the districts Cascade proposes to work with next once funding is approved.

“Teaching our youth across Washington how to safely and confidently ride bikes for transportation and recreation is one of the most important and powerful things we can do to improve the health and wellness of our children and to create a cleaner, greener and more equitable state,” said Lee Lambert, executive director of Cascade Bicycle Club and Washington Bikes.

Click here to read the WSDOT legislative report on the School-Based Bicycle Safety Education Program.

A Massive Increase in Funding for Bike Infrastructure

In addition to the school-based bike safety education programs, Move Ahead Washington dramatically increases the amount of money for biking and walking infrastructure statewide. In the past, funding constraints meant that many more applications came in for the Pedestrian/Bicyclist and Safe Routes to School grant programs than could receive funding. That left many communities without the safe and connected bike routes they need at a time when more people than ever are biking due to the pandemic bike boom and rising gas prices.

The Legislature has significantly increased funding amounts for those programs and created the new Connecting Communities Pilot Program, both of which will increase the overall number of projects funded and address gaps in active transportation networks created by state routes.

“We applaud legislators and the governor for investing in efforts that will protect our most vulnerable road users, and especially our children as they bike and walk to school,” said Vicky Clarke, policy director for Cascade Bicycle Club and Washington Bikes. “We thank Sen. Marko Liias, Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, and Rep. Jake Fey, Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, for fighting on behalf of the unparalleled bike, walk and roll investments.”

Learn more about Move Ahead Washington and its $1.3 billion in funding for bike, walk, and roll infrastructure and programs.

Cascade’s 2026 Seattle Bike Network Priorities

Paul Tolmé — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 18:57:07 +0000

Cascade’s 2026 Seattle Bike Network Priorities Paul Tolmé Thu, 11/20/2025 - 10:57

Publication/Release Date

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 13:00

News Category

Advocacy News

Author

Tyler James Vasquez

Read time

4 min read

Content Blocks

2025 has been quite the doozy! But one thing is certain: as federal bike funding is being slashed, Seattle has $133.5 million in funding for bike projects thanks to voter approval last November of the Seattle Transportation Levy. This positions Seattle well for progress in the coming years.

From 2026 to 2028, we’re doubling down on the values that guide our work – safety, equity, and connectivity – while pushing for the projects and policies that will shape Seattle’s bike future for people biking, whether you are a seasoned bike commuter or currently learning how to ride a bike.

Safety: Everyone deserves to get where they’re going safely, no matter how they travel or where they live. Every project we champion and every policy we support must move Seattle closer to Vision Zero.

Equity: Safe streets can’t be reserved for the neighborhoods with the loudest voices or the most political influence. We prioritize investments in South Seattle and communities that have faced underinvestment and unsafe conditions.

Connectivity: A bike network only works when it works everywhere – connecting homes to schools, transit to jobs, and neighborhoods to trails.

2026–2028 Bike Network Priorities

We will advocate for Complete Streets and Vision Zero requirements so that every repaving or maintenance project adds real safety improvements. This means completing the East Marginal Way and Rainier Valley bike connections to eliminate dangerous gaps.

Guided by our equity goals, we will:

Prioritize South Seattle bike network projects.
Push to complete missing links and fill gaps including between 14th and Director.
Ensure community-driven, collaborative design.
Advocate for a citywide network that links Seattle to neighboring municipalities.

Here are our Priority Projects:

East Marginal Way to South Park

Seattle’s bike community cut the ribbon on one mile of freshly built separated bike lanes near the Port of Seattle. While we celebrate this the completion of this world-class bike route, there is more work to do. The city must still connect this northern segment of East Marginal Way through SODO. This 2.4-mile connection will create a safer route to the recently opened South Park Trail and onward to the Green River Trail.

Photo courtesy of Don Brubeck, West Seattle Bike Connections.

By prioritizing East Marginal Way, we are investing in and reconnecting the South Park and West Seattle communities with bike connections that will create a safer and more sustainable way to reach downtown Seattle.

Beacon Avenue (Middle & South Segments)

Can you imagine riding the ridge of Beacon Hill to restaurants, parks, and mass transit connections? Funded by the 2024 Seattle Transportation Levy, we look to prioritize this South Seattle bike connection by adding 3.75 miles to the Seattle Bike Network.

Biking by Jefferson Park is currently stressful. This ride will become safe and comfortable with the completion the Beacon Hill projects.

This will bring people on bikes safely to South Rainier Valley, Columbia City, and to Georgetown on separated bike paths.

South Park Connection (14th Ave S & Director)

Let’s link the Green River Trail with the South Park–Georgetown Trail. This connection is less than a mile, but it links Tukwila and South King County to Seattle's expanding bike network. This corridor is a longtime freight corridor where people on bikes and people biking mix in a dangerous way. We see this corridor as a small but vital regional connection.

Direct Rainier Valley Safe Bike Connection

Currently, Rainier Valley has a greenway that has around 17 turns. As more people turn to biking as a way to commute, especially to Columbia City, Beacon Hill, and Judkins Park, we have to look for a more contiguous route that does not take people on a scavenger hunt for the safe bike route. Our goal is a flat and direct route from South Henderson to I-90 and the future Judkins Park Link light rail station.

Watch bike advocate Bob Svercl's video about the Rainier Valley North-South Greenway.

Burke-Gilman Missing Link (Shilshole)

You guessed it! We are still prioritizing a safe and contiguous connection from the Burke-Gilman on Shilshole. This project has been in the works for over 30 years and we can’t stop now. Let's show special interest groups who have abused the courts to stall progress that bikes belong on Shilshole Ave NW. Build the 1.4 miles of bike lanes along Shilshole Avenue, which is a dangerous street for all users, including people driving.

130th Avenue North

Have you heard of the term “last mile connection?” The proposed 1.5-mile 130th Avenue N connection is an east to west route that will bring people on bikes from the Interurban Trail to the Pinehurst Link light rail station.

With your advocacy we can promote friendly competition between SDOT and Sound Transit and push SDOT to complete a fresh new bike lane before this long- awaited Light Rail station opens on 130th Ave N.

Aurora Avenue Bike Lanes

Our friends at Aurora Reimagined have been steadfast in their efforts to make sure that Aurora Ave is a safer for all. By making Aurora Avenue one of Cascade’s priorities, we can pair our efforts with our partners at Aurora Reimagined to transform this dangerous corridor by applying Complete Streets standards. This would create a flat, direct, North to South bike connection across multiple cities. Learn more on the Seattle Bike Blog.

Graphic by Aurora Reimagined. Imagine if this is what Aurora Avenue looked like!

As we continue our advocacy, it's important to remember that Seattle has come a long way on its journey toward bikeability. It's easy to be disappointed by the slow pace of progress. However, as bike advocacy influencers including The Shifter have noted: Seattle is winning while other cities are losing momentum. It's time to bring safety, equity, and connectivity to improve our bike network and get people where they want to go.

Banner image style

Square

Go Ride South Seattle’s Growing Bike Network

Paul Tolmé — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 15:45:26 +0000

Go Ride South Seattle’s Growing Bike Network Paul Tolmé Wed, 10/08/2025 - 08:45

Publication/Release Date

Thu, 10/09/2025 - 10:45

News Category

Advocacy News

Author

Tyler James Vasquez

Read time

4 min read

Content Blocks

The crisp fall temperatures mean it's a great time go for a ride on Seattle’s expanding Bike Network.

Three new South Seattle protected bike lane projects have recently been completed and are now open and ready for you to ride:

Beacon Hill: 1.7 miles of new protected bike lanes span both sides of the road from the Jose Rizal Bridge to Spokane Street/Jefferson Park.

SODO to Georgetown: 1.9 miles of off-street bike paths and protected bike lanes now make it easier for people to car-free commute between Georgetown and Downtown. Completing this route has been one of Cascade's top Seattle priorities since 2021.

South Park to Georgetown: 1.6 miles of protected bike lanes now link these two South Seattle neighborhoods that have struggled with poor biking conditions for decades. Along with SODO to Georgetown, this has also been one of Cascade's top Seattle priorities for improving the bikeability of South Seattle.

These new South Seattle routes connect neighborhoods that were tough to bike between before. Now you can more safely roll through Beacon Hill to the Link light rail station, or pedal from Downtown or the Waterfront through SODO to Georgetown and onward to South Park.

Biking to and near Beacon Hill Station is now better than ever due to the addition of protected bike lanes.

Whether you’re bike commuting or going for a weekend ride, we encourage you to explore these new routes with your friends, family, and co-workers as you seek new neighborhoods to visit and safer routes to pedal through the city to your favorite destinations.

More than 20 Miles Since 2021--and More Coming!

These projects above are part of the 20+ miles added to the Seattle Bike Network since 2021. Highlights include completion of the Waterfront bike lanes on Alaskan Way (a Cascade priority since 2021), the protected bike lanes on MLK Jr. Way near the site of the future Judkins Park light rail station, improvements to the Elliott Bay Trail, and the creation of a separated bike path along East Marginal Way.

The two-way protected Waterfront bike path along Alaskan Way now connects the Elliott Bay Trail from north to south along one of the city's most well-traveled corridors. Completing this project was one Cascade's top priorities.

Several more important Bike Network projects are now under construction:

Eastlake Avenue/Rapid Ride J (2.1 miles): scheduled for completion in 2027, this project will transform Eastlake into a more bikeable and walkable neighborhood with protected bike lanes on both sides of Eastlake Avenue that will enable people to bike safely from the University District to South Lake Union.
Elliot Bay Connection and Elliott Bay Greenway (2.8 miles): The Elliott Bay Trail is one of Seattle's most beautiful, but previously it was severed through the Waterfront and had multiple pinch points. Watch the video below about the new section of Elliott Bay Trail through the Port of Seattle’s T91 terminal.

Let’s Make Seattle Bikeable

Car ownership is declining in Seattle due to the inconvenience and high cost of vehicle ownership. That’s a trend we need to support if we want to make Seattle more affordable, equitable, and climate-friendly.

Cascade supports investing in what’s called Better Bike Lanes, which replace flexible bollards with concrete barriers to create a safe space away from motor vehicles. You can now see these on:

NE Ravenna Boulevard
Yesler Way
South Dearborn Street

Yesler Way formerly had just paint and flexible bollards but now has been improved to a Better Bike Lane with concrete protection.

All of these improvements are just the start. Now we are focused on making sure the city completes the projects funded through the 2024 Seattle Transportation Levy that voters approved last fall. Cascade worked hard to ensure the levy included a historic $133.5 million in bike investments.

Ride and Celebrate with us on Oct. 25

One of the best ways to show support for the expanding Bike Network is to go out and ride it. So gather your family and friends and go for a spin on the Elliott Bay Trail that now offers a connected route from north to south along the waterfront.

Or take your bike on the Link light rail and get off at Beacon Hill Station, where you can see the first 1.7 miles of what will eventually be a seven-mile corridor of protected bike lanes. Bike from SODO to Georgetown and onward to South Park on the new bike lanes and bike paths.

Jetting through Georgetown on the smooth new pavement of the Georgetown to South Park route.

And mark your calendars for Saturday, Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to noon to celebrate the completion of the East Marginal Way Corridor Improvement Project and separated bike path. The Seattle Department of Transportation will host a ribbon cutting with snacks and drinks, and Cascade is organizing a bike ride with West Seattle Bike Connections. Stay tuned for more details.

Check out our blog on the Beacon Hill bike lanes from early 2025 to see what progress we’ve made through the summer and fall.

Share the joy by snapping some photos for Instagram and tagging @CascadeBicycle

Building Momentum for the Sound to Olympics Trail

Paul Tolmé — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 18:01:40 +0000

Building Momentum for the Sound to Olympics Trail Paul Tolmé Thu, 09/18/2025 - 11:01

Publication/Release Date

Thu, 09/18/2025 - 12:01

News Category

Advocacy News

Author

Paul Tolmé

Read time

1 min read

Content Blocks

The proposed Sound to Olympics Trail is a critical connection for the future of trail access across the four-county, 900-mile Puget Sound Leafline Trails network, including Kitsap, King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties.

When complete, the trail would cross Bainbridge Island and the Kitsap Peninsula, enabling people on bikes to get on a ferry in Seattle or Edmonds, disembark at the Bainbridge or Kingston ferry terminals, and then pedal all the way to the Hood Canal Bridge and onward to the Olympic Peninsula. From there people could pedal to the Olympic Discovery Trail.

Currently in the design and planning stages, the Sound to Olympics Trail would transform bicycling in the Puget Sound region and Washington state. Two years ago the project got a boost from a federal grant to speed up planning.

On Sept. 5, Cascade and the Leafline Trails Coalition, along with a host of Kitsap advocacy organizations, supported a ride with elected officials, transportation planners, and project stakeholders to scout the planned trail corridor between the City of Poulsbo and the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal. Participants rode the approximately one mile of completed Sound to Olympics Trail just outside the City of Bainbridge Island.

“The goal of this ride is to make the case for continued investment in regional trail development and the Sound to Olympics Trail,” says Davíd Urbina, Cascade’s Leafline Trails Manager.

Urbina talks about the trail's importance to regional trail connectivity.

The Sound to Olympics Trail would be a key segment of the Puget to Pacific Trail and the Great American Rail Trail, and it would serve as both a transportation corridor that enables individuals to commute or bike to important destinations–and as a priceless recreation corridor to enable more bike tourism.

“Imagine being able to get on a ferry in downtown Seattle with your bike, enjoy a beautiful ferry trip across Puget Sound, disembark on Bainbridge Island or in Kingston, and then connect with the Olympic Discovery Trail to ride to Port Townsend or all the way to the Pacific coast on a multi-use trail,” says Vicky Clarke, deputy director for Cascade and Washington Bikes. “That’s the future we envision–and we know it’s possible with trail investment.”

From its southernmost point, the first segment of the trail is already built on Bainbridge Island, starting from the ferry terminal in Winslow and following State Route 305 for about a mile. The trail would follow the SR 305 corridor up to the Agate Pass Bridge, which would need to be rebuilt or retrofitted to accommodate biking and walking.

Agate Pass Bridge is currently not safe or comfortable for people on bikes.

Both Leafline and Cascade Bicycle Club were part of a planning committee that met over the past few months to plan the ride. Cascade Bicycle Club lent a fleet of Tern e-bikes to support the ride. Other organizations that helped organize the ride include the Bainbridge Island Parks Foundation, Squeaky Wheels, the North Kitsap Trails Association, West Sound Cycling Club, the Washington State Department of Transportation, and Parametrix.

Public officials on the ride included: Kitsap County Commissioner Christine Rolfes, Bainbridge Island Mayor Ashley Mathews, Joe Deets and Leslie Schnieder of Bainbridge City Council, and Ed Stern of Poulsbo city council. Poulsbo Mayor, Becky Erickson welcomed the group at the ride start. Others joining the ride included Kitsap County Parks Director Alex Wisnewski, Poulsbo City Administrator Rob Gelder, and community bike advocate Dianne Iverson.

As riders pedaled into the City of Bainbridge Island, Bainbridge Island Parks Foundation Trails Director Barb Trafton spoke about the importance of placemaking and public art. Bainbridge worked with the Suquamish Tribe and Master Carver Randi Purser to bring a Welcome Pole to the first mile of the Sound to Olympics Trail.

Photo courtesy of Bainbridge Island Parks and Trails Foundation

“The Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation has brought community funding to landscape design and native plant stewardship along the Sound to Olympics corridor because we believe that a trail is optimally a linear park that brings beauty, nature, history, and art to the trail user’s experience,” Trafton says.

The City of Bainbridge Island has completed a one-mile segment of the Sound to Olympics Trail from the ferry terminal to High School Road. Future segments of the trail are currently in planning.

The Agate Pass Bridge that connects Bainbridge Island to the Kitsap Peninsula currently has no bike lane and just a narrow sidewalk, making it dangerous and stressful to bike across during high traffic times. Local police provided an escort over the bridge for ride participants to highlight the need for redeveloping this bridge.

Highlights of the ride included two new roundabouts on Bainbridge Island.

The Sound to Olympics Trail is part of the Great American Rail Trail, which when completed would offer a 3,700 mile trail connecting Washington, D.C. to La Push, Wash.

In 2023, the Biden administration awarded a $16 million RAISE grant to the Puget Sound to Pacific Collaborative for trail planning. The RAISE grant does not fund trail construction. That money would still need to be acquired through future grants and other sources. Read more in our story, “Seattle to the Pacific: A Dream Bike Route Takes Shape.”

About 100 miles of the proposed 200 mile trail connection is completed, with many more segments still to be created–including the remaining segments of the Sound to Olympics Trail.

Go Ride these New Trails–and Support the King County Parks Levy

Paul Tolmé — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 19:00:05 +0000

Go Ride these New Trails–and Support the King County Parks Levy Paul Tolmé Thu, 06/26/2025 - 12:00

Publication/Release Date

Mon, 06/30/2025 - 09:00

News Category

Advocacy News

Author

Paul Tolmé

Read time

4 min read

Content Blocks

On June 22, dozens of people on bikes and representatives from Cascade, King County, and the Leafline Trails Coalition celebrated the grand opening of a new 2.2-mile segment of the Lake to Sound Trail–one of the most exciting trail projects in south King County and the Central Puget Sound region.

When completed, the Lake to Sound Trail will enable people to bike 16 miles from the shores of Lake Washington in Renton to the Puget Sound coastline in Des Moines, passing through Tukwila, SeaTac, and Burien. The trail will also link to four other major regional trails, giving people in south King County the opportunity to bike to work, Link light rail stations, and other major destinations.

The Lake to Sound Trail highlights the importance of voting YES for the King County Parks Levy on Aug. 5 special election ballots.

The levy includes $182 million for trail development in King County, including $55 million to complete the remaining two segments of the Lake to Sound Trail.

“Cascade Bicycle Club urges everyone in King County who supports our vision of a 900-mile Leafline of interconnected trails—connecting communities North to South and East to West—to vote yes for the Parks Levy,” says Lee Lambert, Cascade Bicycle Club Executive Director. “This is our opportunity to invest in a future where trails link people to places, nature, and each other.”

Linking and Expanding the King County Bike Network

King County voters will begin receiving ballots in the mail in mid-July.

Cascade Bicycle Club and our sister organization Washington Bikes have both endorsed the King County Parks Levy. Cascade was a key stakeholder in the levy’s development–ensuring it funds new trail connections and provides dollars for maintenance of existing trails.

In addition to $55 million to complete the Lake to Sound Trail, the levy includes:

$65 million for Eastrail, including funds to finish renovating the historic Wilburton Trestle in Bellevue into a paved multi-use bridge for biking and walking.
$6 million to extend the Green River Trail northward.
$8 million for the Interurban Trail, including $5 million to bridge a gap between Shoreline and Edmonds where State Route 104 severs the trail and requires a stressful highway crossing.
$7 million for the Soos Creek Trail, including an extension linking it to the Cedar River Trail.
$41 million for other trail development including money to close a gap between Seattle’s Georgetown to South Park Trail and the Green River Trail.
Additional funding for trail maintenance, community grants to support equitable access to outdoor recreation, and money for more community parks and playgrounds.

The historic Wilburton Trestle will be a key link in the Eastrail. Photo: King County Parks

The levy would also advance the goal of connecting Eastrail to Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park in Renton, and complete the design for a 1.7-mile connector between Eastrail and Lake to Sound Trail.

“Voting yes to accelerate regional trail development and bike connections to Link light rail is especially important in light of the Trump administration’s efforts to pause or cancel federal funding for bike infrastructure approved by the Biden administration,” says Vicky Clarke, Cascade’s deputy director. “Approving the levy could mean the difference between these trails being completed or indefinitely stalled.”

One of the biggest threats posed by Trump administration cuts is to the Eastrail, which received a $25 million RAISE grant from the Biden administration to bridge the I-90 Gap by converting a former railroad bridge into a bike and pedestrian trail that crosses over 16 lanes of freeway traffic.

The I-90 railroad bridge that will be converted to a bike bridge--pending funding. Photo: King County Parks

Read more about threats to federal funding on Cascade News.

“Local funding for trails is more vital now than ever as federal dollars for projects that advance equity, climate action, and car-free transportation are put on hold,” Clarke says.

Learn more about the Parks Levy on the King County Parks website.

Go Ride Our Rapidly Expanding Leafline Trails Network

Summer 2025 is a great time to go ride the expanding regional trail network, says Davíd Urbina, Leafline Trails Coalition project manager. “Many trail projects across the four counties of King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish are being completed or nearing completion this summer.”

Cascade is a member of the Leafline Trails Coalition that is advocating for a 900-mile interconnected trails network throughout the Central Puget Sound region.

In addition to the grand opening on the Lake to Sound Trail, a new segment of the Pierce County Parks Pipeline Trail opened on Saturday (June 28) in Tacoma. The new 5.8-mile segment connects the Tacoma Dome to rural Pierce County at Orangegate Park.

The Galazin family enjoyed the new Pierce County Pipeline Trail extension that opened last weekend.

Other regional trail highlights include:

Progress linking the Seattle Waterfront Connector to the Elliott Bay Trail heading north toward Interbay and south through SODO along the new separated bike path alongside East Marginal Way South. This will allow people to connect to the West Seattle Bridge Trail and Alki Trail from downtown Seattle.
Improvements to the Elliott Bay Trail through Myrtle Edwards and Centennial parks along the Seattle waterfront from Pier 62 to the Beach at Expedia Group. Learn more on the Elliott Bay Connections site. Combined with the new Bell Street bikeway, people will be able to bike “a car-free Queen Anne Hill loop” linking the Elliott Bay Trail, Ship Canal Trail, and Westlake bike path.
Completion of a Cushman Trail extension in Gig Harbor that connects with the Scott Pierson Trail–linking Tacoma to Gig Harbor over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

“We are thrilled at the work underway to accelerate progress on our vision of a connected Leafline of trails that makes it safer, easier, and more fun to bike rather than drive to destinations throughout Central Puget Sound,” Urbina says. “Now we need to continue the momentum by approving the Parks Levy.”

Join Cascade in voting YES for Proposition No. 1, the Parks, Recreation, Trails, and Open Space Levy, on the Aug. 5 Primary and Special Election Ballot.

Cascade Visits DC to Speak Up for Bike Funding, Accept National Award

Paul Tolmé — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:12:23 +0000

Cascade Visits DC to Speak Up for Bike Funding, Accept National Award Paul Tolmé Thu, 03/20/2025 - 11:12

Publication/Release Date

Thu, 03/20/2025 - 13:00

News Category

Advocacy News

Author

Paul Tolmé

Read time

3 min read

Content Blocks

In recognition of his leadership and Cascade Bicycle Club’s success in advancing bicycling across Washington state, the League of American Bicyclists has named Executive Director Lee Lambert the national Bike Advocate of the Year for 2025.

The League is the national bicycle advocacy organization working to increase the flow of federal funds for biking infrastructure to states, in addition to running education and advocacy programs across the country.

“Under Lee's leadership, Cascade Bicycle Club achieved a historic milestone by securing funding through Washington state's Climate Commitment Act to expand their bicycle education programs statewide, and successfully defeated a ballot measure attack on the funding last year,” declared Bill Nesper, executive director of the League.

“This award has my name on it,” Lambert says, “but it’s a recognition of the great work being done by Cascade staff members. I wouldn’t be here without their dedication and hard work implementing our vision of a safe and healthy future where bicycles bring people together, eliminate inequity, and create thriving communities.”

Lambert received the award last week in Washington, DC, during the 25th National Bike Summit, where nearly 400 advocates for better biking gathered to share successes and strategies.

Washington State Leads the Nation

The award comes several months after the League named Washington the most bike-friendly state in the nation due to our Statewide School-Based Bicycle Safety Education Program, which will phase in over 16 years with a goal of reaching 90 percent of Washington state students.

The League also cited Washington state’s bike laws, policies, and bike infrastructure investments in naming our state the most bike-friendly. Learn why “We’re No. 1” on the blog of our sister organization Washington Bikes.

The League’s recognition of Lambert and Washington state shows the impact of 55 years of bike advocacy by Cascade, founded in 1970.

Federal Threats to Bike Infrastructure Funding

The Summit coincided with an announcement that the federal government was reviewing and potentially canceling grants for bike lanes, trails, and “green infrastructure” awarded since 2022.

Cascade Deputy Director Vicky Clarke says projects from Spokane to Yakima to the Puget Sound region and “all across the state” are impacted. Read the Seattle Times story, “Trump Administration Takes Aim at Bike Lanes.”

High priority trail initiatives affected by the order include the Eastrail, which received grants for $25 million and $5 million last year, and the Puget Sound to Pacific Trail, which won a $16 million grant.

While in D.C., Clarke, Lambert, Statewide Coalition Officer Rachel Schaeffer, and Michael Payne from Cascade’s Board of Directors visited members of Washington state’s congressional delegation to speak up for continued federal funding. In addition to visiting the offices of U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, the Cascade team met with staff members for U.S. Reps. Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Pramila Jayapal, and Emily Randall.

“I was very proud of Lee and the Cascade team,” says Payne, who also serves on the Board of the League of American Bicyclists. Payne noted that 10 bike advocates from Washington attended the National Bike Summit and Bike Lobby Day on Capitol Hill, showcasing a deep commitment from our region for safe and protected infrastructure.

Lee strategizes with Cascade staff and buttons up for a meeting in DC.

Progress in Seattle

Despite the sobering news about federal funding, 2025 will bring rapid progress on Seattle bike infrastructure. On March 8, Lambert spoke at the grand opening of the new protected bike lane on the Seattle waterfront.

Known as the Central Waterfront Connector, the project fills a gap in the Seattle Bike Network and links the Elliott Bay Trail to the East Marginal Way trail currently under construction. Closing the gap provides a protected route for people biking along the waterfront to reach destinations to the north, south, and downtown.

More improvements to the Seattle Bike Network will come in future years thanks to voter approval of Proposition 1, the Levy to Keep Seattle Moving, last November. The growing Seattle Bike Network and progress in communities from Tacoma to Spokane shows that when people speak up for bike funding and vote for bike-friendly candidates, we can make our streets safer for everyone.

Concerned about the future of bike funding? Watch our Washington State of Biking webinar where you will learn about:

Impacts of federal policies on bicycle safety and trail development.
Washington Bikes’ legislative agenda.
Details on how Seattle's Bike Network is growing over the next two years.

Learn more about the League of American Bicyclists 2025 Advocacy and Education Awards, and read Lambert’s hopes for the future of the bike movement.

For more information about the impact of the federal freeze, read the Seattle Bike Blog story "Trump’s USDOT orders hold on funding for ‘bicycle infrastructure."

Go Ride–and Celebrate–Seattle’s Expanding Bike Network

Paul Tolmé — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 17:35:23 +0000

Go Ride–and Celebrate–Seattle’s Expanding Bike Network Paul Tolmé Tue, 01/21/2025 - 09:35

Publication/Release Date

Tue, 01/21/2025 - 14:29

News Category

Advocacy News

Author

Paul Tolmé

Read time

4 min read

Content Blocks

Riding across the new Montlake bike and pedestrian bridge is one of the great joys of my bike life in early 2025.

This guy gave a thumbs up when I asked if he was enjoying the new bridge. "It's great!" he said.

Opened by the Washington State Department of Transportation in December, the bridge allows people to bike and walk over 12 lanes of speeding SR 520 traffic on a 14-foot-wide trail of smooth black pavement sandwiched between landscaped earthen berms.

With its views of Lake Washington, the East Side, and the Cascade Range in the distance, the bridge is a jewel in Seattle’s rapidly expanding bike network.

Big improvements are coming to Seattle’s bike network this year, including completion of the waterfront bike path along Alaskan Way that was a major priority for Cascade.

Seattle Policy Manager Tyler Vasquez and I took a ride to review progress on Alaskan Way, Beacon Hill, SODO and elsewhere. Check out our photos below of some new bike infrastructure that we encourage you to go ride in early 2025.

“It’s important to celebrate progress,” Vasquez says, “even as we continue pushing and advocating for speedier completion of Seattle’s bike network–especially in South Seattle.”

Tyler on a new section of bike path on East Marginal Way

East Marginal Way

When I moved to Seattle in 2015, East Marginal Way was horrific. People on bikes had to pedal alongside massive freight trucks or on a glass-strewn sidewalk.

Now this crucial route between Downtown, the West Seattle Bridge Trail, and Georgetown is rapidly improving. Thanks to the East Marginal Way Corridor Improvement Project begun in 2024, there will be a protected bike lane and multi-use path along East Marginal Way from the West Seattle Bridge to the Waterfront and Elliott Bay trails.

Portions of the multi-use path along East Marginal Way are already complete.

Even the segments that remain under construction already feel safer to ride, thanks to the temporary bike lanes SDOT has created with concrete barriers and orange construction barrels.

Alaskan Way Waterfront

A half-mile-long protected bike lane is being installed on the waterfront as part of the Alaskan Way Safety Project. When completed in summer 2025, this route will link the Elliott Bay Trail to the north with the East Marginal Way bike path under construction to the south.

Image courtesy of Seattle Department of Transportation.

“This project brings Seattle the world-class waterfront it deserves, one that functions as both a beautiful destination for strolling and rolling, and also as a seamless transportation corridor through downtown,” Cascade Executive Director Lee Lambert said in a project announcement from the Seattle Department of Transportation.

“SDOT and the Port deserve recognition for partnering with Cascade to come up with a solution that benefits everyone, and which moves the protected bike lanes to the waterfront side of Alaskan Way–with detours only during the hours when cruise ships are loading or unloading.”

Workers lay new concrete curbing for the separated bike path along Alaskan Way.

Once completed this summer, the combined East Marginal Way, Alaskan Way, and the Waterfront projects will connect to the Elliot Bay Trail to create a separated bike path from West Seattle all the way to Magnolia. That's nearly 10 miles! Watch the video below of Hanoch Yeung pedaling the mostly completed Alaskan Way bike lanes on Best Side Cycling.

Montlake Bike and Pedestrian Bridge

Years in the making, the new bike bridge over State Route 520 makes crossing through this busy highway interchange safer and far more pleasant. I now use this bridge, which links to the Montlake Bridge and University of Washington Campus, whenever I commute to the Cascade office in Magnuson Park.

Cascade advocated for this safer crossing, and Seattle Policy Manager Tyler Vasquez spoke at the grand opening. Go check it out if you live nearby, and watch the Best Side Cycling video of the grand opening.

Eastlake Avenue

Eastlake Avenue is currently being torn up for water main work that precedes the bike lanes and bus improvements coming as part of the Rapid Ride J project. But there’s progress to report: Anyone headed to or from REI’s flagship store can ride on the new separated bike lanes on both sides of Eastlake Avenue between Fairview Avenue and John Street.

When completed, this project will add three-and-a-half miles of protected bike facilities, connecting downtown Seattle with the neighborhoods of Belltown, South Lake Union, Eastlake, and the University District.

The new bike lanes currently have flexible bollards.

Beacon Hill

Construction of the Beacon Avenue South and 15th Avenue South Safety Project is underway.

Once completed, there will be a continuous bike route from the Jose Rizal Bridge to the Beacon Hill Light Rail station.

Meanwhile, sections of protected bike lane have been completed along 15th Avenue South and Golf Drive.

The completed segment could use a good sweeping, however, to clear fallen leaves and debris. Thanks to passage of Proposition 1, the Levy to Keep Seattle Moving, the city will allocate more money to cleaning and maintaining bike lanes.

Please don't put your trash and recycling bins in the bike lanes.

Breaking Ground on Long-Awaited Projects

These improvements are long overdue because Seattle residents want and deserve safer bicycling conditions. People made more than six million trips by bike and scooter share in 2024, a new record, and surveys of Seattle residents show that a majority of residents want to ride bikes more. It’s just been too sketchy in the past.

Finally, we see transformational change coming.

“Cascade and the bike advocacy community have worked hard to win approval for these bike network improvements, and it’s rewarding to see the progress being made as workers lay new pavement and concrete to help more people ride bikes,” Vasquez says. “Now we must continue advocating for speedy completion of the South Park to Georgetown Protected Bicycle Lane and more investment in South Seattle neighborhoods.”

According to a recent report in the Seattle Times, car ownership hit record lows in Seattle in 2023, especially among renters. Our top priority for 2025 will be to ensure non-drivers and people who bike can navigate the Emerald City safely and comfortably.

If you’re interested in meeting more people who bike and want safer streets in your neighborhood, take action through this link and we will communicate future events and advocacy training that we are planning for 2025.

Whidbey Island Bike Tour and Organic Farmstay

Paul Tolmé — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 19:44:53 +0000

Whidbey Island Bike Tour and Organic Farmstay Paul Tolmé Fri, 11/01/2024 - 12:44

Publication/Release Date

Mon, 11/04/2024 - 14:02

News Category

Advocacy News

Author

Paul Tolmé

Read time

5 min read

Content Blocks

The proposed Bridge to Boat non-motorized bike trail would stretch roughly 50 miles from the Deception Pass Bridge on Whidbey Island’s north coast to the ferry terminal in Clinton in South Whidbey.

Completing this trail is among the objectives of BikeWhidbey, a new nonprofit that is building support for an island-wide bike network that would attract bike tourists and give locals more safe routes to ride.

“There aren’t a lot of jobs on the island, and bike tourism can play a big role in making the island more economically sustainable,” says Cascade Board Member Michael Payne, who co-founded BikeWhidbey in early 2024.

My wife, Katie, and I recently spent a long weekend on Whidbey exploring the island by bike and learning about efforts to boost rural economic development through bicycling and community farming.

Our home base for the weekend was the Organic Farm School, a nonprofit that teaches community scale food production to individuals who want to take up farming as a career. We stayed in the farm school’s luxurious guesthouse, harvested and cooked produce from the farm, fed the chickens, and pedaled the rural roads of South Whidbey.

The Organic Farm School's chicken flock. Thanks for the eggs, ladies!

Smugglers Cove Road

Ewing Road

Growing Bicycling

Located in Puget Sound and reached via the Mukilteo Ferry in the south or the Deception Pass Bridge to the north, Whidbey is Washington state’s largest island at 37 miles long. Whidbey is a great bicycling destination thanks to its scenic rural roads, but there is little bike infrastructure.

Now, BikeWhidbey is pushing to make the island more bike-friendly. “We have a goal of uniting 1,000 people who want better biking,” Payne says.

BikeWhidbey wants Island County leaders to adopt a bicycle master plan, with the goal of helping Whidbey Island achieve a Bicycle Friendly Community rating. Bicycle master plans such as those in Seattle, Spokane, and other municipalities are a first step toward getting public officials to recognize bicycling as a form of transportation.

“Whatever we can do to make bicycling more attractive will benefit tourism and the island’s economy,” Payne says.

BikeWhidbey is gathering feedback from people who bike to guide future planning. In addition, the group encourages people who bike to fill out the Island County traffic safety survey. The survey page includes an interactive map where people can mark the locations of crashes, dangerous intersections, or spots where crosswalks or signage are needed.

Island County Transportation Survey and Incident Map

Bicycling South Whidbey

Over the course of three days, Katie and I pedaled much of scenic South Whidbey, from Maxwelton Road and Swede Hill on the island’s southern tip, to the charming tourist town of Langley on the eastern shore, to the farms and conservation lands near Keystone and Greenbank in the island’s narrow midsection.

With the exception of State Route 525, the island’s main traffic artery, the riding was low-stress and absolutely beautiful: lush farmlands, pine and deciduous forests, driftwood-strewn beaches, scenic bluffs overlooking Puget Sound.

South Whidbey State Park

As with road riding in many destinations, traffic worsened on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, while we often had roads all to ourselves in the mornings. It’s hard to avoid SR 525 when bicycling long distances on Whidbey, which is why completing the Bridge to Boat trail would be transformative.

Kurt Johnson, who organizes weekend group rides on South Whidbey, describes bicycling here as “lots of steep short hills, pretty good pavement, and not much traffic if you stay off the highway.”

Gathering for the Sunday morning ride in Bayview with Bike Whidbey co-founder Nancy Ritzenthaler, center.

A Hilly Sunday Ride

I met up with a group of about a dozen locals including Johnson, BikeWhidbey co-founder Nancy Ritzenthaler, and Cascade supporter Ron Sher for their regularly scheduled weekend ride, which starts in front of the Taproom@Bayview Corner, located near Bayview Bicycles.

After a safety chat, Johnson led the group on a 36-mile loop with 2,300 feet of climbing. See the 36-mile Ride with GPS route here.

Riding over the levee.

Kurt Johnson

“The riding here is challenging because it’s hilly,” says Johnson, who has a large catalog of Ride with GPS routes that BikeWhidbey plans to upload to its site as a resource for visitors. Meantime, you can download the Island County Bike Map, which offers recommended routes.

South Whidbey bike map

Bike Champion Ron Sher

The Organic Farm School operates on about 10 acres of property owned by Sher, a former Cascade Board member, Champion donor, and bike advocate.

Ron Sher in his bike workshop

Now retired, Sher lives in a home surrounded by fruit trees and meadows. He and his wife support the Organic Farm School for the same reasons they support better bicycling conditions. Both feed the community’s health and build the island's prosperity.

“We love the idea of a community of small farmers,” Sher says. “There are so many graduates of the farm school who are staying on Whidbey and creating a larger community of local farmers.”

Ron lent us mountain bikes so we could pedal around his fields and farmlands with his dog.

Growing Farming

“Our primary crop is farmers,” says Judy Feldman, executive director of the farm school.

Judy Feldman.

At a time when family farms are disappearing the Organic Farm School seeks to revive the lost arts of local, sustainable agriculture while creating opportunities for young people to enter farming as a career.

The farm school at sunset.

The farm school offers a seven-month intensive course where adult students from around the region, nation, and world can learn how to grow vegetable crops and stay on-site in the farm’s housing. In addition, the farm school partners with the local school district, which sends elementary students to the farm to learn about the soil, pollinators, and where food comes from.

“Carrots, chard, summer squash, winter squash, pumpkins, onions, garlic, broccoli, cauliflower, sprouting broccoli, you name it we grow it,” Feldman says.

Organic farmers ride bikes!

For 2025, the farm school will offer one-week programs to attract more families and working people. Or, like we did, you can sign up for a weekend farmstay and explore the island by bike.

“Stay in the guesthouse, ride your bikes, harvest food with us and then spend your weekend cooking and eating what you harvested,” Feldman says.

Book a Farmstay, Support Bike Whidbey

The farm school rents the four-bedroom, four-bathroom Feed and Seed guesthouse, which has a big and well-stocked kitchen, plus a fireplace and library, for Friday through Sunday stays. Katie and I roasted beets and squash one night, made an omelet with eggs, onions, chard, and garlic another night. We will surely return. organicfarmschool.org

Support the effort to grow bicycling on Whidbey at bikewhidbey.org

Nancy Ritzenthaler invited us to a cider squeeze with her antique apple crusher and cider press.

Fresh cider is the best ride fuel.

Rita Hulsman to Seattle Voters: Vote Yes on Prop 1 to Save Lives

Paul Tolmé — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 19:19:19 +0000

Rita Hulsman to Seattle Voters: Vote Yes on Prop 1 to Save Lives Paul Tolmé Mon, 10/21/2024 - 12:19

Publication/Release Date

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 14:02

News Category

Advocacy News

Author

Paul Tolmé

Read time

2 min read

Content Blocks

By Rita Hulsman

I rarely ride a bicycle and I never planned to become an outspoken advocate for safer streets. But the senseless death of my husband of over 40 years at the hands of a bad driver on a poorly designed Seattle roadway compels me to speak up.

I urge all Seattle voters to support Proposition 1, the Keep Seattle Moving Transportation Levy, which will appear on your Nov. 5 general election ballot. It comes too late for Steve, a pillar of the Seattle bicycling community, but approving this sensible transportation package could save the lives of other people who walk, bike, or roll on Seattle’s frequently inhospitable and dangerous streets.

Safety is at the heart of why I support Proposition 1. Thoughtfully crafted by the Seattle City Council and approved by Mayor Bruce Harrell, Keep Seattle Moving funds transportation projects that will enhance our neighborhoods and improve transportation safety for everyone–including drivers. Highlights include:

Increased funding for Vision Zero, especially 70 projects to improve traffic safety near Seattle Public Schools
More bike lanes in South Seattle including a seven-mile protected lane from Capitol Hill to South Beacon Hill
Upgrades to bridges throughout the city
Construction of at least 350 new sidewalks in the first four years of levy.

One of the most meaningful aspects of this levy for me is its provision to honor my late husband by creating a protected bike lane in West Seattle, where we lived together for many years until last Dec. 21. That is the day that Steve was struck by an SUV and catastrophically injured while biking in our neighborhood. He died just hours later.

The Steve Hulsman Memorial Bike Lane is among many infrastructure investments that will benefit current and future generations. These improvements will make our streets safer for everyone, and they carry deep personal significance for me and for my family.

As a recently retired elementary school teacher, I encourage you to think about the many students who deserve safe routes to schools. As a widow and mom, I urge you to think of your family members, friends and neighbors who deserve the right to safely walk, bike, and roll through our neighborhoods.

For those of you who live outside Seattle but commute to work here, please support the Keep Seattle Moving Transportation Levy by talking with your Seattle friends and co-workers about the necessity of voting YES for Proposition 1. A few things you can do:

Put up a yard sign in support of the levy
Contribute to or volunteer with the Keep Seattle Moving campaign by visiting keepseattlemoving.com

As a Cascade Bicycle Club ride leader, my husband always prioritized safety. In that same spirit, the Keep Seattle Moving Transportation Levy supports safety for all and will improve our city by fixing its ailing bridges, building new sidewalks, adding more protected bike lanes, and–most importantly–saving lives. Please join me in honoring Steve’s legacy with your YES vote to approve Proposition 1.

Bike Walk Roll Summit 2024 Photo Album

Paul Tolmé — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 16:46:07 +0000

Bike Walk Roll Summit 2024 Photo Album Paul Tolmé Tue, 10/01/2024 - 09:46

Publication/Release Date

Wed, 10/02/2024 - 09:49

News Category

Advocacy News

Author

Paul Tolmé

Read time

4 min read

Content Blocks

Mike Gribner, the deputy secretary for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), opened the Summit with a wish that all participants collaborate to find solutions that make our streets safer for all.

Laura Svancarek, Executive Director of Downtown on the Go, moderated a panel with Tacoma City Councilor Kristina Walker, North Tacoma state Rep. Jake Fey, and Pierce County Councilor Ryan Mello (a candidate for Pierce Executive) about the opportunities and funding challenges of making bicycling safer for all.

Mello noted that Pierce County is retrofitting multiple crosswalks along SR 7 to protect vulnerable road users, an initiative that began following the death of 13-year-old Michael Weilert, who was struck and killed by a driver while biking through a flashing light crosswalk.

Svancarek thanked Michael’s mom Amber Weilert for becoming a tireless advocate for traffic safety following the tragic loss of her son.

Cecelia Black of the Disability Mobility Initiative spoke about the #WeekWithoutDriving during our session "Strategies to Foster Local Elected Champions for Biking Walking and Rolling."

Megan Ramey of the Hood River County School District spoke about engaging students in the process of creating bike infrastructure during the session “Small Money, Big Impact: Quick Build Projects Safer Streets.” Ramey and students successfully advocated for several demonstration projects near schools that became permanent thanks to student and parent support.

Keynote speaker and investigative journalist Jessie Singer, author of “There Are No Accidents,” spoke about the deadly rise of traffic fatalities and how society’s focus on personal errors rather than underlying road conditions is an impediment to safety. “I want to debunk the idea that traffic crashes are the result of human error.” Rather, the cause of crashes is poor road design that rewards speeding. The automobile industry has escaped culpability and benefited from our tendency to blame victims rather than the poorly designed roadways, unsafe streets, and monstrous passenger vehicles that are the true cause, said Singer. We must accept that mistakes will happen on our streets, she says, and design them to minimize the harm caused when drivers inevitably err.

“If you make this world safe for drunks, you make it safe for everybody,” she said, quoting Dr. Susan Baker.

Singer says the auto industry invented the terms “jaywalker” and “the nut behind the wheel” to blame pedestrians and drivers for deaths, rather than poor automobile design and bad streets. She received applause when mentioning that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently announced that it will, for the first time, look at regulating vehicles for their danger to pedestrians.

Singer speaking with Ethan Campbell after her address.

Cascade’s Statewide Program Officers Tina Castillo (above) and Jacquelyn Billups (below) presented on the benefits of the statewide bicycle education program for youth during the session: Biking and Walking as Tools for Developing Student Leaders.

Day One concluded with a big group ride of Tacoma bike paths and scenic locations, led by 2nd Cycle, whose Executive Director Leon Nettels (below) previously worked as Cascade’s Tacoma MTP Manager.

Day Two kicked off with a discussion moderated by Cascade Policy Director Vicky Clarke with Jon Snyder, senior policy advisor to Gov. Jay Inslee; and state Sen. Joe Nguyễn (D-White Center). They spoke about the huge benefits of the Climate Commitment Act and how repealing it would negatively impact funding for bike programs.

Cascade Executive Director Lee Lambert told attendees about the School-Based Bicycle Safety and Education program and its huge impact teaching Washington state youth essential bike skills. This year, the program will reach up to 30,000 students in 42 school districts and 170 elementary schools, while also benefiting 2,100 students in after-school youth bike clubs.

State Traffic Engineer Dongho Chang (above) spoke about updates to the National Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices—the so-called “bible of traffic safety” that sets street design standards for local traffic engineers nationwide. Chang has helped rewrite this important document to add bike safety improvements that are engineering more safety into our streets for people walking and biking.

Barb Chamberlain moderated the panel “Policy Leadership and Action for Safe System Approach” with Tacoma Deputy Mayor John Hines, King County Councilor Claudia Baldacci, Spokane City Councilor Zack Zappone, and Kirkland City Councilor Jon Pascal. They shared stories of successes in how to effectively advocate for and implement traffic safety initiatives and policies.

Cascade is urging state leaders to consider the creation of so-called cycle highways, which have been effective in many European nations in getting more people to bike rather than drive. Jakub Mamczak of the London Cycling Campaign presented from the UK via Zoom about London’s success in doubling cycling in the city thanks to the addition of protected bike infrastructure. The session was entitled “A Statewide Network of Cycle Highways that Connect Rural, Suburban, and Urban Washington.”

Barb Chamberlain moderated the Day Two keynote with Barkha Patel, director of infrastructure for Jersey City, N.J. Patel spoke about her city’s efforts to get to zero deaths through better infrastructure and citywide policies, including the need to break the mindset that fatalities are inevitable.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Bike Walk Roll Summit, and to the City of Tacoma and our sponsors: the Washington State Department of Transportation, Amazon, Doordash, and Lime. Let’s collaborate and put what we learned to work. Join us for Lobby Day 2025 in Olympia, Feb. 4-5, and look out for the Summit to return in 2026.

Advocacy News

Cascade Celebrates Statewide Expansion of Bike Education to Students Across Washington

The 2022 Move Ahead Washington law expands investment in bike, walk and roll initiatives across the state.

A new Washington State Department of Transportation contract with Cascade will help grow our groundbreaking Let’s Go bicycle education curriculum and Major Taylor Project clubs serving Black and Brown youth into statewide programs for students.

“Teaching our youth across Washington how to safely and confidently ride bikes for transportation and recreation is one of the most important and powerful things we can do to improve the health and wellness of our children."

A Massive Increase in Funding for Bike Infrastructure

Cascade’s 2026 Seattle Bike Network Priorities

Go Ride South Seattle’s Growing Bike Network

More than 20 Miles Since 2021--and More Coming!

Let’s Make Seattle Bikeable

Building Momentum for the Sound to Olympics Trail

Go Ride these New Trails–and Support the King County Parks Levy

Linking and Expanding the King County Bike Network

Go Ride Our Rapidly Expanding Leafline Trails Network

Cascade Visits DC to Speak Up for Bike Funding, Accept National Award

Washington State Leads the Nation

Federal Threats to Bike Infrastructure Funding

Progress in Seattle

Go Ride–and Celebrate–Seattle’s Expanding Bike Network

East Marginal Way

Alaskan Way Waterfront

Montlake Bike and Pedestrian Bridge

Eastlake Avenue

Beacon Hill

Breaking Ground on Long-Awaited Projects

Whidbey Island Bike Tour and Organic Farmstay

Growing Bicycling

Bicycling South Whidbey

A Hilly Sunday Ride

Bike Champion Ron Sher

Growing Farming

Book a Farmstay, Support Bike Whidbey

Rita Hulsman to Seattle Voters: Vote Yes on Prop 1 to Save Lives

Bike Walk Roll Summit 2024 Photo Album