Heading out on your bike for a holiday weekend in search of a quiet gravel road is one of the best ways to get away. But as Edwin Lindo’s experience this weekend shows, racism follows people into the woods. And even when an incident does not end up in violence, the threat alone can dampen even a beautiful sunny ride.
Lindo is a founder of NorthStar Cycling, which was recently featured in Time Magazine as “an example of “How Communities of Color Have Found Strength, Joy and Comfort in a Year Like No Other.” Additionally, Lindo is the Assistant Dean for Social & Health Justice at UW and a founder of Estelita’s Library on Beacon Hill. He posted a video to Twitter Saturday about an encounter he had with a woman who yelled at him for biking on the street in front of her home to access the gravel road. As a result, he had to continue his ride unsure whether she called the police (or some good old boys). But he ends the video by saying, “This is normal. This is how it works.”
This is literally what happens when we’re just trying to live in joy… she screamed, “do you live in this neighborhood!?”
In Washington State, a news corporation now has more free press protections than an independent journalist. That seems to be the outcome of a somewhat surprising Washington Supreme Court decision this week, which potentially gutted the state’s Shield Law that protects journalists from prosecution for refusing to reveal their sources or turn over notes and other unpublished materials (with some exceptions).
By a 7-2 decision (PDF) in Green v. Pierce County, the majority determined that Brian Green’s YouTube channel Libertys Champion does not meet the definition of “news media” as defined by the 2007 Shield Law (RCW 5.68.010). Green’s case was not even about the Shield Law, but this ruling seems to set a precedent in how the Shield Law is interpreted.
Green was seeking certain public records from Pierce County that are protected from disclosure except to news media (RCW 42.56.250 section 8). Pierce County denied that part of his request, claiming that he and his YouTube channel don’t meet the definition of “news media.” Green filed a suit, and that case made it all the way to the WA Supreme Court. The Appellate Court sided with Green, but the Supreme Court reversed the lower court’s decision.
The most worrying part of the decision is not the reduced access to public disclosure (though that’s obviously bad), it’s that now anyone reporting news without the cover of a corporation or other organization (like a school) is exposed to prosecution if they refuse to reveal sources. Police could also much more easily subpoena unpublished materials like unedited notes, photos, videos and other materials.
This is not an imaginary or far-fetched scenario. It nearly happened last summer. Seattle Police sought and obtained a subpoena to force major news organizations in town to turn over reporters’ unpublished photos and videos from the summer protests. I helped organize a group of 27 independent journalists working in town calling on the city to drop the subpoenas. Because while only major organizations were targeted at the time, the threat was chilling for independent journalists without the resources to fight in court:
The ongoing court case is frightening for our counterparts at these major news organizations. But it is terrifying for us, independent journalists without the financial and legal backing of a major media corporation. If SPD is successful in this case, there is no reason to think that independent journalists won’t be targeted next.
The city eventually dropped the subpoenas amid public backlash, but those major organizations were certainly going to use the Shield Law in their legal appeals had the case moved forward. Now because of Green v. Pierce County, independents might not have such a protection at all. (more…)
COVID-19 broke global bicycle supply chains, resulting in long waits for new bikes and making bike parts harder for shops to stock. King 5 recently talked to two Lynnwood shops, Gregg’s Lynnwood Cycle and Harvy’s Bikes, about the shortage and how they’re dealing with it.
The shortage is the result of a number of factors, as Bicycle Retailer and Industry News (“BRAIN”) reported in February. The pandemic slowed production as demand skyrocketed as people looked for new ways to get around and get exercise. A huge percentage of bikes and components are made in Taiwan, but the pandemic has limited the mobility of workers the bike manufacturers need.
“Taiwan’s factories depend on guest workers from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines,” BRAIN reported. “But coronavirus restrictions are curtailing labor migration and limiting factories’ abilities to increase production.”
The cost for raw materials is also up (aluminum is up 15%, steel 20%, rubber 50%). Shipping is slower and more expensive, as well. But the problem in the U.S. was compounded by Trump’s trade war with China because his 25% tariffs included many bike parts. So before the pandemic hit, some U.S. distributors were holding off on making orders in hopes he would end his tantrum or add bike parts to the lengthy list of tariff exceptions. This meant that the U.S. already had a shortage before the pandemic even started.
Supply did increase significantly in March, but few people think it will be enough to satisfy demand. BRAIN reports that the shortage is expected to last into 2022.
Harvy Massoud, owner of Harvy’s Bikes, mentions in the King 5 video that people are bringing in a lot of old rusty bikes in hopes that they can fix them up. He said the repair business is probably double a typical year.
Bike repair geeks and anarchist bike collectives, you’ve been training for this moment. We gotta make what we have last. So many bike components are usually easier (and sometimes cheaper) to replace rather than repair, but that might not be the case anymore. If you have ever been interested in bike maintenance, now is a great time to learn. Much of it is not difficult at all and can extend the life of your bike’s components. Even simply cleaning and lubing your chain and cassette will go a long way. Cleaning your rims can extend the life of your brake pads (if you have rim brakes). And every bike tube patch is a badge of honor.
I still like the Chainbreaker Bike Book by Ethan Clark and Shelley Lynn Jackson as a very approachable illustrated bike repair guide, especially for slightly older bikes (it might not have the most modern stuff in it, though it was updated a couple years ago). Bike Works is also about to begin an in-person Bike Repair 101 class for adults.
Do you have a favorite resource for beginner bike maintenance? Let us know in the comments below.
Bike Works is turning 25 years old! How cool is that? That’s a quarter century of bike wrenching, teaching and youth programming in Columbia City.
The organization has long had an excellent annual fundraiser auction. Of course, the pandemic isn’t over (and it was very far from over when the 2021 auction was planned), so Bikecitement 2021 will be online. But still, it should be a good time.
And if you register by June 2, you can get a meal delivered from Salare. You also get a bottle of “Yellow House Red” wine, named for the yellow house on S Ferdinand Street where Bike Works began and still uses for their community bike shop. And Ahamefule J Oluo will be the guest musician.
Bike Works is wonderful, and you should have fun and give them your money (if you can).
Join Bike Works as we celebrate our “silver” 25th year anniversary in an online revelry of community, cycling, and social justice. Hear from inspiring speakers, enjoy a tasty meal, bid on enticing auction packages, and engage with our movement to promote the bicycle as a vehicle for change. register for tickets!
Tickets are sliding-scale* and include:
A live performance by very special musical guest, Ahamefule J. Oluo
A brand-new film about cycling, social justice, and activism
A tasty meal, delivered to your home (available in mainland King County)
A custom red wine from Eleven Winery (pick up on Bainbridge Island in June)
A group ride to Eleven Winery on Wednesday, June 9th at 5:30 PM, led by Executive Director Ed Ewing
Networking and mingling with other lovers of bikes & community in an interactive online platform
*If cost is a barrier, comped tickets are available upon request.
The Greater Redmond Transportation Management Association is now “Move Redmond.” That seems like a good name change, though I may be biased since my spouse Kelli works for Move Redmond as the Advocacy and Communications Director. But it is a pleasant upgrade in my life that I no longer have to hear “GRTMA” pronounced out loud every day.
The new name also reflects the non-profit organization’s expanded scope since Executive Director Kirk Hovenkotter, formerly at TransitCenter in New York, took over in 2019. In addition to commute trip reduction work with major employers, the organization is also working to boost its advocacy efforts to help more people bike, walk and take transit in the area.
For example, they are hosting a free webinar 11:30 a.m. Wednesday called “Making Bicycling Accessible for All” featuring a great lineup of local leaders:
What will it take to make Redmond a place where people of any age or ability can safely bike for transportation? How are we using bikes as a tool to connect our communities? Our panel of biking experts will explore ways to use biking to overcome barriers to bicycling for everyday use, including discussing race, body size, and infrastructure. This event will leave you feeling inspired and excited to shape an accessible bike network on the Eastside.
-Marley Blonsky, Fat Bike Adventurer, and Advocate
-Reginald “Doc” Wilson, Founder of Peace Peloton
-Ed Ewing, Executive Director of Bike Works, Founder of the Major Taylor Project
-Katherine Hollis, Executive Director of Eastrail Partners
“We’ll be discussing race, body size and infrastructure” said Transportation Specialist Sol Dressa. “We want to continue this conversation about how unsafe our streets feel and how Black and Indigenous folks are affected by them.” (more…)
There’s no rally downtown, no after-party in Ballard and only a fraction of the community-created “celebration stations” in a typical year. But hey, Bike Everywhere Day 2021 is still an excuse to to ride your bike Friday, so it’s still a pretty good day. Biking is really fun.
There are six stations in Seattle plus a handful more around the region. The primary Cascade station will be near the Fremont Bridge as usual. So set an alarm to get out a little early to hit up some stations and say, “Hi!” to some friendly faces.
To build a network of support and fun for the thousands of cyclists on Bike Everywhere Day, Cascade Bicycle Club and our local partners host dozens of celebration stations along major bike routes in the region. We’ve provided our station hosts with suggestions on how to host no-contact stations and we encourage everyone to follow local public health guidance.
Stop by and:
Pick up a free souvenir (at select stations)
Join Cascade Bicycle Club by signing up for a membership (Fremont area Station only).
Take a selfie and share it on social media with the hashtag #WABikeEverywhere
Enjoy socially distanced waves and smiles!
But hope for biking events is finally on the horizon. With vaccination rates climbing every day and closing in on half the county’s population (and more than half of eligible people), Cascade announced that 1,000 riders will be allowed at Flying Wheels June 5. That will make it “Washington’s biggest in-person cycling event in more than a year,” according to the Cascade Blog. There are still changes from a typical year (no day-of registration, no gathering at the start line, etc), but it’s a sign of change. Finally.
Y’all, COVID has been really hard. You are all amazing and wonderful for doing your part to get through this. We’re not out of it yet, but it’s coming (at least it seems that way).
Meet up in the center of the park at 7ish. Leave at 730. Every Thursday from now until forever rain or shine. Bikes, beers, illegal firepits, nachos, bottlerockets, timetraveling, lollygagging, mechanicals, good times.ShareMastodonTwitterFacebookRedditEmail
Details from Seattle Parks: On scheduled weekends from May to September, a portion of Lake Washington Boulevard will be closed to motorized vehicles from 10 a.m. Saturday to 6 p.m. Sunday. “Seattle Parks and Recreation[…]
Details from Seattle Parks: On scheduled weekends from May to September, a portion of Lake Washington Boulevard will be closed to motorized vehicles from 10 a.m. Saturday to 6 p.m. Sunday. “Seattle Parks and Recreation[…]
Meet up in the center of the park at 7ish. Leave at 730. Every Thursday from now until forever rain or shine. Bikes, beers, illegal firepits, nachos, bottlerockets, timetraveling, lollygagging, mechanicals, good times.ShareMastodonTwitterFacebookRedditEmail
Meet up in the center of the park at 7ish. Leave at 730. Every Thursday from now until forever rain or shine. Bikes, beers, illegal firepits, nachos, bottlerockets, timetraveling, lollygagging, mechanicals, good times.ShareMastodonTwitterFacebookRedditEmail
