Trump Tariffs and E-Bikes

As most E-bikes are made in China, the increase in tariffs may greatly slow down E-bike sales in the US.

Bellevue Bike Share Pilot

As the colorful dockless bike-shares, which began operating last summer in Seattle, stray past city boundaries, some suburban cities want to come along for the ride.

Bothell was the first suburb to issue permits for bike-share companies after bikes began popping up around town, most likely propelled north by the Burke-Gilman Trail. And now Bellevue is set to launch its own dockless bike-share pilot this May.

The city is starting small, permitting only 400 bikes at the pilot’s launch (roughly one for every 350 residents), and is only allowing e-bikes, which Bellevue says will “make the service accessible to a wider variety of potential users.”

Cascade Bicycle Club - June Schedule

Cascade offers both free rides and training in June.

Check calendar here. 

Upcoming I-90 ramp closures - June 7 to 22

Sound Transit work alert.

Progress continues on the steel installation for the 77th Avenue head house. In the coming weeks, crews will continue to install steel supports, storm drains and will begin backfilling portions of the work area. To do so, both the east- and westbound Island Crest Way HOV ramps are planned to close daily during off-peak hours, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., throughJune 22. Drivers can use the West Mercer Way and 76th Avenue Southeast westbound on-ramps and the West Mercer Way and 77th Avenue eastbound off-ramps during these closures.

Full text here.

Bellevue Expands Bike Lanes

Contracts awarded for Bellevue bike lane projects

The council awarded a contract to install the first bike lanes that run the length of downtown. Apcon Tech Inc. won the contract for $365,933, plus taxes. The demonstration bikeway project on 108th Avenue Northeast, from Main Street to Northeast 12th Street, will include bike lanes in each direction.

Construction is scheduled to begin in June and wrap up in July, about two months later than originally anticipated. Staff will evaluate the effectiveness of this project over a one-year period and report the results back to the Transportation Commission and council. In a related action, the council awarded a separate contract in the amount of $294,487, plus tax, to NPM Construction Co. for bicycle improvements on five corridors citywide.

The downtown bikeway project is fully funded by the voter-approved Neighborhood Safety, Connectivity and Congestion Levy. Like other levy-funded bicycle projects, it’s moving from planning to design to construction in one year. The citywide bicycle improvement project is 90 percent funded through the levy. In 2018, the city aims to open 19 miles of new bike lanes.

Can E-Bikes co-exist with walkers on trails? King County proposes test.

Seattle’s Parks and Recreation department is proposing a pilot project to help electric bikes coexist with walkers, joggers and other cyclists on popular mixed use trails, including the Burke-Gilman.

The yearlong project, which if approved would begin Memorial Day weekend, establishes rules for trail users and comes amid a new state law that allows certain e-bikes on shared-use paths unless a local jurisdiction bans them.

Mercer Island Bike Drive - April 21

Yogabliss and Banner Bank are partnering to support The Village Bicycle Project as it aims to empower African communities by strengthening bicycle culture. VBP programs offer previously "loved" bicycles with hands-on maintenance training and bike tools for new owners.