Group forms to give West Seattleites a strong voice in the Seattle Bike Master Plan Update

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Alki
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Alki

A new bicycle group is forming in West Seattle. The group, named West Seattle Bike Connections (WSBC), was founded by Don Brubeck with Theresa Beaulieu, recent graduates of Cascade’s Advocacy Leadership Institute, who wants to make sure West Seattleites have a say in the Seattle Bike Master Plan Update.

“West Seattle needs alternatives to the clogged bridge, the closing Viaduct, and the tolled tunnel with no exits downtown,” Brubeck stated, expressing a need for more safe bicycle routes that cater to people of all abilities.

With a mission statement to “provide advocacy and assistance for those traveling by bicycle to, from, and around West Seattle”, WSBC hopes to engage its community members who are interested in bicycling to advocate for improvements in bicycling infrastructure, and provide a cohesive input to decisions that could affect bicycling in the West Seattle area.

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Biking over the West Seattle Bridge.

The group will hold its first outreach event on Thursday, Oct. 25, from 6:45 to 9:45 a.m. at the lower bridge where the Alki, Duwamish and West Seattle Bridge trails converge, to meet, greet and hand out treats including homemade cookies.

“We want to help connect West Seattleites to school, work, transit, shopping areas, friends, family and recreation by bicycle,” said Brubeck. “And give West Seattle a strong voice in the 2012-13 Seattle Bike Master Plan update.”

WSBC’s core organizing group of a dozen people come from all over West Seattle. With an almost even male-female split, they represent a variety of ages and types of bike users: Randonneurs and racers, retirees using bikes for errands, all-weather bike commuters, and others who want the most beautiful waterfront path ride, even if it takes longer. Aili LePard is one of those active members, who engages SDOT and WSDOT regularly and posts frequently on the Cascade message boards and SeattleLikesBikes blog. In addition, WSBC has already allied with West Seattle Spokespeople, and is also talking with Sustainable West Seattle about becoming a "supported organization" under their well-established community non-profit umbrella.

For more information, find WSBC on Facebook, and stay up-to-date with the group’s happening on the West Seattle Blog forums.

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