BYKE BYTES: Bike More, Drive Less, Get Active

1. National Bike Summit
2. Bike Alliance Coming to Yakima!
3. Bellevue Updating Bike-Ped Plan
4. Bike Buddy Commute Consulting
5. Friends of Burke-Gilman Trail Annual Mtg
6. Edmonds Bicycle Group -- Mountain Bike Presentation
7. Volunteers Needed for Healthy Living Expo

National Bike Summit

Dave Janis of the Bicycle Alliance will represent Washington State bicyclists at the upcoming National Bike Summit in Washington, DC, on March 13-17. Among the issues Dave will be discussing with members of our state's Congressional delegation are continued funding of the Safe Routes to School Program, funding the Conserve by Bicycle Program, and passage of the Bicycle Commuter Act tax benefit. For more info about Bike Summit, go to www.bikeleague.org.

Bike Alliance Coming to Yakima!

Attention Yakima Valley cyclists! Save March 22 at 6pm for a ride with Bike Alliance Board Chair, Ralph Wessels, and other members of the Transportation Improvement Board. Gather afterwards for dinner and discussion about the current legislative session, funding for bike projects, and more. More details to follow, or contact the Bicycle Alliance at 206.224.9252.

Bellevue Updating Bike-Ped Plan

The City of Bellevue has posted two online surveys (one for walking, one for biking) as a first step in gathering input to update its Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan, dubbed Walk and Roll 2007. The surveys are posted at www.bellevuewa.gov/pedbikeplan.htm until April 10. For more info about the plan update, contact Frank Loewenherz at 425.452.4077 or Floewenherz@bellevuewa.gov.

Bike Buddy Commute Consulting

Are you looking for advice about commuting by bicycle? The Bicycle Alliance of Washington has the resources you need to select a route and learn the basics of riding in traffic. The Alliance can also help you select a bike and learn basic repair skills.

Every Friday afternoon in March, April and May from 1:00 to 5:00 PM, Kent Peterson, the Bicycle Alliance Commute Program Director, will answer any and all commuting questions at the Seattle Bike Station, 311 3rd Avenue South. Stop by to chat, get a bike map, learn how to fix a flat tire and learn more about commuting in the Puget Sound area. For bike commute advice anytime, call the Bicycle Alliance at 206-224-9252 or email bikebuddy@bicyclealliance.org

Friends of Burke-Gilman Trail Annual Meeting

The Friends of Burke-Gilman Trail are holding their annual meeting on March 22, 7-8:30 pm at the Loyal Heights Community Center, 2101 NW 77th Street in Seattle. Kirk Jones of the Seattle Dept of Transportation will give a presentation on the on-going design for the "missing link." For more info, email friends@burkegilmantrail.org.

Edmonds Bicycle Group -- Mountain Bike Presentation

The Edmonds Bike Group invites all interested cyclists to attend their March 21 meeting to hear Mike Landau present a slide show and discussion on his 2600-mile solo bike ride on the Continental Divide Mountain bike route this past summer. After riding the roads to the Canada border north of Whitefish, Mike began an off road adventure to the border with Mexico during which he encountered an avalanche, grizzly bears, trails too muddy to ride, health problems, and being surrounded by a pack of dogs. The total elevation gain was 200,000 feet.

The meeting will be March 21, 7:30 PM at the Francis Anderson Center in downtown Edmonds on Main Street, next to the Library.

Volunteers Needed for Healthy Living Expo

Help King County Metro demonstrate the bus/bike rack, talk about bicycle commuting and more at the Healthy Living Expo, March 17 & 18 at the Seattle Expo Center. Please respond directly to Megan Horst at 206.363.3555 or Megan.Horst@metrokc.gov to volunteers. Shifts are as follows:

Saturday March 17th

10am - 12:30pm
12:30pm - 3:00 pm
3:00pm - 5:00pm

Sunday March 18th

10am - 12:30pm
12:30pm - 3:00 pm
3:00pm - 5:00pm

The Bicycle Alliance is a non-profit VOLUNTEER POWERED organization. We work for you, but also, we NEED you. We have an ongoing need for office volunteers: data entry, filing and other tasks always need to get done. Our annual auction would not happen without over 100 people giving generously of their time. We need advocates in every corner of the state to work with government officials And there are always special tasks for special skills that can help the cause of bicycling throughout Washington.

The easiest way to get involved is to come to our monthly volunteer work PARTY. On the last Thursday of each month from 1pm to 8pm at our office in Seattle we have a workparty with lots and lots of yummy goodies (chocolate is a specialty), socializing and working to further bicycle advocacy in Washington. We would love to have you join us. Drop in on the last Thursday afternoon. We need your help. Call Mark at 206.224.9252 or send Mark email to RSVP, to get directions or to get more information.

Upcoming Workparties: March 29th.

Over 1800 Share the Road License Plates Sold!