New year, new log
Photo is in front of a new house – I ought to do a post about that some time.
2020
From 1/1/2014 to 12/31/2020 I rode just over 93,000 miles. By June 2021 I ought to be able to say that I’ve ridden 100K miles since I retired.
Scooters?
It’s really too bad that Seattle doesn’t have a group to advocate for the interests of cyclists. I gave up on CBC when they sold out on the Burke Gilman missing link route, but opening this event to electric scooters means I’m done with it.
It would be kind of funny if it wasn’t so sad…
Dear Jerry,
There’s no doubt that autumn has arrived in the Pacific Northwest. Why not enjoy the season to its fullest by keeping active outdoors? The view of changing forest colors, dramatic fog, and that crisp fall air are reason enough to hop back into the saddle. However, we’ve got something to really motivate you to ride when the rain, the wind, and the cold might drive you to stay indoors: The Ride in the Rain Challenge!
Point System
Are you ready to ascend the ranks on the leaderboard? Let’s talk points! Points are granted for two modes:
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- Bicycling (outdoors)
- Scooters
Yes, scooters! Seattle joins the growing list of cities in Washington with a scooter share program.
You get points for:
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- 10 points for your first ride of the day.
- 1 point per mile
- Additional points when you participate in select community-oriented events. Details to come!
We’ve also got some great prizes in the works and can’t wait to tell you more about it soon.
End of an era
“We recognize this has been an unsettling week for members. The sale of MEC’s business, and the decision to move the business away from the co-operative model was, after all, a very difficult decision – but it was the right one. Facing a stark choice, we chose to preserve employment opportunities, a larger store presence, and a commitment to MEC’s ethos rather than fold up the MEC tent for good.”
July
Here are my Strava stats for July:
Way off the 50-miles a day pace I had in the second quarter – look at the bar chart:
The explanation is that Odette retired on June 30 and we closed on a new house on July 15. I figure I’ve got another week or two of work to get out of the old place and then maybe I’ll ramp up again, or maybe not – I foresee a lot of energy going into getting the new place organized and set up the way I want it.
Defund Sound Transit
Sound Transit strikes again! Not really a surprise, but no process, no warning, no real consideration of the disruption caused. Conflict in construction zones seems to be worse with private contractors, but inconsiderate blockage of critical routes seems to be the purvey of Sound Transit
Tolt Pipeline
So…. you apparently can no longer exit the pipeline trail at 133rd to get to W. Snoqualmie Valley Rd. (because there are new “Private No Trespassing signs on the gate.) You can walk down to the highway through the brush on the pipeline corridor – but I’m not sure that it’s recommended.
#notrails is ending
Summary
King County Parks is announcing it will re-open its parks and trails on May 8 with some restrictions, and urges visitors to “Recreate Responsibly!” Active use and high touch facilities such as restrooms, play areas, sports courts, and picnic shelters will remain closed, and organized events and programs will remain suspended.
Story
King County Parks announced today that on May 8 it will re-open its parks and trails, including regional and backcountry trails, with some restrictions. The county cautions, however, that keeping parks and trails open will depend on visitors practicing safe distancing and following public health guidelines.
Parking lots and trailheads will be open, as well as fields, docks and boat launches, and the off-leash dog area at Marymoor Park. Visitors are asked to “Keep it Moving!” and refrain from gathering or playing team sports or pick-up games on the fields. King County Parks’ decision follows the Governor’s recent announcement about the May 5 re-opening of state recreation lands.
“Here in King County, we treasure our parks, trails, and wilderness, and I know that people are eager to enjoy the outdoors during these stressful and uncertain times,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “We are re-opening our parks and trails in a measured way and encourage folks to recreate responsibly, keep each other safe, and continue to curb the transmission of COVID-19 in King County.”
“Outdoor recreation is a great idea but we absolutely need to continue to take precautions to prevent bringing COVID-19 back home with us. Everyone must practice safe distancing and good hand hygiene whether indoors or out because lives depend on it,” said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health — Seattle & King County. “Where parks and trails are experiencing overcrowding and where safe distancing is not occurring, we will need to recommend re-closing those facilities to prevent the spread of infection.”
King County Parks is planning for a phased re-opening and return to full operations. The division will monitor use and continue to follow guidance from the Governor and Public Health – Seattle & King County.
Facilities such as restrooms, play areas, sports courts, and picnic shelters, will remain closed. The campground at Tolt-MacDonald Park remains closed, as does the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center, the Jim Ellis Preston Community Center, and the White Center Community Center. Organized activities and programs, such as team sports, race events, swimming lessons, volunteer work parties, and public gatherings remain suspended.
King County Parks will update the status of its parks, trails, and facilities at kingcountyparks.org/COVID.
King County Parks, in collaboration with local and state land managers and outdoor recreation stakeholders, is encouraging people to recreate responsibly by adhering to the following guidelines:
- Keep your distance. Recreate with those in your household. Give others plenty of room and communicate who will step aside on the trail (trail etiquette gives hikers coming uphill the right of way).
- Stay local. Don’t stray too far from home when recreating and keep rural communities safe by minimizing stops and bringing all that you’ll need for your outing.
- Keep it moving. Use parks and trails for walking, running, riding, rolling, and passing through.
- Plan ahead. Be prepared to go somewhere else if your destination seems crowded. Add hand sanitizer and a mask or other face covering to your 10 Essentials.
- Play it safe. Keep your activities within your comfort and skill level to reduce the risk of injury and adding to the strain on our health care and emergency services.
- Leave no trace. Take any garbage with you, including disposable face masks and gloves.
The health and safety of residents and Parks employees is paramount, and Parks will continue to monitor its parks and trails to ensure that visitors are following physical distancing and other public health guidelines. King County Parks encourages visitors to do their part and keep each other safe so that King County’s parks and trails can remain open.
Park and trail visitors can report crowding, areas that need attention, or other issues using King County Parks’ reporting tool, SeeClickFix at https://seeclickfix.com/king-county
# no trails
I’ve been amusing myself by riding without using at the King Count Regional Trails. It’s remarkable how much we orient our routes to the trail system, even when the trail routes don’t have any real advantage. It’s also remarkable how advantageous the trails usually are, and how there are several choke-points where there aren’t good non-trail alternatives.
Here’s a selection of #notrails routes.
Montlake
Coming home today I needed to stop by Recycled cycles so from northbound Interlaken Drive I turned onto Interlaken Blvd and then made the mistake of staying on that when it turned into a trail (instead of turning onto 19th.) I ended up riding 24th and crossing Montlake at the Shelby crosswalk.
Now I will be able to do this:
I likely won’t get a whole lot of use out of this, but I’ve avoided the Arboretum route because of the Montlake intersection so i guess it takes away an excuse.