Vol. 43, No. 8
BizCycle Round II: Applications for certification due Friday, Sept. 20 by Ryann Child, Commute Programs Assistant, AmeriCorps Member
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ast May, Cascade certified 20 bicyclefriendly businesses as BizCycle workplaces, connecting more than 83,000 employees across the Puget Sound region with bicycle-friendly best practices. Modeled after LEED certification for green buildings, BizCycle rates workplaces on a 50-point scale for their work to increase bicycle commuting in internal policies, tracking of commute habits and barriers, end-of-trip facilities, programming and messaging and community leadership. Our inaugural round saw businesses of all types gain certification, from a three-person law firm to some of Seattle’s signature employers such as Starbucks Coffee Company and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The bar was set high: Seattle Children’s earned 43 out of 50 possible credits to achieve the hospital’s Gold level award, and still fell two credits short of Platinum. We certified one Bronze workplace, thirteen Silver and seven at Gold level. The average score of all applicants was 31 credits—a high Silver, evidence that this first cohort of BizCycle applicants represented a high-achieving honors class of bike-friendly businesses. Why are organizations across the region turning to BizCycle to recognize and improve their bicycle commuting program? A few things we’ve heard from interested workplaces: Increasing bicycling makes business sense. Bicycle commuters are healthier, happier and more productive employees. Bicyclists have lower rates of absenteeism and make 14 percent fewer health insurance claims. Furthermore, many businesses are finding that bicycle facilities, programming and incentive policies represent pennies on the dollar compared to expanding parking capacity at a work site. Objective and quantitative rating. The BizCycle credit list represents an objective, quantitative and research-based criteria for
what increases bicycle commuting. As a result, credits not earned in either the selfassessment or in the final certification score create a clear and detailed “to-do” list for how your organization can improve to more effectively feed the benefits of bicycling to work. BizCycle provides the resources and the reason. Move your workplace from passive perusal of information into active implementation of best practices. Several organizations seeking certification implemented some significant improvements before finalizing their score. Recognition feels great. Does your workplace boast an impressive bicycle commuting program? BizCycle certification recognizes the great work that businesses across the region are doing to encourage bicycling. BizCycle workplaces are using certification as a means to promote their work both internally among employees interested in bicycling, as well as externally to better compete with peer organizations, attract customers and recruit highly-desirable creative class talent that values walkable, bikeable places to live, work and play, and transportation choices beyond driving. With the first cohort behind us, our second round of certifications is rolling. Do you work for a bike-friendly workplace? Whether your business deserves accolades or could use a little help in encouraging bicycling to work, BizCycle is simple and effective. The deadline to apply in our second round has been set for Friday, Sept. 20, 2013. Start the process today by emailing bizcycle@ cascadebicycleclub.org or by filling out the Get Started BizCycle interest form online at bizcycle.cascade.org/apply-now.
August class offerings
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ake advantage of our summer classes while the weather is fine. Up and coming at Magnuson Park. Register online at www.cascade.org.
Fix a Flat – Aug. 5 Learn this simple and important skill to minimize delays the next time your tire fizzles. We’ll take the mystery out of wheel and tire removal, patching a tube and putting it all back together. Learn what tools to carry for a quick and speedy repair. Our class is hands-on-your-bike -- so bring it along. We’ll send you home with patch kit and a step by step guide for the next encounter with a flat tire.
Chains and Derailleurs – Aug. 13 Learn basic methods for working on chains and derailleurs that will keep your drive-train and shifting system in tip top shape. We’ll cover chain maintenance, derailleur adjustment and troubleshooting system problems. This is a hands-on-your-bike class, so bring it along with a multi-tool if you’ve got one – we will have tools available if you don’t. You will go home with a smoother shifting bike and our new refresher how-to guide booklet.
Back 2 Basics of Bicycling – Aug. 25
our Urban Cycling Techniques course. Students will learn basic bike handling skills and maneuvers, including stopping and starting, how to shift the gears smoothly and effectively, proper braking technique, where to ride in the road, signaling, road infrastructure and bike facilities. Learn laws and safety as well as on-bike handling drills. We will apply our newfound skills on a group ride using neighborhood streets and the Burke-Gilman Trail. Course is designed for those who already know how to ride a bike but need additional practice. Bring a bike in working order and a CPSC approved helmet. Bring a snack and be sure to wear weather appropriate clothing.
Editorial / Opinion
Riding Safe: A Message from Mercer Island Cyclists
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s longtime members of the Cascade Bicycle Club, avid cyclists, and Mercer Island residents, we would like to ask for your help by observing some common sense safety rules when riding on Mercer Island Mercer Island is an understandably popular destination or ride segment for many cyclists and bicycle groups, but it also has its challenges. East and West Mercer are heavily shaded, narrow and hilly with limited shoulders. They also are main north-south arteries for motorists. Numerous runners and walkers make them popular pedestrian routes. Over the past 10 years there have been more than a hundred bicycle-car accidents on this loop. Complaints to the City Council from motorists were so numerous that several years ago the City considered passing ordinances aimed at reducing pelotons or other groups cycling on the Island. After convincing the Council not to impose restrictions on cyclists, a group of Mercer Island cyclists decided to take another approach. Since then we have worked to improve relations and safety among all those who use our streets and roads: pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. A secondary goal was to position cyclists as both good citizens and leaders in improving road safety. Over a year ago with the City’s help, we held an open Road Safety Summit, which both on and off-Island cyclists attended as well as local pedestrians and motorists. We spent several hours listening and discussing how to improve safety and courtesy without new laws or heightened enforcement. In the end we created a Mercer Island’s Best Practices for each major user group: drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. The Best Practices recommends common sense steps such as cyclists and pedestrians wearing bright or reflective clothing in low light conditions; motorists not talking on cell phones while driving; and cyclists pulling over when they are holding up five or more other vehicles. In February, the City Council approved these Best Practices as a recommendation, not as enforceable ordinance. Now we are asking the cycling community, including members of Cascade, to demonstrate leadership by observing them. We are asking the same of motorists and pedestrians. Given the potential benefit of improving the behavior of all three groups, we hope that our like-
minded cycling brethren will sign on. These Best Practices are posted on https://sites.google.com/site/neighborsinmotion/ You should know that large groups of cyclists (aka pelotons) remain a hotbutton issue for many Island motorists, especially for commuters driving home at the end of the day. East and West Mercer are curving, two-lane roads with many stretches where it is unsafe to pass large groups of cyclists. We ask you as individuals, as well as ride leaders, whenever possible to ride in groups smaller than six. The Best Practices also suggests that, when safe to do so, cyclists ride single file on a paved shoulder. For the past 10 years the City of Mercer Island has paved miles of shoulders on East Mercer and West Mercer, in part to allow for a safer alternative for cyclists and pedestrians. This summer additional stretches of East Mercer have already been paved. We are not suggesting that anyone be “required” to yield to motorists by riding on a paved shoulder, especially if it is unsafe to do so, although state law does prohibit impeding more than five vehicles if it is safe to pull aside. Again the Best Practices are simply a request do so whenever possible out of courtesy for other road users. Another recommended “Best Practice” is to wear brightly colored clothing and use bike lights. Many parts of the Island are heavily wooded, and with all the cloudy weather and darkness in the rainy months, it just makes sense to improve visibility whenever possible. Too often we see cyclists and pedestrians without lights and wearing all black on rainy afternoons and evenings. The better course is to minimize the chances of being overlooked. Many of us have seen the angry letters to the editor and online comments complaining about dangerous drivers or inconsiderate cyclists. We hope you will help us in our effort to break this vicious cycle by demonstrating the same courtesy and consideration that we expect from other road users. Cyclists in particular will benefit from the goodwill of motorists using the Mercer Ways by demonstrating consideration for others. Thank you for your help. Jim Stanton, Bob Olson, Mark Clausen, Lucia Pirzio-Biroli, Graham Hunter, Jolanne Stanton, Erik Jansen, Kirk Griffin, Frank Buty, on behalf of MI_Cycling
Brakes, Wheels and Tires – Aug. 28
Learn basic methods for working on various types of rim brakes. We’ll cover rim care and cleaning, brake pad inspection, cleaning, adjustment and replacement. We’ll also cover how to inspect spokes for correct tension and tires for wear. Bring your bike and any tools you have -- we’ll have tools on hand if you don’t. Remember, Urban Cycling Techniques is on hiatus until Sept. 26 and 28 but there’s no need to wait to sign up until then. Insure your space and sign up now!
If you’re new to bicycling or just getting back on your bike after years out of the saddle, we’ll help you gain the skills necessary to ride safely and confidently. This entry-level course prepares new and returning riders for “Creating a Better Community Through Bicycling”
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