Better Cycling: Bike Lanes

A bike lane is a striped and signed lane that provides a dedicated space on the road for people on bikes. They should be used the same as any other travel lane, so follow the same rules of the road.
Things to look out for:
•    Parked cars.  Be sure you ride far enough over to stay clear of an opening car door
•    Vehicles that are turning right without a signal
Even if your community has a law that says you have to ride in a bike lane, there are exceptions:
•    Making a left turn
•    Passing another bicyclist
•    Going around hazards
As with any other lane changes, be sure to first scan, signal and yield.

_________________________________________________________________________________Taken from the League of American Bicyclist's website:  bikeleague.org/content/bike-lanes

Help maintain the Cleveland St trail!

Hey PT Trail Volunteers! The Non-Motorized Transportation Board (NMTAB) is sponsoring a short maintenance hike along the Cleveland Street Trail between the hospital and 19th Street to remove overgrown and overhanging vegetation along four intermittent blocks of pathway (and along the short pathway on the 17th Street right-of-way from Cleveland to Sheridan). See image map. This pathway provides access to Grant Street School, QFC shopping center and the hospital complex away from traffic; so it is an important one.

Volunteers can start anywhere along this corridor, walk either direction and clip along the way. Hand tools such as clippers and loppers are best, along with work gloves. As always, dress for the weather, as we will work rain or shine.

The work party will be held this Saturday, May 30th from 9 am to Noon. After clipping has been done, meet in the middle at the Cleveland & 17th St Trail intersection to enjoy beverages and snacks to make it a real party! For more information or any questions, please contact Scott Walker at walkers@olympus.net or 301-2159.

Better Cycling: Sharing the Trail

Since the path can be congested it’s important to follow the same rules as everyone else in order to have a safe and enjoyable time.
•    Be courteous
•    Know the rules of the trail you are using
•    Give a clear signal when passing
•    Be cautious and yield to crossing traffic
•    Always be predictable by riding in a straight line
•    If you are riding while it is dark, be sure to use lights
•    Only use half the width of the trail
•    Keep it clean

_________________________________________________________________________________Taken from the League of American Bicyclist's website:  bikeleague.org/content/sharing-trail

Better Cycling: Traffic Laws

In all 50 states, people on bikes are required to follow the same laws as other drivers.
Here are a few key principles that underpin all US traffic laws:

• First Come, First Served

Everyone on the road is entitled to the lane width they need. This includes the space behind, to each side and the space in front. If you want to use someone else’s space you must yield to whoever is using it.

• Ride on the Right

In the United States, everyone must drive on the right-hand side of the roadway.

• Yielding to Crossing Traffic

When you come to an intersection, if you don’t have the right of way, you must yield.

• Yielding when Changing Lanes

If you want to change lanes, you must yield to traffic that is in your new lane of travel.

• Speed Positioning

The slowest vehicles on the road should be the furthest to the right. Where you position yourself on the road depends on the location of any parked cars, your speed, and your destination. Always pass on the left.

• Lane Positioning 

Bikes can share the same lane with other drivers. If a lane is wide enough to share with another vehicle (about 14 feet), ride three feet to the right of traffic. If the lane is not wide enough to share, “take the lane” by riding in the middle.

• Intersection positioning

When there is a lane that is used for more than one direction, use the rightmost lane going in the direction you are traveling.

• Follow all street signs, signals, and markings

Drive your bike as you would any vehicle.

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Taken from the League of American Bicyclist's website:  bikeleague.org/content/traffic-laws

Grovers Creek Preserve

North Kitsap Trail Association is kicking off a crowd funding campaign to purchase 270 acres of the Grovers Creek Preserve.
Donating to the campaign completes two major goals

1. preservation of valuable wetland
2. securing an east-west path for the Sound to the Olympics Trail.  

Head over to kitsapmtb.com for more details and a great movie!

Better Cycling: Intersection Positioning

Since most crashes happen at intersections, be sure to reduce your risk by being visible, positioning yourself clearly on the road, and making eye contact with other drivers.
When you are coming up to a multi-lane intersection, you will want to be in the right-most lane that is traveling in the direction you are going. Where you are within the lane depends on the intersection.

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Taken from the League of American Bicyclist's website:  bikeleague.org/content/intersection-positioning 

BIKE MONTH! Support needed for Bike to School Day on WED.

Bike to school day is WEDNESDAY! Volunteer some of your time to support biking!

"Dear Bicycle Community -

We need help with National Bike to School Day, on Wednesday, May 6th, especially at Grant Street Elementary School. They are looking for crossing guards to assist students on foot and bicycle across as many as 6 street crossings near the school. We need folks' help morning and afternoon, as school opens and during school release as students migrate home. This event was very popular at the school last year, and hundreds of kids participated!!

YOU can help at either (or both):

Morning Shift: 7:15 am - 8:00 am

Afternoon Shift: 2:30 - 3:15 pm

We will furnish safety vests for crossing guards courtesy of WSU Extension and provide home-made mini muffins, coffee and juice in the morning for volunteers and cookies! in the afternoon. We will also be handing out prizes to student who participate in the morning: stickers, spoke lights and a few bicycle bells. (Bused students may participate by walking around the school yard.)

Please let me know if you can help make this a very special day in promoting active living (biking and walking to school) by email  WPburden (at) aol.com or giving me a call at 301-0982. Make sure to let me know at which shift you would like to help.

Many thanks!!!

Lys Burden

PT Bike to School Support Committee

Local 2020 Transportation Lab

City of Port Townsend NMTAB "

Better Cycling: Where should I ride?

The law states that people on bikes should ride as far right as practicable, but what exactly does that mean?

It does not mean that you have to ride in the gutter -- never ride there. If you’re on a road that is too narrow to share with another vehicle, you should be in the middle of the lane. You do not want to give motorists the opportunity to try to squeeze past you.  When the lane is wide enough to share (around 14 feet), you should place yourself three feet away from traffic. 

This also applies to riding on trails. Stay to the right and allow room for those who are traveling faster than you to pass on your left.  

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Taken from the League of American Bicyclist's website : http://www.bikeleague.org/content/where-should-i-ride