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Connectivity -- Safety -- Opportunity -- Participation -- Partnership
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“Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race.” – HG Wells
Few inventions have the staying power of the bicycle. Relatively unchanged since they took on the shape we know and love more than 100 years ago (minus some fun techy and accessible updates), their value is only becoming more apparent. From improving our health and wellbeing to reducing our reliance on fossils fuels, incorporating bikes into our lives comes with seemingly endless benefits – and they’re fun to use.
Those are just a few of the reasons why my colleagues at WSDOT’s Active Transportation Division and I are passionate about helping our agency and others develop more comfortable, safe, accessible and connected cycling networks, and equip Washington state residents with bikes and the know-how to use them confidently.
This Bike Month – which Gov. Jay Inslee officially designated on April 26 through a ceremonial proclamation (read below) – people around the country are trying to celebrate the humble bicycle by riding every chance they get. We're thinking about all of the ways we motivate ourselves to keep commuting, exercising, and riding just for the whimsy of it:
The head start I got by riding every single day during April for the 30 Days of Biking challenge gives me a boost into May for #BikeEverywhere. I enjoy tallying up rides taken for different reasons and to different destinations, like my ride May 2 to my hairdresser. Businesses participating in the Intercity Transit Bicycle Commuter Challenge in Thurston County are offering perks like treats for people who arrive by bike and that doesn't hurt either! – Barb Chamberlain, ATD Director
I like to look ahead at how I can replace different kinds of trips (commute, errands, recreation), or chain them together, with bicycling. And then there are the social opportunities of group rides or events as we celebrate the bicycle and cycling - so much fun and camaraderie that keep me coming back for more. – Chris Hawkins, Transportation Planning Specialist
I don't own a car – it's a choice I make because the mental and financial costs to driving aren't something I want in my life. But choosing biking over walking and busing sometimes happens because the bus schedule doesn't fit where I want to go, and sometimes proactively, reminding myself how much fun it is to zoom around and be outside. There are always small goofy joys seen while on a bike. – Ursula Sandstrom, Complete Streets Statewide Planner
How do I keep riding? I never stop. So I am riding in January, Feb, March . . . riding is such a habit that even when I don't feel like it, I end up doing it anyway. And any lack of motivation disappears with the first pedal stroke! I don't add any requirements to ride more in May than in the prior months. I already ride enough, and if I can fit more rides in then I will do so (in May, or June, or any other month). – Brian Wood, State Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator
Whenever I don’t feel the oomph to saddle up for a commute, I think about all of the dogs I’ve pet, farm animals I’ve passed (even in Seattle – shoutout to the Burke-Gilman leashed goats), street art I’ve seen, and unexpected positive interactions had by bike whenever I ride around Puget Sound and get excited about what I might get to see next. For recreational rides, I also keep it more about the joy of discovery than the pressure to sweat. I have a list of places I want to see, and activities I want to do when I get there, to tick off. – Hannah Weinberger, Communication Lead
Trying to connect your people with the joy of bicycle transportation during Bike Month? Keep these dates in mind:
May 13-17: Bike to Work Week
May 15: Ride of Silence
May 17 (or your local celebration date): Bike to Work Day
 Gov. Jay Inslee signed a ceremonial proclamation designation May 2024 as Bike Month. Full text of the proclamation at the end of the newsletter.
Transportation planning internships with ATD and elsewhere in WSDOT
Transportation Planning Interns
Multiple Locations Statewide
$3,537 - $4,723 Monthly
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Active Transportation Division (ATD), Olympic Region and North Central Region Multimodal Planning Divisions are currently seeking to fill four Transportation Planning Technician 1 internship positions. The positions are based in Olympia, Lacey, and Wenatchee, WA, respectively, and each position provides remote work options. These are unique opportunities for currently enrolled or recently graduated students looking to apply their classroom training to real world scenarios. The Transportation Planning Technician 1 internships provide the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the practical application of multimodal transportation procedures, concepts, and techniques in an on-the-job environment.
See link for more information, including details on how to apply: LINK Deadline May 13.
PBP/SRTS: Last call for project applications
The 2024 calls for projects for the Pedestrian/Bicyclist and Safe Routes to School grant programs remain open for applications from local jurisdictions, tribal governments, and other eligible entities in Washington state.
Reminder to check your project idea out in relation to the WSDOT scoring rubric, featuring criteria ranging from the usual heavy emphasis on equity and safety, to mobility, deliverability, project value, and geographic diversity, at the calls for projects webpages. You can also find a wealth of information there and in the new Active Transportation Programs Design Guide, which consolidates information about design treatment options and resources needed to complete more competitive applications.
We’re into the final stretch of applying for this 2024 cycle, which leads to recommendations to the Legislature for their consideration during the passage of the next (2025-27) biennium’s transportation budget. Due dates are midnight on May 31 for the Pedestrian/Bicyclist Program and June 7 for the Safe Routes to School Program.
Direct links to calls for projects:
Special event: Author Anna Zivarts with Barb Chamberlain and Tanisha Sepúlveda discuss non-driving
So much of the American lifestyle is centered around cars that it can be difficult to imagine a life beyond driving. But one-third of people living in the United States do not drive – by choice or out of necessity – and for them it is abundantly clear just how much this country’s culture and physical infrastructure does not consider their needs.
Local non-driver and author Anna Zivarts understands how deeply this neglect can marginalize already-marginalized people. It’s something she works to change as the founder and Program Director of the Disability Mobility Initiative at Disability Rights Washington, and as the former disabled nondriving representative on the Washington State Active Transportation Safety Council, a seat Sepúlveda now holds on behalf of DRW. In her new book, When Driving is Not an Option, Zivarts explores how taking non-drivers into account when making planning and design decisions can improve their lives, and society at large. Zivarts will discuss the book in conversation with our very own Barb Chamberlain at 7:30 p.m. on May 13th at Town Hall Seattle. The facility is located four blocks northeast of the University Street Light Rail Station. It is served by Metro Route #2 and, three blocks south, Metro Route #12.
 A photo of folks frolicking among the wildflowers near Gardiner on the Olympic Discovery Trail, May 2021 (Briana Weisgerber/WSDOT)
We add new trainings as we find them, so the list changes with every issue. Some of these offer continuing education credits. All times are shown in Pacific time zone.
All webinars listed are FREE unless a price is noted. All items are webinars unless a location is noted.
- May 14, 11:00am: Cities for Life: Preventing Trauma and Violence with Communities. (Cities for Everyone with Gil)
- May 14, 1:00-2:00pm: Pedal Power for Public Servants: Building Government Workplaces for Better Biking (The League of American Bicyclists)
- May 14-16: EcoAdapt and American Society of Adaption Professionals’ National Adaption Forum. Saint Paul, Minnesota. (There is a fee)
- May 15, 11:00am-12:30pm: Intersection Operation Strategies for Improving Pedestrian Safety (FHWA)
- May 15, 11:00am-12:00noon: Engaging and Including Students with Disabilities in Safe Routes Programs (Safe Routes Partnership)
- May 15, 12:00noon: Working & Planning to Advance Transportation and Health Equity. (APBP – fee)
- May 15-18: CNU 32.Cincinnati (Congress for the New Urbanism)
- May 16, 11:00am: A 1-Year Cycling Experience and the Lessons Learned (ITE – fee for nonmembers)
- May 22, 10:00am: Equitable Data Analysis (FHWA - Equity in Roadway Safety Webinar)
- May 22, 11:00am: Mobility and Equity in Safety for the Next Generation of Road Users (Governors Highway Safety Association)
- May 23, 10:00am: Building Adaptive Trail Programming: Lessons from the Field (American Trails – donations appreciated)
- May 30, 10:00am: Communicate, Educate, and Inform Where Visitors are Planning Their Adventures (American Trails – donations appreciated)
June (National Safety Month!)
Save the Date
 Nearly 90 cyclists in Olympia, Washington, mark Earth Day with a sunny market ride (Chris Hawkins/WSDOT)
- WSDOT Pedestrian/Bicyclist Program and Safe Routes to School Program calls for projects: Local agency and tribal government partners are invited to apply for grant funding facilitating the design and construction of infrastructure and programs enhancing safety and comfort for people who walk and roll. Informational workshop recordings are posted at the calls for projects webpages. Deadlines: Midnight on May 31 and June 7, for PBP and SRTS respectively.
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Safe Streets for All – Implementation – due May 16 (for those entities with an existing Action Plan; note: pre-application submission of eligibility worksheet due April 17). Planning and Demonstration grant applications have three different opportunities to apply, with due dates April 4 (passed), May 16 and August 29 (note 2:00pm Pacific time due).
- FHWA announced new Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program ($45 million in Federal Fiscal Year 2023) last month. The program will support planning, designing, and constructing active transportation facilities, particularly to integrate with and improve access to public transportation. April webinars posted at the website. Due date: June 17, 8:59pm.
- UW Tacoma Rural Equitable and Accessible Transportation Center is conducting a study that seeks to inform standards of equity and equity evaluation re: shared micromobility programs. You are invited to participate, from your experience in active transportation and micromobility, in a brief (15-20 minute) survey about this.
You can close your browser and return to the place you left off (your responses will be saved) at any point in the survey using this link. Please respond as soon as possible.
- Participate in the Cycling Past 50 Survey, now in its fifth year. The survey (20 minutes), in partnership with San Jose State University seeking older adults to share their thoughts on cycling while aging.
- The Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC) is updating the Washington Transportation Plan (WTP) which serves as our state’s 20-year transportation policy plan. As part of the plan update, the WSTC is conducting various outreach efforts across the state, including meetings with organizations that represent and advocate for transportation policy and bring diverse perspectives to the planning process. The Commission would like to invite you to join the one or more of the regional meetings (only one remains as of mid-May, noted below) to assist them in identifying the long-term priorities, challenges, and opportunities in your regions. These meetings are vitally important to help the WSTC update the policies and priorities in the next WTP. Please RSVP so we know who will be there!
- South Central Washington: May 13, 1:30–3:30 pm. Hosted by the Benton Franklin Council of Governments. In-person or virtual! Virtual: RSVP here. In-person: RSVP here.
- Transportation Research Board study in the Behavioral Traffic Safety Cooperative Research Program researchers seek to gather the insight, expertise, and experiences of transportation leaders and safety professionals. They invite you to participate in this 10-minute survey which is their first outreach step to research the state of practice in addressing roadway safety. Deadline: May 21.
- Smart Growth America (SGA) seeks responses to a brief survey about the needs and challenges people with disabilities meet when walking and rolling in their communities. Survey responses will inform the creation of best practice guidelines for an Accessible Streetscapes Design Guide. The survey is conducted by SGA, the International Parking & Mobility Institute, and the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund. Deadline: May 24.
Have an upcoming project, open house, public comment opportunity? Construction projects people should know about as they relate to biking/walking? Compliments on a project? Send to WSDOTActive@wsdot.wa.gov .
Call for Papers:
Call for Abstracts/Session Proposals:
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Grant Application Bootcamp: Part of the Local Infrastructure Hub, a collaborative effort by US Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, and other partners to offer learning opportunities to local governments around the country to become more successful in pursuing federal funding for infrastructure.
On April 26th, 2024, Gov. Jay Inslee signed a document proclaiming the following:
WHEREAS, the bicycle is a healthy, convenient, affordable, enjoyable, and environmentally sound form of transportation and recreation; and
WHEREAS, throughout the month of May and beyond, Washingtonians will experience the joys and benefits of bicycling through educational programs, Bike Everywhere Challenges, Bike to School Day, trail workdays, races, and group events, or simply going for a ride; and
WHEREAS, consumers in Washington spend over $26.5 billion per year in the outdoor economy, supporting 264,000 jobs in every part of the state, including over $2.92 billion on bicycling activities, for equipment, apparel, lodging, services, and more; and
WHEREAS, bicycling serves as essential transportation for many who do not or cannot drive so they can access jobs, education, essential goods and services, transit, and recreation; and
WHEREAS, creating bicycling-friendly communities has been shown to improve health, well-being, and quality of life; grow local economies; improve traffic safety and mobility for all; reduce pollution, congestion, roadway wear and tear, and reliance on fossil fuels; support transportation independence for all ages and abilities; and provide families with healthy time together; and
WHEREAS, these partners and state agencies are promoting greater public awareness of bicycling to reduce collisions, injuries, and fatalities; and
WHEREAS, the Washington State Department of Transportation is working to improve connections for people on bikes as part of Washington's integrated, multimodal transportation system, while supporting programs that improve people's access to the skills and resources needed to ride comfortably; and
WHEREAS, Washington Bikes, Cascade Bicycle Club, Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, the League of American Bicyclists, schools, cities and counties, parks and recreation departments, police departments, public health districts, health care providers, companies, and civic groups across Washington will be promoting bicycling during May 2024;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jay Inslee, governor of the state of Washington, do hereby proclaim
May 2024 as Bike Month in Washington, and I urge all people in our state to join me in this special observance.
If you read this far, thank you! You're finding something of value here and you know someone else who should receive this kind of news. Forward WSDOT Walk and Roll to others and share the subscription link on social media (tag it #WSDOTactive).
Hannah Weinberger
Communication Lead, WSDOT Active Transportation Division
hannah.weinberger@wsdot.wa.gov
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