The Legislative Session is a crucial time for you to be heard. Yesterday we received an email from Bike To Work Spokane titled “Spokes and Saddles: Spokane Area Bike News” that was so comprehensive in its links, contact information, and updates, we hade to share.

Here’s the release:

January 28: Transportation Advocacy Day in Olympia, House Transportation Committee Hearings on Bike Bills

This Thursday, Jan. 28 at 3:30pm, the House Transportation Committee will hold hearings on two bills that relate to biking, both of which are actively supported by the Cascade Bicycle Club, Bicycle Alliance of Washington, Transportation Choices and other groups working on active transportation issues.

HB 2911: Creating Complete Streets Grant Program
HB 3001: Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Education in Traffic Schools

A list of House Transportation Committee members: http://bit.ly/WaHTransp. Local legislators Alex Wood (3rd District), John Driscoll (6th District), and Matt Shea (4th District) serve on the committee.

If you’d like to submit comments, contact your state representatives: http://bit.ly/WaReps

The bills are being heard on Transportation Advocacy Day, when people from around the state descend on the capitol to meet legislatures and lobby for transportation policy that addresses the needs of all users, not just some.

Vulnerable User Bill in Legislature

Introduced in the 2009 session by the Cascade Bicycle Club but not passed into law, the Vulnerable Roadway User Bill would make it easier for prosecutors to hold drivers more accountable in collisions where they kill or seriously injure cyclists and pedestrians. The bill is supported by the Bicycle Alliance of Washington and other organizations.

It has been introduced in the House as HB 2774, and in the Senate as SB 5838.

Spokane County Street Connectivity Issue Open for More Comments

Spokane County Commissioners held a hearing Tuesday, Jan. 26, concerning a policy on connectivity.

Connectivity provides for walkability and bikability within a neighborhood and for adjacent neighborhoods. It also makes providing services to these neighborhoods such as police, transit and fire much easier and cheaper.

Commissioners Todd Mielke and Mark Richard voted to hold the topic open for further comment. You can submit an email through this link provided by Futurewise. The wording they developed for the form will give you an idea of the importance of the issue for cyclists and neighbors.

You can rewrite it to be in your own words, or just send an email yourself to commissioners Todd Mielke (tmielke@spokanecounty.org), Mark Richards (mrichards@spokanecounty.org), and Bonnie Mager (bmager@spokanecounty.org).

DTE blog post on the topic

Bike to Work Committee Still Needs a Few Folks

We’ll be calling on businesses and workplaces the next 4-6 weeks to talk up the ways they can support and participate in Bike to Work Week. Can you help us by doing some outreach?

We especially need people who will be the lead point of contact for the northwest part of City of Spokane; Airway Heights; Cheney; and Spokane Valley. We could use help in other parts of City of Spokane too--and if you're in an outlying part of the county and want to jump in, we sure won't stop you!

We have a packet of information you’ll take with you to leave behind, and will have a couple of videos up soon on our new YouTube channel to give you more knowledge about the events and the ways entities can participate.

Our next committee meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 2, 7:30-8:30 a.m. at Coffee Social (which gives you a 10% discount if you bike, walk or take transit to get there). (You can become their fan on Facebook here.)

Email info@biketoworkspokane.org to be added to our volunteer list. You’re the ones who make it happen for everyone!

Souper Bowl Ski and Snowshoe Sunday Feb. 7

Ready for a little cross-training in the name of a good cause, ladies? The 5th annual Souper Bowl Ski and Snowshoe Sunday is coming up February 7, 2010, at Mt. Spokane Nordic Area.

The event features cross country self-guided ski tours, a women’s 10K skate or classic race, guided or self-guided snowshoe tours, and fantastic food. All proceeds from the event support the Women’s and Children’s Free Restaurant.

If you register by February 1, 2010, you double your chance of winning door prizes.

Thank Our 2010 Sponsors!

Please thank our many repeat sponsors and take them your business. When you do, give them a big THANK YOU for supporting Bike to Work Spokane!
Gold Wheel: REI, Spokane Public Radio, Unico Properties
Silver Spoke: Alt29, Mountain Gear, Steam Plant Grill/Coeur d’Alene Brewing
Bronze Gear: North Division Bicycle Shop, Out There Monthly, Silver Collector Auctions
Pedal Partners: Emde Sports, Interlink Advantage, Roast House, Two Wheel Transit

Stuff You’ll Find on Our Web Site

Resources: Like where to report bike lane parking violations and traffic lights that don’t detect bikes

Bicycle Benefits deals: Discounts if you bike there and show your sticker (available from us or from these participating businesses)

Events: With links to event sites. Tell us what’s missing and we’ll add it!

Area bike clubs: So you can join and ride

Area bike blogs: Subscribe, read, comment—add your voice to the region’s cycling community online!

Have Bike News to Share?

If you have something you’d like to have sent out, please send with lots of lead time; I collect items for relatively lengthy emails so as not to be spammy with lots of little emails.

If you’re on Twitter, follow @Bike2WrkSpokane for updates and links. Those also go to our home page at http://www.biketoworkspokane.org/ and you’ll get the news faster. Become a fan of our Facebook page and/or join our Facebook group.

---

---