Bike to Work Day is one of my favorite holidays. It’s like a one-day glimpse into the near future, assuming we keep up our efforts to grow everyday cycling.
As always, there will be commute stations all over the region with folks giving out coffee or snacks or just plain ol’ encouragement. Ironically, it’s a great day to be unemployed or to go into work late so you can hit up as many stations as you can.
This year’s Bike to Work Day Rally will be at Union Station. But unlike previous years, Cascade Bicycle Club is organizing five group rides starting in different parts of town and arriving at the rally at the same time. It will be sort of like a one-run bike train network.
Here’s where and when to meet up to join a ride, from Cascade:
Councilmembers Mike O’Brien and Sally Bagshaw are scheduled to speak at the rally at Union Station starting around 8:45 a.m.
Unlike previous years, there won’t be a big after party in Ballard. But there will be three smaller after parties around the region:
- 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Velo Bike Shop in Seattle
- 4 – 7 p.m. at Kenmore’s 192 Brewing Company
- 4- 8 p.m. at the Redmond Central Connector Trail in downtown Redmond
Flier with more details on the Seattle party, from Cascade:
Here’s a map of the commute stations from Cascade:
Comments
18 responses to “Bike to Work Day is Friday, Cascade hosting 5 group rides to rally downtown”
I wish there would be an emphasis on basic laws and etiquette while biking during Bike to Work Month/Day. Don’t wear headphones, don’t ride side-by-side on busy trails, check over your shoulder before passing or making a turn, etc.
It’s frustrating to us legitimate commuters to have to deal with ignorant/oblivious fair weathers who make their appearance between mid-May and late September. And those passive aggressive signs from last summer did nothing.
So only people who bike to work in the winter are legitimate? Does that mean that fair-weather cyclists are illegitimate?
Come on man.
If they don’t know or abide by laws and etiquette, then yes, they are illegitimate.
I’m tired of “legitimate” commuters who have a chip on their shoulder for anyone that gets in their way.
The worst etiquette I observed on the ride in this morning was from some of the regular commuters. I rode in with some coworkers who rarely commute and are quite slow. I lost track of the regular commuters that needed to just blow by us without any type of signal. Really, it’s rude and dangerous. I can imagine that these same regular commuters also don’t stop for stop signs or stop lights, creating animosity for all of us.
As far as I’m concerned, we need less grouches on bicycles and in cars.
The more cyclists the merrier, no helmets or wearing headphones.
No helmet is fine for a cruise around the hood but not if you want to really get somewhere in this town.
The only bad thing seeing all the one-day riders is that this is how it could be if these people weren’t suckered into thinking they need to drive the rest of the year.
I get frustrated too! Just out of curiosity (since I can’t respond to Kirk below), what kind of warning would irregular cyclists *like* when being passed by someone faster? I give warning when I pass (you may recognize my ‘On your left’ if you commute on Dexter), but even that can make other cyclists cranky. Do you need to hear me when I pass your back tire? How loud should I warn?
Exactly. Warn well in advance. I do this because I can then see what the reaction is. I’ve found people react differently, and if startled, might actually move into my path. I want them to do this well before I arrive so I can react. And I usually give another audible warning when I am about to overtake them.
I assume that as more than the small minority of people in this city who currently bike BEGIN to bike, there will be need for demonstrating good behavior, etiquette, and knowledge of the laws.
And PS – the most reckless, rude cyclist in the city is still half as scary as the a moderately aggressive and entitled driver. So, let’s have some sense of proportion here. “Newbies” aren’t a problem – they’re an opportunity.
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So very important for the recent cycling crowd to have spent a few dollars at a local bike shop before venturing out on Friday so whatever ride your rolling on is a most enjoyable experience. Helmet, front/rear lights, a water bottle & you are good to go. Enjoy
Yay, Eat To Work Day! Looks like the weather will be nice too. I love seeing how many people ride in! I wish they would every day…
I love biking to work, and I’m stoked that other people get to do that to… but getting to work today was a real pain. The Bike to Work station on 2nd avenue and Columbia, for example, was full of people crossing the bike path unsafely. I came through at about 8:10, and was forced to jam on my brakes and come to a complete stop (although I gave a number of warnings) because another commuter was pushing her bikes crossways through the middle of the block.
I get that treating the protected bike lanes as real streets doesn’t come naturally to folks, even those that use them, but I wish there was a way to minimize this conflict on a very busy travel day.
The way to minimize the conflict is to ride cautiously when there is congestion on a busy travel day. If you had to jam on your brakes when approaching this area, it implies to me that you were riding too fast for the conditions.
That’s a valid concern, and I will admit I was perhaps riding a bit too fast (the lights on 2nd have unfortunate timing), but surely there must also be some responsibility on people crossing the bike lane mid-block who are legally required to yield to oncoming traffic?
This commuter (walking alongside her bike) had blocked the entire lane from sidewalk to parking, and proceeded across the lane well after I was visible coming from the north. She proceeded without checking the lanes in either direction and was completely unresponsive to my warnings. It was particularly frustrating because as another cyclist I had hoped that she would be more likely to treat the bike lane as a travel lane than the average pedestrian.
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