Blogs

From the League of American Bicyclists: After seven long years, the bicycle commuter tax provision has finally passed both the House and Senate as part of the financial bailout package. President Bush has said that he is eager to sign the legislation.

Blog post at the Spokane Regional Transportation Commission about a cyclist: http://srtctransportation.blogspot.com/2008/09/to-guy-changing-his-cloth...

Mark your calendars & invite your friends: Oct. 20, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., SmartRoutes Spokane Community Rally at the STA Plaza. SmartRoutes is Spokane's participation in the nationwide effort led by Rails to Trails Conservancy asking Congress to increase funding for nonmotorized & active transportation. We'll have maps showing the plans we've shared with RTC about how we'll plug gaps and create a safe and connected countywide network of paths and urban routes. Our plan is about the five Es: education, encouragement, enforcement, and evaluation in addition to this engineering piece.

As part of the first Washington State Bicycle & Pedestrian Counts, Seattle's Cascade Bike Club, working with the Washington Department of Transportation, is looking for volunteers to help count bikes and pedestrians in Spokane next week for a study on how to reduce vehicle traffic and make our communities more bike- and pedestrian-friendly. They need people the 29th, 30th or 1st from either 7-9am or 4-6pm, and are giving some freebies to those who do volunteer their time. Please contact david.hiller@cascadebicycleclub.org if you would like to help.

Spokane locations

• E 5th Ave and S Sherman St
• W 4th Ave and S Washington St
• W 2nd Ave and S Howard St
• W Spokane Falls Blvd and N Howard St
• E Mission Ave and N Perry St (Centennial Trail)
• W Buckeye Ave and N Post St

Here's something that is happening in Portland that maybe we want to try. It would require a working partnership with the police department. BAB member John Speare has mentioned this before, if only in passing to me, but I think it's a good way to not only encourage bicycling, but to make it safer while also promoting positive interaction with the police. I'd rather see the police stop someone and give them a light so they can be safe rather than ticket them. http://bikeportland.org/2008/09/25/bta-police-bureau-launch-latest-incar...

Better World Club is a green alternative to AAA that has a bike roadside assistance program. See http://www.betterworldclub.com/bicycles/bike_assistance.htm.

Just a reminder of the fun event next week that will help support the Bicycle Alliance of Washington's goal of a Spokane office: Scooters in the Bike Lane (and other tales of a world of travel) by the highly entertaining Willie Weir (see more about him at www.willieweir.com) Wednesday September 24 7PM (doors open at 6:30) South Campus Facility Riverpoint Campus 410 Spokane Falls Blvd Spokane - Next to WSU Bookie $10 advance tickets now available at North Division Bicycle Shop 10503 N. Division, Spokane Tickets will be $12 at the door. * * * * * * *

The Spokesman set up a great little slide show of SpokeFest pix. See http://www.spokesmanreview.com/media/slides/?k=spokefest. --barb

Here's a quick blurb about one thing Seattle is doing, as is Portland, bike boxes at intersections: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/378113_gettingthere08.html

World Traveler to Stage Benefit Show Sept. 24, 7 p.m.

Globe-trotting cyclist Willie Weir will present his blend of anecdotes, observations and photographs in a benefit show for the Bicycle Alliance of Washington as part of its campaign to open an office in Eastern Washington. BAW provided great support for BTW Week last year, and will do so again in 2009.