Disaster preparedness is extremely important. But in good times, practicing for an imaginary disaster just sounds so, I don’t know, boring? Paranoid?
Enter the Disaster Relief Trials. The DRT is basically a bike race complicated by a series of challenges that simulate an imaginary disaster, and it’s a lot fun.
This year’s DRT, hosted by Familybike Seattle, will take place during the West Seattle Summer Parkways event September 25. Check-in starts at 10 a.m. in Alki. Disaster strikes at 11.
Last year was a blast, but I also learned a thing or two about what I can do to help or get help in case of a massive earthquake. In the process of hauling water to Rainier Beach or sacks of potatoes to the Central District, I also learned where my neighborhood disaster meetup points are and met some neighbors who are into ham radio (useful if phone and cell service goes down). And I learned that my cargo-hauling ability is better than I thought it was.
Registration for the 2016 DRT is now open. People with all kinds of bikes are needed. There are categories for people with cargo bikes (responder), electric cargo bikes (e-assist), family bikers (family), “regular” bikes (resilient) and even people without bikes (citizen, free).
So register now and invite all your friends to join you.
As in 2015, Seattle Bike Blog is media sponsor of the 2016 DRT.
More details from the event page: (more…)