Cascade Bicycle Club 2015 Legislative Agenda

The Cascade Bicycle Club and the Legislative & Endorsements Committee have set our 2015 legislative agenda to achieve our organizational strategic plan, including reaching our objectives to achieve zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries; funding a bikeway network; and connecting our region with safe, comfortable bikeways.

These objectives are consistent with the priorities of Washington Bikes, which is bringing a unified, collective voice for bicycling issues to Olympia.

Funding Our Future

​As the Governor and Legislature begin another round of discussions to pass a multi­year transportation­spending package,the funding for school safety improvements are in doubt. It’s crucial that Washingtonians get the right investments for biking, walking, and making streets safe for everyone. Investments in new bikeways are the most cost­effective way for increasing safety and mobility.

And yet, Washington continues to slip behind other states in making investments to grow bicycling and make safer streets, investing less than one­percent of the state transportation budget in bicycling and pedestrian infrastructure.

Cascade supports a state transportation package that:

  • Prioritizes full funding for the Safe Routes to School Grant Program, local Complete Streets projects, Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety Program, and highway and street maintenance.

Sound Transit is currently seeking authorization to expand its taxing authority to extend its high­capacity system, commonly referred to as “ST3.” If the legislature includes ST3 authorization within the negotiations of the transportation package, Cascade does not support diminishment of fully funding the bicycle and pedestrian safety programs listed above.

In addition, Cascade will support the ST3 authorization if it includes a significant funding dedication for pedestrian and bicycle access to the transit stations.

Connecting Our Region

Bicycle travel and tourism is big business. Washington receives $3.1 billion annually in economic revenue from bicycle travel and tourism. To capitalize on this significant economic activity, we need an improved regional trail system along irrigation canals, dikes and former rail lines; improved bikeway networks in cities; and better bike tourism marketing.

Cascade supports:

  • The $97 million request for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program.
  • Seeking investments for a study and collaborative effort to improve strategies to grow our state’s economy around bicycle recreation.
  • Updating the state law regarding faulty traffic signal detection to allow bicyclists to stop and proceed or make left turns through traffic control signals that do not detect bicycles, with certain prescribed limited conditions and clear protocols.

Vision Zero

Through better street design that accommodates all users and enforcement, we can work towards eliminating bicyclist deaths and serious injuries. To reach this goal, Cascade supports:

  • Funding professional education trainings for city prosecutors and law enforcement on when and how to use the Vulnerable Use Law.
  • Updating the distracted driving legislation to improve enforcement and better account for new technology.

Share this post