Archive for the ‘Bike’ Category

Have you ever been frustrated with car maintenance issues, the price of gas, parking costs, or even ALL of the above? If so, then maybe you should think about taking the Zipcar Low-Car Diet Challenge.

What is the Low-Car Diet?
For one month, Zipcar is asking you to put down your keys and find out what the Zipcar way of life is all about. Folks from all over North American Zipcar cities will rise to the challenge, committing their keys and their consciences to being car free. They’ll be tweeting, taking photos, and logging miles biked, walked, and driven during their Low-Car Diet experience.

What do you have to do?
Aside from committing to parking your personal vehicle for one month and sharing all the details of your experience, Zipcar asks that you attend the opening and closing ceremonies, where you’ll get to meet your fellow Low-Car Dieters. You may also be asked to give interviews to the press or chronicle your experiences in more depth.

What’s in it for you?
Participants will get their first year Zipcar annual and application fee waived, and driving credit (along with a “car-free” survival kit filled with goodies from our sponsors) for the duration of the program.

So what do you say? Are you up for the Low-Car Diet?
Fill out Zipcar’s questionnaire here. 30 participants per city will be chosen. Low-Car Diet will begin September 14 and end on October 12. Good luck!

May 21 is the official Bike to Work Day, so we thought it would be helpful to provide a collection of resources in Downtown Bellevue to help make your new bike commute a breeze. Have you ever felt like Jim from The Office in the video below? Jim began biking to work to save money, stay in shape, and help the environment, but he didn’t like arriving to work covered in sweat.

There are a variety of shower options in Downtown Bellevue to help with this smelly situation. If your building doesn’t have shower facilities, there are several Downtown fitness centers that offer discounted shower memberships to bike commuters:

Extreme Fitness Studios
Symetra Financial Center—777 108th Avenue NE
425-283-1971
admin.efsbellevue@gmail.com 

Shawn Casey Results Fitness
Pacific Plaza—155 108th Avenue NE 
425-451-8281 
shawn@shawncaseyinc.com

Skyline Tower Fitness Center
10900 NE 4th Street
425-462-2107

Need a place to park and store your bicycle?
Check out the following options to park and lock up your bike securely:

Commuter Connection:
Located at the Bellevue Transit Center, this facility offers secure bicycle parking, members only restroom facilities, and more. Membership fee: $50 for 6 months.

The following buildings have locked bicycle facilities for their tenants:
333 Building
City Center Plaza
Key Center
Symetra Financial Center
The Bravern
And over 60 bike racks available in other buildings and throughout downtown!

What about repairs?
The following shops offer quick fix repairs and overhauls:

Commuter Connection (Repair)
Bellevue Transit Center—108th Avenue NE & NE 6th Street
Repair Services available Tuesdays from 8:30 am – 5:00pm
http://www.ChooseYourWayBellevue.org/Commuter-Connection-Store

Gregg’s Cycle (Repair and Accessories)
105 Bellevue Way NE
Weekdays 10:00am – 8:00pm, Weekends 10:00am – 6:00pm
http://www.greggscycles.com/

Need help planning your bicycle commute route?
Check out these online resources to help you plan your bike route to work:

Google Bike:
www.maps.google.com/biking

Cascade Bicycle Club Commuter Messaging Board
www.cascade.org/Community/forum

<< Download a printable version of Downtown Bellevue’s Bicycle Resources >>

-Jordan

Now that longer days, warmer temperatures and fresher air have arrived, many of us are searching for fun ways to get out and enjoy the nice weather.  I have decided I am going to take advantage of the time during my commute by biking to and from work.  Biking to work seems like a great way to get out and enjoy the sunny weather while at the same time avoiding traffic and the stress of congestion!  Since I have never tried bike commuting before, I am going to challenge myself during May, Bike to Work Month, to see if I can bike to work at least once a week. 

To help me get ready to ride, I am planning to take part in the following events leading up to and during Bike to Work Month:

APRIL 6, COMMUTER CONNECTION FREE BICYCLE REPAIR DAY: I can take my bike into Commuter Connection, located at the Rider Services Center at the Bellevue Transit Center, on April 6^th from 8:30am to 5:00pm to receive small repairs such as a flat tire fix or a brake adjustment for free.

APRIL 28, INTRODUCTION TO BICYCLE COMMUTING CLASS: Cascade Bicycle Club and the City of Bellevue will be hosting a free Introduction to Bicycle Commuting Class on April 28, from noon to 1:00 p.m. in City Hall room 1E-113. At the class, I can learn the basics of bicycle commuting directly from the experts!

MAY 21, BIKE TO WORK DAY: The official Bike to Work Day is May 21^stand Choose Your Way Bellevue is hosting Downtown Bellevue’s Commute Station at Commuter Connection from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.  I can stop by on my bike for coffee, snacks and give-aways.

Any other bikers out there have suggestions of steps I can take to get started?  Any stories you want to share?

Check back in throughout April and May to see how I am doing.

-Caryn

In 2009 the City of Bellevue adopted a new Pedestrian and Bicycle Transportation Plan which identified over 400 projects that would make waking and biking in Bellevue safer and easier. These projects are prioritized and implemented as funding allows. The 2009 Ped-Bike Plan aims to provide transportation choices for those who can or wish to travel by foot or bicycle to destinations within their neighborhood, city, and the greater Eastside and region, improve health and fitness, and enhance recreational benefits, ensure that those in the community who cannot drive due to age, income or disability have mobility options, provide a safe and accessible street environment for all users, improve overall neighborhood livability, support and enhance public transit use, reduce air and noise pollution, energy use, and oil consumption, and support economic development.

In concurrence with the increase of better pedestrian and biking options around Bellevue, Choose Your Way Bellevue recently updated the Downtown Bellevue Pedestrian Guide Map. You may download and print a copy on the ChooseYourWayBellevue.org website, or stop by one of the following locations to pick up your own pocket-size hard copy:

• Commuter Connection (In the Rider Services Building at the Bellevue Transit Center; Monday-Friday, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.)
• Service First Desk at Bellevue City Hall (450 110th Avenue NE; Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)
• Bellevue Downtown Association (500 108th Avenue NE; Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)

Other cities in our region are equally concerned with their pedestrian environments. Some are even launching safety campaigns. The Portland Bureau of Transportation released a short animated film about Oregon crosswalk laws. The film, “Every Corner Is A Crosswalk”, graphically illustrates responsibilities that both drivers and pedestrians have to make our roadway safer for everyone. Should the City of Bellevue or other organizations create PSA’s like the video done in Portland to further increase pedestrian safely? Check out the video below:

What do you think about Bellevue’s environment for pedestrians, specifically in downtown? Is it meeting the needs of the 45,000 workers and 6,500 residents currently circulating in the downtown core on a day-to-day basis? What pedestrian or bike friendly projects would you like to see move forward on the priority list? Comment on this post below and let us know your thoughts.

-Jordan

-Jordan

Climate change. Everyone’s talking about it. But what are we doing about? An article from The Christian Science Monitor about this topic recently caught our eye. It states that “discussion of climate change has been high on domestic and international agendas, but the sad truth is that little has been done to fight it”. So how do we kick our butts in gear to reduce our country’s carbon footprint? Is a recession the only proven condition to get people off the road, subsequently cutting emissions? According to the article’s author, Robert Dujarric, the climate debate must be refocused. The environmental arguments empower some to make change, but not the masses. Instead, Dujarric says to appeal to patriotism. What? American patriotism = lower carbon emissions? Here’s his argument:

Given the location of the world’s petroleum reserves, when Americans pull out their credit cards at the gas pump, they indirectly fund the economies of countries like Iran, Venezuela, Libya, Sudan, and not to mention Al Qaeda (whose financial backers include many who are in the fossil fuels business). Even if the oil sold in the US comes from Alaska, Texas or allies like Norway, American demand drives up the price of the commodity, thereby pumping huge flows of dollars into the treasuries of its enemies. If Americans start thinking about their dependence on oil as equivalent to providing assistance to our enemies, more citizens would be open to looking for and practicing alternatives.

Dujarric doesn’t believe we should throw out the environmental arguments altogether. He instead believes supporting them with a new patriotic message might do the trick to cutting down our oil consumption. What motivates and inspires you to decrease your carbon footprint? Is it saving endangered species and improving air quality or is it protecting US borders? Let us know your thoughts about the climate change debate by submitting a comment below. Also, be sure to calculate your own carbon footprint on our carbon emissions calculator. You may be surprised at what you find!

-Jordan

Fall Wheel Options is back! Join thousands of others across the state who choose not to drive alone to work at least twice during Wheel Options, October 18-31. Log your commutes at www.WheelOptions.org and you could win the trip to Italy with a Rick Steves Best of Rome 7 Day Tour! Eligible wheel options include carpooling and vanpooling, riding the bus or train, bicycling or walking to work, working from home or simply not commuting because of your compressed work week schedule. There are many fantastic prizes, including weekend getaways and your favorite merchant gift cards. All participants will receive a two-for-one coupon courtesy of Amtrak Cascades. What have you got to lose?

-Melissa

Hey bicyclists―check out this “don’t miss” event! The City of Bellevue and Cascade Bicycle Club are presenting the Bicycle Maintenance Series during the month of November. Become a master of bicycle repairs and
start saving time and money!
Here are the details:

Cascade Bicycle Club professionals will teach the intricacies of bicycle mechanics and train participants to tackle all repairs efficiently on their own. Taught in a three-part series. Pick the course you need, or enroll in all three at a discount price. Necessary supplies and helpful handouts provided. Ages 15 and up only please. Enroll in all three courses for $120 and save! For more info and to RSVP visit www.MyParksAndRecreation.com or call 425-452-6885.

Fix a Flat
Monday, November 2, 6:30-9:00 p.m. $45
Learn basic maintenance techniques, including efficient flat tire repairs and everyday adjustments.

Chains and Derailleurs
Monday, November 16, 6:30-9:00 p.m. $45
Sync up those squeaky gears and bring your bike up to speed. This course will focus on the mechanics of shifting and turn you into a gear repair expert.

Brakes
Monday, November 23, 6:30-9:00 p.m. $45
Coaster? Disk? Pad? Don’t let technical braking mechanics keep you from obtaining premium braking power and safety. This course will focus on repairing braking systems so they are as strong and quite as when you bought the bike!

-Jordan