Bike To Work Week Wrap-Up Celebration

If you've been taking part in our local Bike to Work Week, don't forget that the wrap-up celebration is tomorrow night. The party starts at 5 p.m. at NoLi Brewery, at 1003 E. Trent.

There will be refreshments, snacks, give-aways and no doubt other shenanigans so don't miss it.

Bicycle Superhighway Planned in 1897 Apparently Wasn't the Future of Transit

Some people say that high speed rail is the future of transportation in our country. In 1897, people were saying the same thing about a Bicycle Superhighway in California.

The highway, a for-profit bicycle superhighway that would stretch from Pasadena to downtown Los Angeles, was called the California Cycleway and was essentially a bicycle toll road.
So what happened to the plan? Here's the story and some cool old pics to go with it.

We've Come A Long Way Since 1918

Check this craziness out. It doesn't really have anything to do with us locally but this picture was included with an article on Iowa's Department of Transportation turning 100 and I thought it was pretty effective in illustrating how easy we have it these days.
The funny part to me was the picture caption: Model T on the Lincoln Highway between Ames and Nevada, 1918

Wow, can you imagine driving on that highway?

NTSB Suggests Dropping Legal Limit For Impaired Driving

The National Transportation Safety Board yesterrday said many countries have a lower blood alcohol limit for impaired driving and suggested the U.S. follow suit and drop ours to .05.
Spokane County's Sheriff supports the idea but Kootenai County's Sheriff wonders if the change would really make a difference. KREM 2 News has the story.

Start Fasting Now; Spokane Valley's Bike to Work Week Pancake Feed Is Thursday

Legal Disclaimer: Spokane Valley
is not legally required to provide pancakes
that look like this.

So here's how I get through the holiday season: I make my way around to all the open houses and parties almost nightly and take advantage of the free food. So here's your chance to capitalize on my idea; the official kickoff for Bike to Work Week in the City of Spokane was a pancake breakfast held yesterday at Riverfront Park.

If you really like pancakes, or you really like free food, or you just really like bicycling, or you live in the Valley, or any of the above, there's another pancake feed this week to mark Bike to Work Week. This one is hosted by the City of Spokane Valley.

It's Thursday morning, May 16 starting at 7 a.m. at CenterPlace, which is adjacent to Mirabeau Point on the Centennial Trail. Wow, how convenient is that if you're already riding the trail? And if you're not, go a little out of your way for some free pancakes. You're going to burn off those extra calories anyway.

Open House For Proposed Appleway Trail

The Draft Master Plan for the proposed Appleway Trail will be available for you to view at a Spokane Valley open house on Wednesday, May 22 from 4-6 pm at CenterPlace Regional Event Center (2426 N. Discovery Place). Developed with input from the community, the draft plan includes ideas that will help provide an alternative commuting route and recreational area for community members to meet and enjoy the outdoors.
The proposed trail would run down the old Milwaukee railroad right-of-way, which starts at the east end of Appleway Blvd. at University Rd. and continues east to Evergreen Rd. Features and amenities of the trail, include:

•A meandering pathway;
•Casual seating areas;
•Space for potential community gardens;
•Grasses and wildflowers;
•Shade trees;
•Birdhouses, and more.

The pictures are from the plan, by the way.

Francis Ave. Construction Starts Monday

Avista is scheduled to begin natural gas line work on Francis just west of Monroe on Monday, May 20. Francis will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Wall and Cedar for 3 to 4 weeks. Avista crews will work seven days a week until the project is done. Some traffic impacts will start Sunday afternoon, May 19, with crews placing signs, cones, temporary striping, and barriers for the project.


This work is in addition to work planned by the Washington State Department of Transportation on West Francis. WSDOT will repave Francis from Division Street west to the Stevens County line. That work currently is expected to begin on May 28.

Amendment Proposed to Two Construction Projects In the Transportation Imrpovement Program

We're looking for feedback on a proposed amendment to the 2013-2016 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP is a document that identifies projects proposed to be undertaken or constructed during the upcoming four years. The TIP includes project names and descriptions, the jurisdiction sponsoring them, funding attached to each project, and where the funding came from (local, state or federal funds).
The most recent proposed amendment includes a request to increase the amount of Congestion Mitigation Air Quality program (CMAQ) funds awarded to one project and a request to utilize unspent Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds from preliminary engineering and design to fund right-of-way acquisition on another project.

All the details you need are on our website. Find out which projects would be affected, background info on the TIP and how to give us your thoughts on the proposed amendment.

Francis Avenue Project Open House

The Washington State Department of Transportation invites you to an informational open house to learn details of a project to pave and repair State Route 291 this season. That job includes Francis Avenue west of Division to the Stevens County Line. From Division to about Lowell Road, near the Sundance Golf Course the existing roadway will be resurfaced. From there to the county line, (excluding the section rebuilt a few years ago near Nine Mile Falls) the surface will be crack sealed and minor repairs made. To reduce the effects on traffic, paving work will be scheduled for evening and overnight hours. Other work includes updating the curb ramps to current ADA standards.


The open house is Tuesday, May 21, from 5-7 p.m. in the Salk Middle School Cafeteria, 6411 N. Alberta. Engineering staff will have displays and be on hand to answer questions about the work.

Is Cycling The New Golf Of Making Business Connections?

How do you conduct business? A lot of people used to do it over a round of golf, a round of drinks or lunch.  This Economist article claims road cycling is the new golf when it comes to networking and getting business done. A growing number of corporate-sponsored charity bike rides and cycling clubs are providing ideal opportunities to talk shop with like-minded colleagues and clients while discussing different bike frames and tricky headwinds. And some believe its better than golf for building lasting working relationships, or landing a new job, because it is less competitive.


One architecture firm out of London even estimates that as much as 75% of the practice’s workload has come directly or indirectly from contacts made on the road. Very interesting. I know the Spokane Regional Health District has done some 'walking meetings' for staff in the past, so maybe they're on to something.

Survey Says Many Passengers Don't Turn Off Electronic Devices

So you ALWAYS turn off your electronic devices when told to do so on a flight right? Uh, a lot of people don't, as it turns out. A new survey says that as many as 30 percent of all passengers accidentally left a device on during takeoff or landing. Another 21% said they just switch their electronics to "airplane mode," even when the pilot specifically asks for them to be turned off.

The New York Times has more on this survey and how dangerous it may be to leave electronics on during flights.

Nevada May Allow Motorcyclists To Legally Drive Between Two Traffic Lanes

Nevada could become the first state to allow motorcyclists to legally drive between two lanes of traffic.


The maneuver, called lane splitting, is now illegal in 49 states. California "unofficially" allows it, with no law specifically allowing or prohibiting the practice.
Supporters argue lane splitting reduces the likelihood of a motorcycle hitting a car in front, and vice versa, especially in heavy traffic. Detractors argue lane splitting is inherently dangerous and distracts from other safety issues such as mandatory helmet laws.
RGJ.com has the full story.

City of Spokane Construction For Next Week

29th Ave. from High Dr. to Bernard St.- Work to rehabilitate 29th Ave. from High Dr. to Bernard St. is nearly complete. 29th Ave from High Drive to Bernard St. is scheduled to reopen the week of May 13. The overall project rehabilitated 29th Ave. from High Drive to Grand Blvd., replaced a water main and completed other work.


Rockwood Boulevard Rehab Begins Monday- A project to rehabilitate Rockwood Boulevard from Cowley to Southeast Boulevard and Upper Terrace Road from Rockwood Boulevard to 17th Avenue begins Monday, May 13. Initially, crews will begin work on Rockwood from Southeast Blvd to Garfield and on Upper Terrace Road. Those sections will be closed to traffic; local access will be maintained.
Queen residential rehabilitation project begins Monday- The project will rehabilitate Queen, Crow, and Olympic avenues from A to Nettleton streets, and Milton and Nettleton streets from Olympic to Rowan Avenues. The project starts Monday, May 13 and continues until early August.

Division and Glass/Division and Weile Intersection Closures- Lane closures near the intersections of Division & Glass and Division & Weile as crews work to upgrade traffic islands to provide greater pedestrian protection.  The work will occur between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily.   Additional lane closure, Monday, May 13, at 7 p.m. North and southbound traffic on Division St. will be restricted to a single lane at Weile Avenue, Everett Avenue, Walton Avenue, and Glass Avenue, to accommodate striping.

WSDOT & Spokane Valley Construction for Next Week

WSDOT
Division Street, Ruby, & Browne Street/I-90 to Euclid- Beginning at about 7 p.m. in the evening until about 5 a.m. the following morning, on weekdays, and continuing for about 2 more weeks, during the work week, Division, Ruby, and/or Browne Streets may be reduced to two lanes (or possibly one, if needed) at various times and locations. Crews will be patching and repairing asphalt.

I-90/Harvard Road/Liberty Lake Interchange Bridge- On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, May 14-16, beginning around 8 a.m. to as late as 3 p.m., drivers should expect single-lane alternating traffic on the Harvard Road bridge over I-90 with delays and congestion. Crews will be repairing bridge joints.

SPOKANE VALLEY

Citywide - Expect brief lane closures as crews crack seal throughout the city into late May.

Knox just west of Vista - Closed from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, May 13 through Wednesday, May 15 for utility work. Signs will redirect traffic via Dick, Indiana and Vista.
Vista just north of Knox - Nrrowed lanes from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Wednesday, May 15 through Friday, May 17 for utility work.

Bike To Work Week Starts Monday

Don't forget, Bike to Work Week is May 13-19 (next week) and the annual Commute Challenge starts Monday. There are lots of other things happening throughout the week too, such as a pancake breakfast Monday, energizer stations throughout the week, a National Ride of Silence and a wrap-up party at the end of the week.

Plus, if you are part of the Commute Trip Reduction program, you can use your commute calendar to track your bike riding this year, rather than filling out two separate calendars like in past years. And, the best part yet, Bike to Work Week is aligning with some really nice weather, also unlike some past years. More info on the Spokane Bikes website so hurry up and get registered.

Police Re-Enact Beatles ‘Abbey Road’ Scene In Pedestrian Safety Crackdown



I love the dude in the suit with no shoes.

 A New Jersey community is going back in time to get people's attention about pedestrian safety.


After a series of accidents where walkers were hit by cars, police in Wycoff are starting a safety campaign, and to help get the point across, members of the police department assigned to crosswalk detail reenacted the Beatles iconic crossing for the cover of “Abbey Road.”


A couple things you may notice in the picture to make things "authentic:" There's a man in the background  in kilt and with bagpipes. That's Wyckoff's Township Administrator.
And a local car dealer even supplied a Volkswagen Beetle to represent the one in the original August 1969 photo. The Cliffview Pilot tells how police hope their use of humor in this case increases safety.

New Sleeping Pods Mean No More Crashing On Airport Floors

I can't decide if this is cool or creepy. The days of sleeping on the airport floor or uncomfortable waiting area chairs are over in Abu Dhabi, with the installation of "sleeping pods" in its airport terminals.


The pods are high-tech chairs that can converted in to private beds in the airport terminal for times when your flight is cancelled. They boast partial or fully enclosed sliding shades to separate you from the airport crowds, internet access, storage for your luggage and a place to charge your electronics.

But will people pay to use them? SmartPlanet.com has more.

Could Stick Shifts Be The Answer To Teen Distracted Driving?

Worried about your teen using his or her phone while driving? KING 5 News says providing them with a manual transmission car to drive could be the key to keep this from happening.

Oregonians May Soon Be Able To Show Digital Proof Of Insurance

Oregon is on its way to allowing digital proof of motor insurance. House Bill 2107 allows drivers to show proof of insurance by smart phone, as opposed to paper. Motorists can be cited for driving without proof of insurance, although fines are usually dismissed once evidence of current insurance is produced. Still, it can be a hassle.

The Bill yesterday was passed unanimously by the Senate. The Oregonian has more.

West Plains Arterial Plan Workshop

The City of Spokane is hosting a workshop to discuss alternatives for an updated arterial plan that would coordinate transportation improvements connecting the various jurisdictions that make-up the West Plains area of Spokane County. The workshop is set for Thursday, May 16th, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the library at Sunset Elementary School, 12824 12th Ave. in Airway Heights.
This workshop is the second in an effort to identify and plan for the infrastructure needed to support growth and development on the West Plains. The resulting arterial plan will be used to prioritize transportation projects and will be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plans and other planning documents.

Besides the City, the project’s partners include Spokane County, the Spokane International Airport, the City of Airway Heights, WSDOT, Fairchild Air Force Base, the Spokane Tribe, the Kalispel Tribe, Spokane Transit Authority, the City of Cheney, the City of Medical Lake, Cheney School District and others.

The group also will define other infrastructure needs in the area, including water, wastewater, and stormwater projects.