Category: Northwest Cycling

King County to pay $3.5 million to injured cyclist for road faults

A county government in Washington state has agreed to pay $3.5 million to bicyclist who fell and suffered permanent brain injuries on a road the county promoted as a bike route.

King County, home of the city of Seattle, agreed to the out-of-court settlement to pay for life-long care for the Jeffrey Totten, who was 31 years old at the time of the accident in September 2006.

The lawsuit alleged that the county promoted Novelty Hill Road as a bike route but failed to maintain it in a safe condition.

Totten was on a training ride with friends when he struck a hole that had developed around a survey monument in the road. He was in a coma for seven months, spent time in a group home and now lives in a group home where he receives around the clock care…

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/04/15/king-county-to-pay-3-5-million-to-injured-cyclist-for-road-faults/

Find 104 recreational bicycle rides in California here

After receiving well-deserved criticism from a reader about the timeliness of my bicycle ride calendars, I got to work Wednesday to bring them up to date for 2009.

I started with the list of California recreational bike rides and discovered I had 104 listings to update. I checked on all the links and was able to update about 80% with dates for 2009. Many clubs and organizations haven't set dates for their late fall rides yet.

So the California Bike Ride Calendar for 2009 is pretty much up to date. Next comes an overhaul of the Idaho, Oregon and Washington bicycle calendars, in that order.

Updating those California bike ride lists always brings back pleasant memories from when I lived there in the '80s and '90s. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/03/19/find-104-recreational-bicycle-rides-in-california-here/

Washington's 3-foot buffer bill for bicycles passes House

A Washington state bill that would give bicyclists 3 feet of clearance from passing motorists has passed the House by a 63 to 32 vote.

The legislation has been passed along to the Senate, where it was transferred to the Transportation Committee.

You can follow the bill's progress in a feed in the upper righthand corner of my Northwest Cycling page …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/03/18/washingtons-3-foot-buffer-bill-for-bicycles-passes-house/

UW lecturer killed in auto-bicycle collision

A senior lecturer at the University of Washington became the second bicycling fatality of the year when she died Friday of injuries she suffered Wednesday morning when her bicycle collided with a car.

Carol Salomon, 60, was riding south on First Avenue Northeast when a Toyota Prius heading east on North 56th Street struck her.

My condolences go out to her husband, son, and friends, as well as her students who were sitting in class waiting for her to show up to teach that morning …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/03/17/uw-lecturer-killed-in-auto-bicycle-collision/

One more day for Seattle International Bike Expo

Unfortunately I had limited time to tour around the Seattle International Bike Expo on Saturday. The weekend event is a great way to cover a lot of ground — Northwest bicycling-wise.

The Cascade Bicycle Club's annual show features 150 displays in Hangar 30 and surrounding buildings and tents. There are hundreds of bikes on show and sale, as well as piles of bicycle gear, many organizations touting their upcoming rides and bike tours.

One of the tents had a few leaks and a soggy floor. That didn't seem to bother anyone, however, as this is a gathering of Seattle area bicyclists; we take our moisture in stride.

Seattle International Bike Expo; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Hangar 30, Magnuson Park, Seattle; $8 admission

I got a chance to get close-up looks at some new-style bikes, specifically some offerings from the chainless drive-shaft rides from Dynamic Bicycles and commuter and errand bikes from Civia Cycles. Madsen Cycles had a working display out in the parking lot, where interested folks could ride their utility bikes around.

Moots displayed some of its bicycles, “handbuilt in the Rockies,” and the Oregon Bicycle Constructors Organization had a display area with lots of its members' works.

I had the chance to chat with some bicycling authors while I was there.

Joe “Metal Cowboy” Kurmaskie from Portland was hanging out in the Bicycle Paper booth. The humorist had a 2 for $20 inventory clearance sale for his books. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/03/14/one-more-day-for-seattle-international-bike-expo/

Seattle International Bike Expo is this weekend

If you're in Seattle this weekend, you should head over to the 2009 Seattle International Bike Expo at Magnuson Park on Saturday and Sunday.

The show has been presented by the Cascade Bicycle Club annually since 1988. This year it features 150 displays of bicycles, cycling gear, bike touring opportunities and companies that offer health and fitness products.

The show has a rather nomadic past, traveling around to different locations in the Seattle area. This year it's back at Hangar 30 at Magnuson Park. It's easy to get to by bicycle (valet bike parking is available) and there's plenty of parking for cars a short walk away …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/03/12/seattle-international-bike-expo-is-this-weekend/

Bike commuting into a governmental paradox

We all know that bicycle commuting has many benefits. But an ardent bicyclist I know recently learned that cutting back mileage on his state vehicle can have some unexpected drawbacks.

Russell writes about this Catch-22 at his Flying Abalone Bike Club blog. 

A biologist employed by the state of Washington, Russell took notice last year when Gov. Christine Gregoire asked employees to cut fuel consumption by 5%. He uses a state vehicle for his wide-ranging field work and meetings at the headquarters, but he started “parking short” and riding his bicycle when he could …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/03/12/bike-commuting-into-a-governmental-paradox/

Crime prevention meeting for Seattle bike commuters

The Cascade Bicycle Club is taking an active role in attempting to curb a rash of attacks and robberies near the bike tunnel in Sam Smith Park in Seattle.

The club will hold a “safety-information fair” from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday in the park west of the I-90 tunnel in Mount Baker.

Cascade is discussing the problem with police and suggests that bicyclists wait up for other bike commuters before riding through the area …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/03/05/crime-prevention-meeting-for-seattle-bike-commuters/

Oregon Handmade Bicycle Show in the fall

Now that the 2009 North American Handmade Bicycle Show is history, the Oregon Bicycle Constructors Association says it will hold its own show for handbuilt bicycles this fall.

The Oregon Handmade Bicycle Show on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 will be the association's second such show (the first was in 2007). Members plan for it to become an annual show in the future.

The non-profit trade group in Oregon promotes hand-built bicycles, and its members had the opportunity to display their wares at the NAHBS that's been held on the West Coast the past couple of years …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/03/04/oregon-handmade-bicycle-show-in-the-fall/

2009 Chilly Hilly fashion advice — raingear and fenders

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Last year's sunny blue skies aren't expected to make a repeat performance at the 2009 Chilly Hilly bike ride that kicks off the Puget Sound area recreational cycling season on Sunday.

It might be sunny on Friday, but the weather forecast for Bainbridge Island on Sunday is flat-out rain.

I hope the forecasters are wrong on that, but I'll suggest reattaching fenders, tightening up the brakes a bit, and digging out the Gor-Tex raingear. Probably take along an extra pair of gloves and maybe wool socks …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/02/20/2009-chilly-hilly-fashion-advice-raingear-and-fenders/