Current Actions

  • Ask Your Legislators to Support Biking, Walking and Transit

     

    Legislators are due back in Olympia on May 13 for a special session, and transportation funding is one of the last big decisions to make. The Legislature’s final transportation debate this session is over the proposed transportation revenue package. If approved, this package would increase the gas tax plus various transportation-related fees to raise about $8.4 billion in additional revenue over the next twelve years.

    Enter your information below to ask your legislators to support biking, walking and transit.


  • Ask the Legislature to Support Biking and Walking

    Right now, leaders of the Senate and House are meeting to craft a final capital budget, and will soon choose which biking and walking trails become reality – and which ones remain just somebody's good idea that never happened.

    Take a stand and ask the Legislature to support biking and walking trails to help make our communities better places to live.
  • It's time to invest in safer streets


    The start of Bike Month should be a time of happiness, yet on May 1, 2013, we come together to grieve the loss of a bicyclist on our roadways. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of all who were involved in this morning’s fatal crash.

    In a 2011 report to the Duwamish Transportation Management Association, Cascade identified the intersection of South Hanford and Alaska / East Marginal Way as a barrier and in need of improvement. It’s tragic that it may take a loss of life to have these safety improvements taken seriously. It doesn’t have to be this way.

    It’s time we stopped talking about making our streets safer and started making the necessary investments to get it done.

  • Tell Your Legislators to Fund Real Transportation Improvements

    In 2003 and 2005, the Legislature passed two tax increases to pay for transportation improvements, but both times all the money went to highways expansions.This year, they talked about maintaining roads we already have, the importance of transit and needs of the rapidly growing number of people who bike or walk... 

    ...And then they proposed a tax increase that mostly goes to highways. The $8.4 billion draft transportation revenue package released this week goes in the wrong direction.

    Enter your information below to tell your legislators that you want transportation funding for maintenance, safety, transit, and bikes.  Feel free to personalize the letter we have provided for you.

  • Safe Neighborhood Streets Bill

    The biggest factor in whether a person on a bicycle is injured or killed in a collision with a motor vehicle is how fast that vehicle is traveling.

    Right now, the Washington State Senate is getting ready to cast the final vote on the Neighborhood Safe Streets Bill.  They need to hear from you that cities should have the power to change neighborhood street speed limits without being forced to conduct expensive engineering studies.

    Enter your information below to tell your Senator to support the Neighborhood Safe Streets Bill so that cities can decide speed limits on neighborhood streets.  Feel free to personalize the letter we have provided for you.

  • Tell your Senator to invest in bicycle trails

    We love Washington’s bicycle trails. They’re fabulous places to ride to get to work or run an errand, or to have a recreational ride with the family. But our trail network is incomplete. Not every child has a safe place to walk or bike, away from speeding car traffic. Only some families, who need safe places to ride, have the option to do so.

    Right now, the Washington State Senate is working to develop the state’s capital construction budget. They need to hear from you trail investments are a priority for Washingtonians.

    Enter your information below to tell your State Senator to fund the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program at the $90 million level so we can make important trail investments. Feel free to personalize the letter we have provided for you.

  • Tell your Senator to vote YES for safe neighborhood streets


    This week the State Senate will finally vote on the Safe Neighborhood Streets bill. This bill would allow cities and counties to lower speed limits on neighborhood streets without having to first prepare an expensive and unnecessary traffic engineering study. This is the vote that will decide the issue. There will be a few minor steps after this vote before the bill becomes law, but the Senate vote is the big hurdle. And this is the time when you can have the most impact.

    Enter your information below to tell your Senator to vote YES on Safe Neighborhood Streets. Feel free to personalize the letter we have provided for you. 

  • Tell your legislators to improve the transportation revenue package


    This week, our representatives in Olympia are discussing a multi-billion dollar package of transportation investments. This package should make our neighborhood streets safer for our kids, invest in fixing our existing roads before we build new ones we don’t need and can’t afford, and provide everyone with the freedom to bike, walk or take transit to get around. Unfortunately, the draft package fails on all accounts. 

    Enter your information below to tell your legislators to improve the draft transportation revenue package so it invests in what our communities need. Feel free to personalize the letter we have provided for you.

  • Tell your legislators to make the transportation revenue package invest in a better world for our children


    Next week, our representatives in Olympia will introduce a multi-billion dollar package of transportation investments. This package should make our neighborhood streets safer for our kids, invest in fixing our existing roads before we build new ones we don’t need and can’t afford, and provide everyone with the freedom to bike, walk or take transit to get around. 

    Enter your information below to tell your legislators to make the transportation revenue package invest in a better world for our children. Feel free to personalize the letter we have provided for you.

  • Thank the Council for passing the SR 520 Resolution


    Thanks to an outpouring of community support for safe, comfortable and convenient connections to and through the Seatte side of the SR 520 project, our representatives heard our voices loud and clear. On Monday, Feb. 11, the Seattle City Council passed a Resolution  that will help ensure we get SR 520 right.

    Please enter your information into the form below to send a Thank You note to the City Council for passing the SR 520 Resolution and making it safer for kids and families to bike and walk on our neighborhood streets.

  • Tell your senator to support the Neighborhood Safe Streets Bill, SB 5066

     
    Enter your information below to send a message to your senator in support of the Neighborhood Safe Streets Bill, SB 5066. Please feel free to personalize the message we have provided for you.

    Note: If you get a message that reads, "This action is not available to people in your area," it means that your senator is not on the Senate Transportation Committee and no action is required of you at this time.

  • Prioritize bicycling in the Climate Action Plan


    Enter your information below to tell the City of Seattle to prioritize bicycling as it implements the Climate Action Plan. Feel free to personalize the message we have provided for you.

    After you send your letter, you will be redirected to a Transportation and Land Use Survey from the Green Ribbon Commission. For added impact, we recommend that you select the following items in the survey:

    • Build bicycle lanes that are physically separated from traffic in the Center City.
    • Develop a plan in a high-priority transit and bicycle corridor to shift more trips to travel modes that generate fewer or no greenhouse gas emissions.
    • Renew and extend the time frame of the Bridging the Gap levy to fund transportation infrastructure, service, and maintenance.

    And finally, comment on how Seattle should build a connected network of protected bike lanes and neighborhood greenways -- and there’s no reason we can’t get the first 100 miles of this network built in the next five years.

  • Tell the City Council to pass the 520 Resolution


    Councilmember Conlin has introduced an amendment to help ensure the biking and walking improvements work for people of all ages and abilities. Specifically, the Resolution and Councilmember Conlin’s amendment call for WSDOT to:

    • Develop options for a shared use trail on the new Portage Bay Bridge, while working to minimize the width of the bridge and its overall visual and environmental impacts; 
    • Redesign the north/south biking and walking connections from the UW to south of Lake Washington Blvd to make them work for kids and families; 
    • Collaborate with City agencies and stakeholder groups to improve the project design before it is finalized; and
    • Create an interim plan that ensures biking and walking connections will work during all stages of the project as it gets built in phases over the coming years.

    Please enter your information below to tell the City Council to pass the 520 Resolution and support Councilmember Conlin’s amendment to make it safe for kids and families to bike and walk on their neighborhood streets. Feel free to personalize the message we have provided for you.

  • Tell your representatives to support a pro-bicycle agenda in the state Legislature

     
    Enter your information into the form below to send a letter to your representatives, letting them know that you support a pro-bike agenda (budget, revenue package and bills) for Washington state in 2013, and you want them to as well. Feel free to personalize the message we have provided for you.

  • Help WSDOT make critical biking and walking connections with the SR 520 replacement project

    Thanks to overwhelming support from the community, the Seattle City Council is already working on a Resolution that will call for the City working with WSDOT to improve walking and biking connections in Montlake and build a shared use trail on the Portage Bay Bridge.  

    But there’s no guarantee that the Council will pass this Resolution. They need to hear loud and clear from all of us that everyone, from an 8-year old child to his 80-year old grandmother, should have the freedom to safely walk and bike in and through the Seattle side of the SR 520 corridor.

    Enter you information in the form below to tell the Seattle City Council and Mayor McGinn to help WSDOT make critical biking and walking connections with the SR 520 replacement project. Feel free to personalize the message we have provided for you.

  • Thank the Mayor and Council for supporting bicycling


    Please enter your information below to thank Mayor McGinn and the Seattle City Council for supporting bicycling in the budget, and tell them we need more than three percent of the transportation budget for bicycling next year.

    Feel free to personalize the message we have provided for you.

  • Tell City Council to get 520 right


    The SR 520 bridge replacement project  provides a golden opportunity to reconnect our neighborhoods and give everyone the freedom to easily and safely bike and walk to where they need to go. But right now, plans for the Seattle side of the SR 520 corridor do not include critical biking and walking connections. 

    Over the next month the Seattle City Council will provide direction to the Washington State Department of Transportation on how to proceed with the project. The Council’s direction will determine whether we repeat the mistakes of the past, or plan for a better future. And the direction our representatives take is up to us.   

    Enter your information below to send a letter to City Council and tell them to reconnect our neighborhoods and make critical biking and walking connections with the SR 520 replacement project. Feel free to personalize the content.

  • Tell the City Council to set measurable and ambitious goals in the Bicycle Master Plan Update

    In order for Seattle to accomplish our shared vision of becoming a city where everyone, from an eight-year-old child to her eighty-year-old grandmother, has the freedom to safely bike to where they need to go, we need an updated bike plan that calls for 200 new miles of world-class bikeways by the year 2020. But that's not all. The plan should also include the goals of:
    • Increasing the number of trips made by bicycle in Seattle to 20 percent;
    • Reducing the number of crash-related deaths to zero;
    • Installing functional and high-capacity bike parking in Seattle’s urban villages and neighborhood business districts that exceeds current demand, not just meets it; and 
    • Bringing safe and comfortable bikeways to within a quarter-mile of 95 percent of Seattleites by the time the plan is completed.
    Enter your information below to send letter to the City Council and ask them to set measurable and ambitious goals in the Bicycle Master Plan Update. Feel encouraged to add your personal touch to the letter.
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  • Help ensure a world-class SR-520 bridge design


    The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking public comments on a recently released report1, which includes recommendations related to bicycle and pedestrian connections throughout the Seattle-side of the SR-520 project.

    With critical connections – like a bicycle and pedestrian trail along the Portage Bay Bridge – still up not included in the design, we need your voice today to ensure a world-class bridge and surrounding areas that reflect a future where people of all ages and abilities can safely and easily travel by bike and foot.

    Please enter your information below to send a letter to WSDOT with recommendations for how to improve the SR-520 bridge and project area design. Feel free to edit the letter before sending.

  • Protect Funding for Bicycling in the Budget


    Mayor McGinn has proposed a budget with investments that will help make Seattle a city where everyone, from an 8-year-old child to her 80-year-old grandmother, has the freedom to safely bike to get where they need to go because our city is connected with a world-class network of bikeways.

    Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee the City Council will protect funding for these critical investments as they make their budget decisions over the next month. And as we know, if we don’t make the necessary investments, Seattle will never become the city we know it should be.

    Enter you information below to send a letter to member of Seattle's City Council, asking them to protect bicycling in the budget. Feel free to personalize your message before sending.

  • Tell the City to support a safe greenway for Beacon Hill


    In the past few weeks, the proposed Beacon Hill Greenway has come under attack and is at risk of being picked apart. We need to let our our City representatives know now that we want the Beacon Hill Greenway built as originally planned, if not better.

    Your friends and neighbors with Seattle Neighborhood Greenways and Beacon B.I.K.E.S. have worked tirelessly to bring us this great place for our families to enjoy. And the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has solid plans for the street. Let’s make sure it’s built right.

    Please enter your information below to send an email to City Council, the Mayor, and the Director and Deputy Director of SDOT in support of the proposed Beacon Hill Greenway. Feel free to customize the letter we have provided for you.

  • Help us bring home the NE 65th Street cycle track

     
    One of the biggest slam-dunk projects of the summer is now under threat of being killed by a few "not-in-my-backyard" property owners. The City of Seattle has proposed to build a cycle track along NE 65th St from the Burke Gilman Trail to Magnuson Park later this summer and we need your help to save it.

    Please enter your information below to send a letter to our City of Seattle representatives in support of the cycle track along NE 65th St and make getting from the Burke Gilman Trail to Magnuson Park safer for our families, friends, and neighbors. Feel free to personalize the email.

    Thank you for helping to make bicycling to the park safer for everyone.

  • Tell the City to support a safe greenway for Ballard

     
    In the last week or so, the proposed Ballard Greenway has come under attack and is at risk of being picked apart. We need to let our our City of Seattle representatives know that we want the Ballard Greenway built as originally planned, if not better.

    Your friends and neighbors with Seattle Neighborhood Greenways and Ballard Greenways have worked tirelessly to bring us this great place for our families to enjoy. And the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has solid plans for the street. Let’s make sure it’s built right.

    Please enter your information below to send an email to City Council, the Mayor, and the Director and Deputy Director of SDOT in support of the proposed Ballard Greenway. Feel free to customize the letter we have provided for you.

  • Thank our elected officials for creating a better future for Northgate


    Seattle City Councilmember Richard Conlin and Mayor Mike McGinn showed tremendous leadership in standing up for Seattle and fighting for a fair deal for Northgate. Sound Transit Board Chair Pat McCarthy and Fred Butler, Chair of Sound Transit’s Capital committee, worked hard to craft the details of the access strategy.

    They all deserve our thanks.

    Please enter your information below to send letters to our elected officials, thanking them for creating a better future for Northgate.

  • Tell the Sound Transit Board to approve a fair deal for Northgate’s 92 percent


    On Thursday, June 28, the Sound Transit Board will consider a motion that funds a package of investments for Northgate. If approved, this package will spend as much making it safe and convenient for the 92 percent of people who will access the future light rail station at Northgate on bike, foot or transit as it does for the 8 percent who will arrive through other means.

    But there’s no guarantee the Sound Transit Board will vote to approve this motion.

    Please enter your information below to tell Sound Transit to spend at least as much on making it safe and convenient for the 92 percent of people who will access the station on bike, foot or transit as they are for the 8 percent. Feel encouraged to personalize the message we've prepared for you.

    Thank you for taking action and helping to build a better Northgate.

  • Preserve funding for bicycling in the transportation bill


    Federal funding for safe bicycling is in trouble and we need your help. Senator Murray and Senator Cantwell need to hear from you that bicycling already gets too small a share of funding—and that now is not the time to weaken or eliminate critical safety programs like Safe Routes to School.

    We need you to speak up for bicycling. Please enter your information below to email your senators. Feel encouraged to personalize the language we’ve prepared for you. Thanks for taking action.

  • Preserve funding for bicycling in the transportation bill


    Federal funding for safe bicycling is in trouble and we need your help. Representative Herrera Beutler needs to hear from you that bicycling already gets too small a share of funding—and that now is not the time to weaken or eliminate critical safety programs like Safe Routes to School. The Congresswoman sits on the House/Senate committee currently finalizing the bill—so she’s a critical voice in saving funding for safe bicycling.

    We need you to speak up for bicycling. Please enter your information below to email Rep. Herrera Beutler. Feel encouraged to personalize the language we’ve prepared for you. Thanks for taking action.

  • Tell Sound Transit to invest in the 92 percent of people who will bike, walk, or take transit to the station


    Sound Transit should focus their investments on benefiting the 92 percent of people who will get to the future Northgate light rail station on bike, foot, or transit. Instead, Sound Transit might spend up to $40 million on a 900-stall parking garage benefiting the 8 percent, and less than $2 million on the 92 percent. That’s just not fair.

    Please enter your information below to tell Sound Transit to spend at least as much on making it safe and convenient for the 92 percent of people who will access the station on bike, foot or transit as they are for the 8 percent. Feel encouraged to personalize the message we've prepared for you.

    Thank you for taking action and helping to build a better Northgate.

  • Tell the Sound Transit Board to make the right choice


    Please tell the Sound Transit Board of Directors to make the right choice for Northgate by investing $40 million in shovel-ready improvements that would make it easier and safer for tens of thousands of potential light rail riders to bike, walk or take transit to the station.

    Enter your information below to send an email to the Sound Transit Board. Feel encouraged to personalize the message we've prepared for you.

    Thank you for taking action and helping to build a better Northgate.

  • Tell your legislators to finish strong and fund bicycle projects in the capital budget


    The legislature has proposed a new Main Street Improvement grant program in the capital budget that would help cities across Washington fund bicycle and pedestrian projects to help revitalize their downtown business districts.

    This is an amazing opportunity to provide thousands of Washingtonians with the freedom to safely ride their bike, but during the final crazy days of the legislative session, anything can happen and there’s no guarantee this program will get funded.  

    Your legislators need to hear from you about the importance of funding bicycle projects, or this grant program may not make it into the final capital budget. 

    Please enter your information into the form below to send a message to your legislators. Feel encouraged to personalize the language we’ve prepared for you.  

  • A Bold and Visionary Plan for Bicycling in Seattle

     
    Do you want Seattle to be a world-class city for bicycling? Together, we can make it happen!

    The 2007 Seattle Bicycle Master Plan (BMP)1 is due for its five-year update, starting this spring. Cascade Bicycle Club envisions an updated plan that creates a community that bicycles, where bicycling is normal, convenient, and safe for everyone. 

    If you agree with our core principles for the 2012 BMP update stated below, please sign the petition to our city's transportation leaders and let them know where you stand.

    Thanks for your help in making Seattle the best for bicycling.

  • Tell your legislators to support SB 6455 & SB 6582 as-is


    Just this weekend the House passed two bills – SB 64551 and SB 65822 – that would provide significant funding for bicycle and pedestrian safety projects. The Senate already passed both of these bills, so all they needed to do was concur and they would have become law. But the Senate voted not to concur.  

    Now, a few members from both the House and the Senate will confer to hammer out their differences on these bills before both chambers vote on their final outcome. That's why we need you to write your legislators right now and tell them to protect bicycle funding by supporting SB 6455 and SB 6582 as-is.

    SB 6455 and SB 6582 would provide millions of dollars in funding for Washington's Safe Routes to School program, which funds improvements that get more children bicycling and walking to school safely. These bills would also fund the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety program, which improves locations across the state with some of the highest rates of bicycle and pedestrian traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

    Please enter your information into the form below to send a message to your senator in support of preserving SB 6455 and SB 6582. Feel encouraged to personalize the language we’ve prepared for you.  

  • Tell your senator to support creating jobs through bicycle projects


    Recent studies have shown that dollar for dollar, bicycle projects create more jobs than any other type of transportation investment.

    That’s why the State Senate included a new Main Street Improvement grant program in their proposed capital budget that would help cities across Washington fund bicycle and pedestrian projects to help revitalize their downtown business districts.    

    This is an exciting opportunity, but your senator needs to hear from you about the importance of funding bicycle projects or this grant program may not make it into the final capital budget.

    Please enter your information into the form below to send a message to your senator in support of SB 6074, concerning the capital budget. Feel encouraged to personalize the language we’ve prepared for you.  

  • Tell your legislators to protect your freedom of speech

     

    Right now in the legislature, powerful special interests are pushing a bill, SB 6406, that would take away your freedom to raise your voice against illegal land use decisions. Illegal land use decisions that, for instance, prohibited regional bicycle trail development.  

    SB 6406 would eliminate any citizen appeals to the Growth Management Act (GMA) – the bedrock law that protects our communities from poorly planned growth – which is primarily enforced through citizen appeals. 

    With your help we’ve used the GMA appeal process to protect critical regional bike trails like the Burke-Gilman against repeated attacks. SB 6406 would have made it impossible for us to defend the Burke-Gilman, and would make it nearly impossible to fend off similar attacks in the future.

    Please enter your information below to tell your legislators to protect your freedom of speech. Feel encouraged to personalize the message we’ve prepared for you.

  • Tell Your Senator to Support the Neighborhood Safe Speeds Bill

     
    There’s less than two weeks until the end of the legislative session, and your senator needs to hear from you now about the importance of making our neighborhood streets safer for everyone, whether they ride, walk, play or drive. 

    Please enter your information into the form below to send a message to your senator in support of SHB 1217, the Neighborhood Safe Speeds bill. Feel encouraged to personalize the language we’ve prepared for you.

    Thanks for taking action.

  • Tell your legislators to give bicycle projects more than half a penny

     
    A few weeks ago, the Governor proposed a $3.6 billion transportation package with no money for bicycling, not even half a penny. Since then, the legislature heard from nearly 1,000 people like you about the need to increase funding for bicycle projects. And as a result, they are now considering a package that contains more than half a penny (barely) in funding for bicycle and pedestrian safety projects.   

    More than half a penny is a step in the right direction, but it’s still less than 1 percent of the state’s transportation budget -- despite the fact that in Washington, 13 percent of all trips and 10 percent of all miles traveled are made by bicycle or on foot. That’s just not right and your legislators need to hear from you now that our communities need real funding for bicycle projects. 

    Please enter your information below to email your legislators and tell them to give bicycle projects more than half a penny. Feel encouraged to personalize the language we’ve prepared for you. Thanks for taking action.

  • Worst transportation bills. Ever.


    A perfect storm is brewing against bicycling in Congress right now.  And now’s not the time to run for cover—it’s time to speak up.  Countless future local bicycle safety, trail and connectivity improvements hang in the balance.

    This coming week, both the House and Senate will vote on two different—and disastrously flawed—transportation bills.  The House bill completely eliminates all funding for bicycling.  The Senate bill removes funding and decimates critical safety programs. 

    We need you to speak up for bicycling.  We need to stop the House bill in its tracks and make critical fixes to the Senate bill.  Please enter your information below to email your representatives. Feel encouraged to personalize the language we’ve prepared for you. Thanks for taking action.

  • Tell your legislators to add health to our state's transportation goals

     

    Here in Washington, the state spends only one half of one percent of its transportation budget on bicycling and pedestrian projects, meaning that hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians don’t have the opportunity and freedom to safely ride their bike. 

    HB 2370 would help fix this situation by adding health to Washington’s six transportation goals. If Washington makes health one of our transportation goals, that means more investments in bicycle infrastructure!

    Please enter your information below to email your representatives. Feel encouraged to personalize the language we’ve prepared for you. Thanks for taking action.

  • Safer Bicycle Access to Colman Dock

    Bicycling to and from the ferries should be safe, seamless and easy.  You should feel comfortable riding there at night, riding there in the rain and riding there with kids.  But do you? 

    Now’s our chance to do better. Colman Dock is getting an overhaul—and we need your help to make it safe and comfortable for bicycling.  The Washington State Ferries and other federal agencies are planning to replace components of Seattle’s Colman Dock. They want to hear from you how they can better accommodate all users, including bicyclists, so please take a moment and let them know how they can make Colman dock safe and comfortable for bicycling.

  • Write the Federal Way City Council in Support of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan

     
    On Friday, Jan. 27, the City of Federal Way released its draft of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan1. This is a new and exciting development for Federal Way and City Council needs to hear your support for the plan as they make progress towards formal adoption.

    Please use the form below to send a letter below to your City Council representatives, and feel encouraged to add your personal touch. Thanks for taking action! We look forward to a new Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan for Federal Way.

  • Tell your representatives to add health to our state's transportation goals


    Right now, despite the clear and powerful connection between how we build our transportation system and our health, Washington doesn’t officially consider the consequences of our transportation decisions on our health. 

    HB 2370 adds health to Washington’s six transportation goals to integrate health implications when designing, building, and maintaining our transportation system. If our elected officials make health one of our transportation goals, Washington will likely make more investments in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

    Please enter your information below to email your representatives. Feel free to personalize the language we’ve prepared for you. Thanks for taking action!

  • Tell your legislators to improve the Governor's proposal


    Governor Gregoire recently proposed a $3.6 billion transportation package1 that contains no money for bicycling. Nothing. Zero, zip, zilch, nada. Not even half a penny to create a better community through bicycling.   

    We have an opportunity to improve this package, but only if your legislators hear from you about the importance of adequately funding bicycle projects to help Washington prepare for the future.

    Please enter your information below  to email your legislators and feel encouraged to personalize the language we’ve prepared for you. Thanks for taking action!

  • Remind your representatives to pick up where they left off last session... and finish what they started.

    Last February, the Washington State House of Representatives unanimously voted 92-0 in favor of the Neighborhood Safe Speeds Bill (SHB 1217). This bill gives cities and towns the ability to create safer neighborhood streets by lowering speed limits on non-arterial streets to 20 miles per hour, while at the same time reducing government red tape and cutting study costs currently required by the state.

    We have limited time in this year's short session, which is why we need to remind our representatives of their unanimous support for this legislation in 2011.

    Please fill out the form below to email your representatives and let them know that now is the time to renew their support for the Neighborhood Safe Speeds Bill.

  • Voice Your Support for the String of Pearls Plan

    The public comment period for the North Kitsap String of Pearls Trail Plan closes on Monday, Nov. 28.  Now is your chance to send a letter to the Kitsap County Board of Commisssioners voicing your support for the vision and implementation of the plan.

    Please enter your information in the form below to send a brief note to the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners and ask them to adopt the String of Pearls Plan.

  • Thank you for your leadership

    The Seattle City Council demonstrated united, strong support for Proposition 1 and making a down-payment on making Seattle a great American city worthy of the 21st Century with faster transit and safer streets. Please take a moment to thank them for their leadership.

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    I will vote "yes" on Prop 1!

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    Help: Volunteer Five Hours

    In order to build safer streets and pass Proposition 1 this November, we need to talk to tens of thousands of Seattle citizens. Will you volunteer?

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    Fight Tim Eyman
    & the Seattle Times

    Tim Eyman has forced Seattle voters into regressive taxes. The Seattle Times Editorial Board makes the situation even worse -- they've now opposed the last four pro-transit and pro-streets votes in Seattle, including Proposition 1.

    It's time to stand-up to Eyman and the Seattle Times Editorial Board. Send your personal letter to the Seattle Times about why you support Proposition 1 to build safer streets and faster transit.

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    Help: Volunteer Five Hours

    In order to build safer streets and pass Proposition 1 this November, we need to talk to tens of thousands of Seattle citizens. Will you volunteer?

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    Fight Tim Eyman
    & the Seattle Times

    Tim Eyman has forced Seattle voters into regressive taxes. The Seattle Times Editorial Board makes the situation even worse -- they have opposed all funding efforts for city street infrastructure that saves lives and expands affordable, reliable transit choices.

    It's time to stand-up to Eyman and the Seattle Times Editorial Board. Send your personal letter to the Seattle Times about why you support Proposition 1 to build safer streets and faster transit.

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    Honor the Fallen

    Photo by SeattleBikeBlog.com. Follow on Twitter @SeaBikeBlogRobert Townsend, September 10, 2011
    Brian Fairbrother, September 8, 2011
    Mike Wang, July 28, 2011

    In memory of our fallen neighbors, add your name with a personal note.

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    Honor the Fallen

    Photo by SeattleBikeBlog.com. Follow @SeaBikeBlog.Robert "Storm" Townsend, September 10, 2011
    Brian Fairbrother, September 8, 2011
    Mike Wang, July 28, 2011

    In memory of our fallen neighbors, add your name with a personal note.

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    The City Council will decide this weekend whether or not to give Seattle voters the opportunity this November to approve a package of transportation investments that reflects our values and will make our city work for the future.

    This package could generate $27 million each year for walking, biking and transit infrastructure, along with significant money for fixing our streets – funded by an $80 vehicle license fee.

    This is our moment. Let’s get this done. Let’s build a better transportation future for Seattle.

    Please enter your information in the form at the bottom of the page to send the City Council a letter. Tell them to give us our opportunity to vote for a better transportation future this November.

  • Tell the City Council to give us our opportunity to vote for a better transportation future.

    The City Council has less than three weeks to decide whether or not they are going to give Seattle voters the opportunity this November to approve a package of transportation investments that reflects our values and will make our city work for the future.

    If approved by Seattle voters, this package would generate approximately $27 million in dedicated annual revenue for walking, biking and transit infrastructure, along with significant money for fixing our streets – funded through an $80 annual vehicle license fee.

    This is our moment. Let’s get this done. Let’s build a better transportation future for Seattle.

    Please enter your information in the form at the bottom of the page to send the City Council a letter. Tell them to give us our opportunity to vote for a better transportation future this November. 

  • Tell City Council to put the $80 VLF on the ballot and increase funding for bicycles, pedestrians and transit

    On July 15, the Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee III (CTAC III) recommended that Seattle City Council place an $80 vehicle license fee (VLF) on the November ballot to fund much-needed transportation improvements in Seattle.

    Everybody agrees that Seattle’s transportation needs far exceed our available resources – and we've seen an agonizing loss of funding in recent years. That's why we must encourage Council to place the full $80 VLF on the November ballot. If passed, it will raise over $27 million annually to build and maintain projects that give us real transportation choices and keep us safe on the road.

    However, not everybody agrees on how to spend the money.

    CTAC III has recommended that bicycle and pedestrian programs combined should get a smaller piece of the pie than roadway maintenance. Maintenance is important for all road users, but here’s what we need to keep in mind: there are other funding options in place – and up for renewal in the near future – that are heavily geared towards fixing our city’s streets.

    Now is our chance to win dedicated, secure funding to build a transportation network that works for all users while dramatically increasing the number of bikes on the road. Please sign our petition below to tell City Council that you support more funding for bicycle, pedestrian and transit projects.

  • Tell Your Members of Congress to Protect Bicycle and Pedestrian Funding

    Thank you for taking the time to write your members of Congress and urge them to reach out to Rep. Mica and Sen. Inhofe, two leaders trying to eliminate funding for crucial federal bicycle and pedestrian programs. 

    The programs at risk – Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and Recreational Trails – are not just about encouraging healthy, active transportation; they are essential for the safety of everyone who walks and bikes.

    We need our senators and representatives to persuade Mica and Inhofe to continue funding for these important bicycling and walking programs.

    For more information on these proposed cuts, please click here.

    Please enter your information in the form below to send a letter to your senators and representative. You can personalize your message as you like.

  • Tell Governor Gregoire and the State Department of Transportation You Want Balanced Funding Cuts

    In two days, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) may cut millions of dollars from vital bicycle and pedestrian programs in our state.

    On June 30, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) informed state departments of transportation across the county that they need to give back $2.5 billion in federal transportation dollars. For more information on this issue, please click here.

    WSDOT is given the ability to choose what programs these "rescissions" will come from, including two of the most important sources of bicycle and pedestrian funding in our state. TE and CMAQ funds have consistently – and disproportionately – been targeted for rescissions in most states, including our own. Washington will be no different this time around unless our decision makers hear from you.

    Please enter your information into the form below to send a prepared letter to Governor Gregoire and other decision makers asking them for fair and balanced rescissions. Feel free to include a personal message or revise as necessary.

  • Email your senator and ask him to support increased funding for Safe Routes to School

    UPDATE: HB 2053 died on the Senate floor on the evening of May 25. We hope to help get a similar bill passed next session. Thank you for your support.

    Thank you for taking the time to write your senator in support of HB 2053 concerning additive transportation funding. If passed, this bill will increase funding for Safe Routes to School programs across the state by $3 million.

    Please enter your address information in the form below to send a short message to your senator.  Feel free to add a personal story about why additional funding for Safe Routes to School is important to you.

  • Write the City in Support of Increased Transportation Alternatives in the Central Issaquah Plan

    Thank you for taking the time to write the City of Issaquah Planning Policy Commission in support of increased bicycle and pedestrian facilities in the Central Issaquah Plan.

    Please enter your address information below to address a short letter to Trish Heinonen, Planning Manager and Staff Liaison to the Planning Policy Commission. You can also add your personal story about why bike lanes and safe non-motorized connections in Issaquah are important to you.

  • Safety first on NE 125th Street

    Do you want safer streets? Please sign below in favor of the NE 125th Street safety project! You can also add comments about your safety concerns on this street.

    Did you know that something as simple as simple and cheap as repainting a street can make it dramatically safer for everyone who walks, bikes or drives? The Seattle Department of Transportation plans to restripe part of NE 125th Street from four lanes to three - two through lanes and a two-way left turn lane. This "rechannelization" is like dozens of other projects in our city that encourage drivers to drive closer to the speed limit, provide safer crossings for pedestrians, dedicate space for left turns, and separate bicyclists from car traffic. Professional engineers design these projects to make a safer street without causing congestion. On NE 125th, they also plan to reduce the number of bus stops to improve transit timing.

    NE 125th was chosen for this kind of project because too many drivers speed at over 40 mph - a deadly speed for the most vulnerable users of the road. More than half of collisions cause injuries on this stretch of road for drivers, passengers and bystanders. This is far higher than for most streets in the city. SDOT made the decision to move forward after careful study, and they will continue to collect data on the effectiveness of this safety project.

    Unfortunately, a group of well-meaning but misinformed people is pressuring our elected leaders to cancel this project. That is why it is so important to show our support for a safer street.

    Our elected leaders need to hear from you today. Please add your name to the list of people who want to put safety before speeding. If you would like more information, please see SDOT's blog post that provides more details and links to the project design.

  • Tell Your Representative(s) "Thank You" for Voting in Favor of the Vulnerable User Bill

    Thank you for taking the time to email your state representative(s) and express your gratitude for their March 3 vote in favor of House Bill 1339, the Vulnerable User Bill. Please use the form below to write a short message. You can use the existing content, or add your personal thanks for their support of HB 1339.

    Note: If you get a message that reads, "This action is not available to people in your area," it is likely that neither of your representatives voted in favor of the bill. To see the roll call vote, please click here.

  • Tell Your Senator "Thank You" for Voting in Favor of the Vulnerable User Bill

    Thank you for taking the time to email your state senator to let him or her know that you are grateful for their February 24 vote in favor of Senate Bill 5326, the Vulnerable User Bill. Please use the form below to write a short message. You can use the existing content, or add your personal thanks for their support of SB 5326.

    Note: If you get a message that reads, "This action is not available to people in your area," it is likely that your senator did not vote in favor of the bill. To see the roll call vote, please click here.

  • Protect Federal Funding for Biking and Walking

    Please use the form letter below to address a short message to the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.  Feel free to edit the letter and add your personal story that encourages the Committee to protect federal funding for programs and projects that allow us to safely and conveniently bike, walk, and take transit to key destinations like work and school.

    The Safe Routes to School program provides funding to communities for infrastructure and safety projects to encourage walking and bicycling to school. Transportation Enhancements are the largest source of bicycle funding in U.S. communities.

    Some members of Congress want to cut these programs, but these two programs make up the backbone of federal non-motorized planning and construction. Thank you for taking the time to email in support of federal funding for these important investments.

  • Ask your state representatives to support the Vulnerable User Bill

    Please use the form below to address a short message to your state representatives. You can also add your personal story to encourage your representatives to support the Vulnerable User Bill, House Bill 1339 and Senate Bill 5326. The Vulnerable User Bill was developed with input from community members, law enforcement and other government officials following the Traffic Justice Summit in the fall of 2009.

    Most drivers who kill or seriously injure pedestrians and bicyclists face no penalty other than mailing in a ticket. This bill increases penalties for negligent drivers who are committing infractions like speeding or running red lights when they maim or kill vulnerable roadway users. HB 1339 and SB 5326 would encourage the driver to appear in court, and allow the courts to use tools like driver education and community service, rather than just a ticket.

    Some more Vulnerable User Bill resources:

    •  Read and print off quick facts on the bill here.
    •  Frequently asked questions on the bill can be answered here.
    •  Get updates on the bill's progress here.

  • A Chance to Encourage or Thank Your Representative

    Thank you for taking the time to email your state representative in support of House Bill 1339, the Vulnerable User Bill. Please enter your zip code and use the form below to address a short message.

    Depending on your district, your message will either be sent to your representative on the House Judiciary Committee, asking him or her to support HB 1339; or to your representative(s) already sponsoring the bill, expressing your gratitude for their support. You can use the existing content, or you can add a personal story to increase the power of your message.

    We have had continued guidance and support from a diverse group of stakeholders – including law enforcement, prosecutors, public defenders, and others – and are more optimistic than ever that Washington state will finally recognize the potential for catastrophe when drivers violate traffic codes around bicyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable roadway users. But we can't do it without you.

    For more information on HB 1339, please see our Vulnerable User Bill fact sheet.

  • Tell your Representative to support the Vulnerable User Bill

    Thank you for taking the time to email your state Representative in support of House Bill 1339 the Vulnerable User Bill. Please enter your zip code and use the form below to address a short message. You can use the existing content, or add your personal story to encourage your Representative to support HB 1339. 

    We have had continued guidance and support from a diverse group of stakeholders – including law enforcement, prosecutors, public defenders, and others – and are more optimistic than ever that Washington State will finally recognize the potential for catastrophe when drivers violate traffic codes around bicyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable roadway users. But we can't do it without you.

    For more information on HB 1339, please see our Vulnerable User Bill fact sheet.

    Note: If you fill out the form and receive the message, "This message is not available to people in your area," it is likely that both of your Representatives are already sponsors of the bill.
     

  • Tell Your Senator "Thank You" for Sponsoring the Vulnerable User Bill

    Thank you for taking the time to email your state Senator and let him or her know that you are grateful for their support of Senate Bill 5326, the Vulnerable User Bill. Please use the form below to address a short message. You can use the existing content, or add your personal thanks for their support of SB 5326.

  • Tell your Senator to support the Vulnerable User Bill

    Thank you for taking the time to email your state senator in support of Senate Bill 5326, the Vulnerable User Bill. Please use the form below to address a short message. You can use the existing content, or add your personal story to encourage your senator to support SB 5326. 

    We have had continued guidance and support from a diverse group of stakeholders – including law enforcement, prosecutors, public defenders, and others – and are more optimistic than ever that Washington State will finally recognize the potential for catastrophe when drivers violate traffic codes around bicyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable roadway users. But we can't do it without you.

    For more information on SB 5326, please see our frequently asked questions about the Vulnerable User Bill.


     

  • Tell the City Council why you want dedicated funding for bikes, feet and transit

    We developed the Streets For All Seattle campaign because the people of Seattle want transportation choices that make sense for our city and vibrant neighborhoods, and that are safe and accessible for everyone. Seattle’s elected officials have spoken out for world-class pedestrian, bicycle and transit infrastructure, but so far, they have failed to match the talk with action.

    Right now, Seattle City Council has a golden opportunity to align their words with their actions, and take the vital next step towards funding a transportation system that works for our future. The proposed 2011 – 2012 City budget includes a modest increase in funding for pedestrians, bicycling and transit. The City Council will decide this weekend whether or not to protect this critical funding.

    Please email the City Council below and voice your support for funding for pedestrians, bicycles and transit!

    The City Council says they share our goals. They have taken some positive steps in the right direction, but unless the Council approves the proposed new revenue, funding for pedestrian and bicycling improvements will decrease by 25% from last year’s already woefully inadequate amount. The Council is also poised to renege on a promise to replace funding for pedestrian and bicycling improvements that they stripped from the budget last year. They appear content to use Tim Eyman-style government and have voters decide whether or not we should fund our core priorities.

    A ballot measure to fund pedestrian, bicycle and transit improvements is a great idea, and if crafted correctly, it would have our strong support. If, however, the Council is serious about aligning our transportation investments with the values and priorities of our citizens, then NOW is the time for action.

    You     stood with us at the budget hearings; now, help put us over the top: email the City Council here and tell them you support funding for feet, bikes and transit in the budget!

  • Tell the City Council why you want dedicated funding for bikes, feet and transit

    We developed the Streets For All Seattle campaign because the people of Seattle want transportation choices that make sense for our city and vibrant neighborhoods, and that are safe and accessible for everyone. Seattle’s elected officials have spoken out for world-class pedestrian, bicycle and transit infrastructure, but so far, they have failed to match the talk with action.

    Right now, Seattle City Council has a golden opportunity to align their words with their actions, and take the vital next step towards funding a transportation system that works for our future. The proposed 2011 – 2012 City budget includes a modest increase in funding for pedestrians, bicycling and transit. The City Council will decide this weekend whether or not to protect this critical funding.

    Please email the City Council below and voice your support for funding for pedestrians, bicycles and transit!

    The City Council says they share our goals. They have taken some positive steps in the right direction, but unless the Council approves the proposed new revenue, funding for pedestrian and bicycling improvements will decrease by 25% from last year’s already woefully inadequate amount. The Council is also poised to renege on a promise to replace funding for pedestrian and bicycling improvements that they stripped from the budget last year. They appear content to use Tim Eyman-style government and have voters decide whether or not we should fund our core priorities.

    A ballot measure to fund pedestrian, bicycle and transit improvements is a great idea, and if crafted correctly, it would have our strong support. If, however, the Council is serious about aligning our transportation investments with the values and priorities of our citizens, then NOW is the time for action.

    You     stood with us at the budget hearings; now, help put us over the top: email the City Council here and tell them you support funding for feet, bikes and transit in the budget!

  • Save Funding for Streets For All

    Streets For All Seattle sent a letter to the Seattle City Council expressing our dismay at their seawall funding proposal. Here are copies of our letter and press release for you to share.

    We need your help now as a supporter of SFAS to draw attention to this issue.  

    Last week at our kickoff, Council President Richard Conlin announced the council's intention to form a working group with our campaign. But without consulting our campaign, they now propose taking one of our few transportation funding options. They want to raise the commercial parking tax (CPT) by 2.5% to 12.5%, the highest many businesses say they can bear, and use that money to partly fund a new seawall. 

    While this is a critical safety project, right now, we need to preserve all of our options for vital investments in pedestrian, bicycling and transit infrastructure to have any chance of achieving our goal of $30 million in new annual dedicated revenue for pedestrian, bicycle and transit infrastructure that will make our city work for our future. 

    Are you ready to get serious about building an equitable transportation system, about reducing health disparities, about fighting climate change and reducing our dependence on oil?

    Then please send a message to the the Council today asking the councilmembers to table their parking tax increase until budget time.

  • Make Light Rail Bike-Friendly

    Sound Transit is seeking input on its preferred light rail alignment through Bellevue, which would connect downtown with the Park and Ride on Bellevue Way.  This would make rail a convenient option for sometime bicycle commuters and all others who would like to use rail for part or all of their journey across the lake.

    The Bellevue City Council's preferred alignment, however, would be awful for bicyclists.  It would close or even eliminate the I-90 trail through the Mercer Slough for years, and drop rail passengers at an inhospitable area around I-405.  It would also limit bike and pedestrian access to the rail line.

    Can you help make sure the Link light rail project is designed for safe bicycling on and around it?  Please email the Bellevue City Council below in favor of Sound Transit's proposal.

  • Support Active Community Transportation

    Ask your representative to cosponsor HR 4722, the Active Community Transportation (ACT) Act!  Or say thank you if your representative is one of the 57 cosponsors listed here, including Reps. Jay Inslee, Jim McDermott, and the prime sponsor, Earl Blumenauer of Portland.

    The ACT Act will create a competitive grant program for local communities to improve facilities for walking and bicycling.  You can read more here.

    Please share your story about why you support making your community better for bicycling and walking, and why your representative to Congress should too!

  • TUMS for Tom

    Councilmember Tom Rasmussen is concerned about rechannelizing Nickerson Street, saying that the thought of this project gives him "indigestion." 

    But we know this project will decrease excessive speeding and improve safety for all users of the road, including pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers - and serve everyone's mobility needs  - you can read more at the Bike Blog.

    Please email Tom to tell him why you support the "road diet" and reassure him that it is the best choice for Nickerson.

  • Streets For All Seattle

    Everything is in place.  Our citizens are united.  Our representatives share our values.  And we have the capacity to become the most walkable, bikable and transit-friendly city in America.  Now we just need to step up and do it.

  • Take Action for Mercer Island Bike Facilities

    The Mercer Island City Council is reviewing both an update to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities Plan and the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP).

    Please email your city councilmembers below for better accessibility on the Island.

    The city's Planning Commission has voted to strip bike lanes and sharrows from the plan. And they are considering an ordinance that requires bicyclists to pull off the road for a single car.

    There is also very little guidance on prioritizing the most critical safety projects in the TIP, or finding quick changes that can make a big difference.  

    Use this link to email the city council, and express your concerns.  What projects do you think are the most important?  You can read more about the plans here and here to help formulate your comments.  Your elected officials need to hear from you or they will move ahead without planning and building for bikes.

  • Call to Action: Bicycling, Walking and Transit in the Jobs Bill


    Please use the form below to address your US Senators.  We can make a more bike-friendly nation with your help!

    The US Senate is working to pass a jobs bill with the goal of aiding the economy.  But the current bill repeats the transportation mistakes of last year's stimulus package that led to the funding of new pet projects rather than those that would best add to people's safety and mobility.  More information is available at blog.cascade.org

    There is a better way for the Senate to act.  A proposal by our friends at Transportation for America could produce nearly half a million jobs.  It would include $1.5 billion in new bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and livability initiatives to expand options for households with lower cost mobility choice.

    Enter your ZIP code to be matched with your senators.  You can send a short message or call the phone numbers listed. 

    Thanks, and please email us with any questions!

  • Join Cascade's Campaign Team!

    This year's local elections are a critical opportunity to support candidates who recognize the benefits of bicycling for health and transportation, and who will build bicycling infrastructure in our communities.  Take a look at our endorsed candidates here.

    Would you like to help Cascade support our pro-bike candidates?  Sign up below to join the Pro-Bike Campaign Team.  We'll keep you in the loop about opportunities to meet candidates and learn more, as well as volunteer events.  Activities include help with phone banking, researching candidates' positions on bike issues, and biking to deliver information about the campaign.

  • Support Bicycling for 2040


    We have a tremendous opportunity to support a more bike-friendly future- please add your comments to make the right choice for our region.

    The Puget Sound Regional Council is updating the current regional transportation plan.  Five alternatives have been analyzed for Transportation 2040, which will greatly impact how we plan our communities and get around. (You can read the draft environmental impact statement of Transportation 2040 here.)

    Out of five alternatives:

    • Only Alternative Five makes significant reductions in all harmful pollutants measured
    • Only Alternative Five comes close to meeting the goals established in state law for reducing vehicle miles traveled
    • Only Alternative Five makes significant and reasonable investments in bicycling for transportation.  It would use only one percent more of our transportation funding to build 600 more miles of bicycle trails and other facilities!  None of the other options focus on walking, biking or transit to solve congestion and health problems.

    Tell the Puget Sound Regional Council it's time to change our transportation priorities.

    Please submit your comments after entering your ZIP below. Edit the text to share your story, or feel free to send as-is.  Your comments will be entered into the record and considered by voting board members.

    Thank you!  Your advocacy helps create a better community through bicycling.

  • CLEAN-TEA for clean transportation

    The "Clean Low-Emissions Affordable New Transportation Equity Act" is a bill that sets aside revenue from a cap-and-trade program in a future climate bill towards green transportation, like bicycles, that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CLEAN TEA was introduced in the House of Representatives in the 2009 session as HR 1329 and in the Senate as S 575.

    Under CLEAN TEA, ten percent of the revenue would be used to create a more efficient transportation system and lower greenhouse gas emissions.  The bill is particularly relevant in Washington, where our reliance on hydro power means transportation is the biggest contributor to emissions.

    Strategies include funding transit and passenger rail, supporting development around transit stops (transit-oriented development), and making neighborhoods safer for bikes and pedestrians.

    Encourage your elected officials to vote YES on CLEAN-TEA

  • Location, Location, Location


    How would you like it if more of your destinations were closer together?  Maybe even within bicycling distance?  We can start by locating state services closer to the people who need them the most, rather than in inaccessible places.  HB 2010 would require the state to evaluate whether money it's giving to local projects would exacerbate sprawl and our dependence on cars. 

    Spending tax dollars on services that are located far away from constituents is irresponsible.  Let's create an incentive for more compact communities.  Besides the convenience, this bill would affirm the state commitment to curbing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT).

    Ask your senator to support HB 2010 using the tool below.

  • Signals for Safety


    SB 5482, up for consideration now in the State House, has an important amendment for cyclist safety.

    Loop metal detectors are the primary triggering devices for most of the state’s actuated traffic signals. Unfortunately, a many are not properly calibrated to detect bicycles (or motorcycles). State law allows road users to proceed, after yielding, when they encounter a "defective or missing traffic control device." While this would appear to apply to signals that do not function for bicycles, it leaves an unsafe gray area, and creates unpredictability on the road.

    This bill would create a standard so that new or repaired detectors will work for bicylists, and so that the Department of Transportation recalibrates the worst-offending signals when they receive complaints.

    Email your representatives using the tool below, and encourage them to support signals for our safety.

  • Pay As You Drive!


    Many people who bicycle commute also own cars – but drive them much less than the average.  What if you only had to pay for insurance for each mile you drove?


    This bill would allow insurers to develop and sell usage-based insurance if the insurance.   Because this would allow pay-as-you-drive programs, it would offer the opportunity for people who use their vehicles less to pay lower fees.  It's also a great way to encourage people to combine their car trips to reduce miles traveled on the road, reducing congestion and pollution.

     

    SB 5708 passed out of the State Senate on a 32-15 vote.  Look up your representatives in the House below, and encourage them to vote for "Pay As You Drive."

  • Support Safe Routes To School


    Use our email tool to encourage your State Senator to vote for Safe Routes to School, HB 1793.  Safe Routes is a federal grant program, administered by the state.  But Washington has only funded 10% of the schools that requested assistance- this year, only 12 projects in the state will receive grants.

    School districts and volunteers around the country have found creative ways to use Safe Routes funding: from building sidewalks, to hiring more crossing guards, to creating a "walking school bus" from a procession of parents and kids.  The benefits are numerous, from helping solve the childhood obesity epidemic to reducing school transportation costs.

    Only 12% of kids in Washington bike or walk to school, down from 65% a few decades ago.  It's harder and harder for kids to get the recommended hour of physical activity per day.  In addition, parents dropping kids off at school compose 20% of morning rush hour traffic.  It's not surprising that parents find the roads more dangerous, and obesity rates have tripled.

    Let's turn these trends around.  HB 1793 sailed through the House but now faces challenges in the Senate.

    Please look up your senator below.  Tell him or her why you support Safe Routes to School.

  • Give Bicylists Three Feet of Space

    HB 1491  requires that motorists pass bicyclists with three feet of space.  Currently, state law says that a "safe distance" is necessary, but anyone who has ridden on the road knows that many drivers pass too closely.

    The "Give Three Feet" bill passed through the Washington State House, but Cascade still needs your help to overcome the opposition.  Email your Senator using the tool below and ask him or her to vote YES on 1491.  The driver's manual already tells drivers to give three feet - let's put it on the books!

  • Tell your legislators to support "Safety For All"

    Action is needed now to get the two remaining "Safety for All" bills out of the House before a critical March 12 deadline!

    -The Safe Routes to Schools bill, HB 1793, brings the federal program that builds facilities to improve conditions for walking and bicycling to neighborhood schools into our state's code.  It also establishes evaluation criteria to make sure we're spending money effectively. 

    -HB 1403 requires that new and upgraded traffic signals reliably detect bicycles and motorcycles.

    Please call or write your representatives a brief but specific message encouraging them to support these bills.  Look them up using the tool below.

  • Sign up for Cascade's Action Alerts

    Sign up to receive updates on how you can help our mission of a "Creating A Better Community Through Bicycling."  We'll notify you of advocacy events, meetings, and opportunties to contact your representatives or media outlets. 

  • Support the Missing Link

    Please sign the petition below to support completing the Burke-Gilman Trail, creating a safe and continuous trail from Golden Gardens Park to the east side of Lake Washington.  

    A group of businesses and the Ballard Chamber of Commerce has sued the City of Seattle and Cascade Bicycle Club to try and stop the project.  

    The businesses obstructing and delaying the project should drop their complaint.  Pedestrians and bicyclists deserve safe and convenient accommodation on our public rights of way.

    Click here if you need more information about the lawsuit and this critical project.

  • Tell your legislator to vote yes on HB 1490

    Please take a moment to contact your legislators.  Ask them to support House Bill 1490, which would create more walkable, bike-able, livable communities in Washington. 

    The best way to make your voice heard is to call his or her direct line.  Alternately, write and email and leave a voice mail message.  Be sure to include your message in the subject line, i.e. "Please vote YES on HB 1490!"

    You will most likely need to use the link to the postal service website below for your address, and then enter your nine-digit ZIP below.