Sunday, December 15, 2019

Accident Response Class Postponed. Will be Rescheduled.

Due to Covid-19 this class as been postponed.  

Neighbors in Motion and the Mercer Island Community Fund are sponsoring a second accident response training class, particularly for accidents involving bicycles or pedestrians.  Students and adults are welcome.  The special, reduced tuition is $25.   
This class was held last summer and sold out. Space is strictly limited to the first 20 participants.  The class will be held at the Mercer Island Beach Club at 1:00PM - 5:00PM on Sunday, March 22.  Location: Mercer Island Beach Club, 8326 Avalon Dr, Mercer Island.

This is an American Heart Association accredited course.   Participants will receive a Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED card from the American Heart Association.  

To register contact Jeff Koontz (jeff_koontz@msn.com)

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

New Research: Cycling Lanes Make Roads Safer for Everyone

The largest study of road safety to date published in the Journal of Transport & Health finds that more cycling infrastructure makes cities safer for everyone, not just cyclists. Researchers proposed that the old strategy of increasing the number of cyclists should be replaced by focusing on building better infrastructure for them.

The study found that bike facilities act as “calming” mechanisms on traffic, slowing cars and reducing fatalities. Between 1990 and 2010, Portland’s bicycle share increased from 1,2 % to 6 % and the road fatality rate dropped by 75 % over the same period. With added bike lanes, fatal crash rates dropped in Seattle by 60,6 %, San Francisco by 49,3 %, Denver by 40,3 %, and Chicago by 38,2 %.

Cities Expanding Protected Bike Lanes Nationwide


After a spike in deaths, New York will add 250 miles of protected bike lanes.  The city will build the lanes as part of a $1.7 billion street safety plan to be adopted by Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council.  Other cities like Los Angeles and Washington are expanding their bike networks, but New York’s plans are far more expansive. San Diego plans to build 70 miles of new bike lanes while Cambridge, Mass., set rules this year to add protected lanes on all rebuilt roads. Copenhagen is the international model for bike infrastructure, with about 250 miles of protected bike lanes. 

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Seattle - Census survey: Biking, walking and transit up. Driving alone down to 44.5%

"Walking, biking and transit is up to 39%, and driving alone to work continues its steep decline. Now just 44.5% of Seattle workers drive alone to work, down from 53% a decade ago. Even if the 2018 estimates end up being a bit high, Seattle is on trend for walking, biking and transit use to overtake driving alone just a few years from now, a feat very few U.S. cities have accomplished.”

Those opposing bike infrastructure in Seattle and Mercer Island pointed to a decline in these numbers in 2017 despite the record bad weather and the 2nd Avenue bike lane being closed for five months.   The 2018 data is in line with past trends that SOV usage is declining and area bike counts are up. 

Monday, October 7, 2019

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION NEWS FROM WSDOT AND PARTNERS

Access WSDOT's latest bulletin here and sign up for updates. 

Local Road Safety Plan Workshops Scheduled
A Local Road Safety Plan provides a data-driven, risk-based method to prioritize locations for engineering improvements to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes. This course introduces local agencies to the concept and structure of Local Road Safety Plans, and shows them how to build a plan based on actual crash data from a city.
This course also introduces WSDOT's 2020 City Safety Program, which will release a call for projects in November 2019. This federal Highway Safety Improvement Program-funded program will have a systemic subprogram for low cost, widespread, risk-based projects in an entire city, or over wide city areas. Agencies will need a local road safety plan in order to apply for any City Safety Program funding.
Several dates and locations to choose from: Oct. 1 (Olympia), Oct. 2 (Bellevue), Oct. 3 (Vancouver), Oct. 22 (Wenatchee), Oct. 23 (Spokane), Oct. 24 (Richland) No Cost. Details and registration.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

I-90 Bicycle Trail Update - September 23 at Community Center

The city will present it's plan for the Aubrey Davis Park Master Plan on September 23rd from 6-8pm at the Mercer Island Community & Event Center for the 3rd.  Attendees will be able to check out large scale visuals of the City's Master Plan that has been submitted for SEPA review and take a short survey with your feedback.  

Those interested in making the I-90 Trail safer should attend and provide their feedback to the city.

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Seattle considers an idea from the bike-friendly Netherlands to reduce fatalities.

"A handful of American cities are trying a new approach to combat that risk: a protected intersection. Seattle could be among the next cities to try the design.
Instead of people on bikes waiting alongside drivers behind a crosswalk at a light, a protected intersection allows them to wait farther into the intersection, increasing the chances a driver will see them."

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Neighbors in Motion (NIM) Planning 2nd Accident Response Training

On June 1, 20 island residents participated in 5 hours of accident response training at the north end fire station sponsored Mercer Island Community Fund and NIM.  Class training included  initial evaluation, safety, and CPR training sufficient for American Heart Association certification cards. 

Because the class was limited to 20 attendees and to make the class available to several residents whose schedule prevented them from applying, NIM is planning a second class this summer.  

If you are interested, please email info@neighborsinmotion to add your name and receive updates.

Monday, June 10, 2019

Tips for Pedestrian Safety

Whether we drive a car or cycle, at times we are also pedestrians too.  In order to keep yourself safe as a pedestrian, there are a few rules of thumb you need to keep in mind. 

(This link was suggested by Anne in Rachel Martin's after school safety program.   Thanks for the tip!)

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Bicycle Sundays Have Started on Lake Washington Boulevard

Last Sunday was the first of this year's "Bicycle Sundays" on Lake Washington Boulevard. 

On scheduled Sundays from May to September, a portion of Lake Washington Boulevard will be closed to motorized vehicles from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Seattle Parks and Recreation invites everyone in the community to bike, jog or stroll along the boulevard between the Seward Park entrance and Mount Baker Park’s beach during these times.
The 2019 event dates are
  • May 12, 19, 26
  • June 16, 23
  • July7, 14
  • August 11, 18
  • September 1, 8, 15

State Awards $500K Grant to Improve Aubrey Davis Park Trails.

City Manager Julie Underwood announced at the May 7 City Council meeting that a $500K grant had been awarded to improve the regional trails across Aubrey Davis Park on the north end of the island.  Given the trail improvements being built in Seattle and on the Eastside and growth of cycling in the regional, this funding will make our trails and parks safer for everyone.  Our state legislators and the city staff deserve credit for obtaining this unique funding.

Sunday, May 12, 2019

Mercer Island Releases New Bicycle Map for Comment

The Public Works Department of Mercer Island released a new map showing bicycle routes around the Island.  Currently in draft form, the city is in interested in feedback before publishing it for the public.   Comments can be directed to the city or to NIM at info@neighborsinmotion.org.

E-Scooters Test Coming to Seattle. Is Mercer island Next?


Pro-scooter momentum appeared to be building at City Hall this week as Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced Wednesday that her administration will soon begin crafting a pilot program for scooter share. On Thursday, several City Council members tested scooters on a plaza outside City Hall before hosting a meeting where Portland officials briefed them on that city’s experience with the devices.

Friday, May 10, 2019

Can e-bikes could transform how we age?



Safety researchers recommend bike helmets for children, elderly - DutchNews.nlE-bikes are helping keep seniors young and, in some instances, even alleviating the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.  
Read more....





Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Aubrey Davis Park Master Plan - Open House April 23

A second Open House will be held on April 23 at the MI Community Center to review and comment on the design consultants' proposed alternatives.

NIMBY Scuttles Bike Lanes on 35th in Seattle

Seattle Mayor Durkan continues her war on bikes and climate change.  In contrast Vancouver, Portland, Tacoma and other cities continue to improve safer, multimodal transportation alternatives.

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Aubrey Davis Master Plan Open House - Feb 7. You're Invited!

Learn more about the master plan, view project updates and share your feedback with City staff.   Time:  6-8PM.

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Tunnel Ride: SR 99 Grand Opening February 3

Cascade Bicycle Club and WSDOT have organized a once in lifetime bicycle ride through the new waterfront tunnel (SR99).  Almost 10,000 riders have signed up, but registrations are still open.  If you are interested, find out more here. 

Monday, January 7, 2019

City Completes Two BikePed Safety Projects

The city of Mercer Island recently recognized the completion of two bicycle and pedestrian safety projects:  at the Park-and-Ride bus stop and at 40th Street east of Island Crest Way. 
Identified and supported by NIM and the Mercer Island community since 2016, these projects were completed in early December.  The first project added several improvements to the Mercer Island Park-and-Ride at 8000 North Mercer Way.    The Southeast 40th Street project improved safety along the corridor by adding new curbs, sidewalks, and bike lanes in places they did not previously exist.