A Big Finish to Tacoma's Inaugural Kidical Mass Summer

Last weekend we wrapped up Tacoma's first season of Kidical Mass with our fifth and final ride of the summer. Kidical Mass went Point-to-Point with over 100 kids, parents and friends riding together on the new waterfront trail from Point Defiance Park down to the playground at the Point Ruston development. 

With nearly 250 participants pre-registered for the ride, I was amazed to see so many families turn up on what was a very wet and chilly day. It's evident that Tacomans want their kids to ride!

The Point-to-Point ride was just one component of MetroParks's Downtown To Defiance Sunday Parkways event, a first-of-its-kind activity for Tacoma that opened a 7 mile stretch of our beautiful waterfront solely to cyclists, runners, and pedestrians. MetroParks estimates over 800 people took the opportunity to ride, run or walk part of the trail that morning. 

On behalf of our riders, THANK YOU to the Tacoma Wheelmen's Bicycle Club, Hilltop Pop Shop, Point Ruston, Defiance Bicycles, Downtown On The Go, MetroParks, and the City of Tacoma for organizing this event and supporting Kidical Mass in Tacoma. We're already looking forward to more family rides in 2014!

Counting Bikes and Pedestrians Next Week

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Count is coming up October 1-3 and Cascade Bicycle Club is looking for volunteers to help.  These counts are extremely important in helping to gauge the success of our city's current infrastructure and plan for future projects. 

A bike commuter climbs the newly reopened Murray Morgan Bridge

You can help by signing up to sit at an intersection on one of these three days from 7 – 9 a.m. and/or from 4 – 6 p.m. and tally the number of cyclists and pedestrians you see. You can also help by recruiting friends, family, coworkers, and anyone else willing to help. 

Sign up here and follow these steps:

1. Scroll down and click “Tacoma – Bike & Pedestrian Counts”
2. Choose which intersection and time slot(s) you would like to sign up for and click the registration button at the bottom of the page
3. Print out the count form and instructions
4. Head out to your intersection at the designated time on Oct. 1, 2, or 3 and start tallying!
5. Follow the directions on your count form for returning the data to Cascade Bicycle Club

Alternatively, if you'll be walking or biking on those days, be sure to tally your commute miles with Pierce Trips. It's a great way for the city to gauge how many people are using alternative transportation options throughout the year, plus you can be entered to win some cool rewards.

Pedal to Peril this Saturday

via @LordRocktober

Don't forget your helmet!