For bicycle commuters, pedal can be test of mettle

Don’t be intimidated.

Bicyclists have as much right to the road as motorists, and with the rising price of gasoline, you probably will be seeing more of them. You might even be one of them.

May is National Bike Month, so there’s no better time to get started.

And Eileen Hyatt can help.

Hyatt leads the Spokane Bicycle Club’s “Bike Buddies” program to assist would-be bike commuters trying to learn the ropes. Over the past four years, she has helped dozens.

The process involves reviewing equipment and clothing and going over the rules of the road, biking strategies, safety, route selection and even tips on how to carry clean clothes, store your bike at work and load it on a Spokane Transit Authority bus. Most importantly, there’s the encouragement.

In the case of “Getting There,” that meant a whole lot of hand-holding for a rider extremely anxious about biking with motor vehicle traffic.

But with Hyatt’s advice and experience, pedaling with the gas-pedal pushers isn’t too scary. It’s fun.

“Take the lane,” she urges when the roadway is too narrow for a car to pass.

But first things first. Better have a bike in good working order. Hyatt suggests buying at a bicycle shop where the staff can help you find the right bike for your needs, plus getting a yearly tune-up.

Before each ride, Hyatt subscribes to the ABCDs – air in the tires, brake check, chain check and “drop.” That means lifting your bike slightly and dropping it to make sure there aren’t any weird rattles.

“Heading out” means having confidence.

“It’s the lack of predictability that irritates drivers about bicyclists,” Hyatt says, instructing on the importance of maintaining a straight path and clearly signaling intentions.

Many novice bike commuters make the mistake of hugging the curb. Not a good idea. Motorists can’t see you, and even worse, you could get “doored” if you get too close to parked cars.

A better idea is to take a line that follows the path of the tires on the right side of the vehicle in front, Hyatt says.

Coeur d’Alene will celebrate Bike to Work Week May 15-19, says Coeur d’Alene City Attorney Mike Gridley, who frequently commutes by bicycle.

Gridley says people interested in learning more about biking to work in Coeur d’Alene can contact the city’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee, which meets the first Wednesday of each month from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the City Council chambers.

“It’s a good way to start the day. It gets my heart pumping, and I get some fresh air,” Gridley says of bike commuting. “It’s just a good way to see the community.”

Don’t forget your helmet.

Bloomsday buses

Spokane Transit Authority will provide Bloomsday bus service again this year for $1.

Buses will board from 6:30 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. next Sunday at the Spokane Valley Mall, Ferris High School, NorthTown Mall and Eastern Washington University in Cheney. Return trips will run from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., loading on First Avenue between Post and Stevens.

The sticker pass can be purchased at STA’s booth at the Bloomsday Trade Show on Friday and Saturday or at STA’s Plaza.

Helmets on

The Spokane Police Department is marking Helmet Safety Month in May by giving out free McDonald’s ice cream coupons to kids wearing helmets while riding their bikes.

Kids also can enter an essay contest about why they wear bike helmets. Winners in two age groups will be awarded a new bicycle and helmet. The essay forms are available at McDonald’s.

Bus detours

Spokane Transit Authority riders wondering how road work is going to affect their regular routes should check out STA’s “Seasonal Construction & Detours” booklet, which providess highlights of what to expect.

The booklet is available on buses, at the Plaza, online at www.spokanetransit.com or by calling (509) 328-RIDE.

Also, watch for STA’s rider alerts.

Fair warning

The Spokane Police Department’s traffic unit will be patrolling on Five Mile Prairie this week. Police will be on the lookout for speeders on both Five Mile Road and Strong Road.

Slow going

Downtown Spokane

Interstate 90 Latah Creek Bridge repairs will reduce eastbound traffic to two lanes Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Trent Avenue traffic may be bogged down near Hamilton, where curb lanes will be closed at times.

First Avenue will be reduced to one lane between Lincoln and Wall through Tuesday.

North Spokane

Flaggers will direct single-lane traffic on state Highway 291 near Rutter Parkway from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. this week.

Haven Street is closed in Hillyard from southbound Market to northbound Market. All adjacent side streets also are closed during work hours.

Lincoln Street will be closed today between Francis and Dalke.

Lanes are restricted on Crestline Street between Francis and Lincoln Road for power pole work.

One lane of Belt Street will be closed at times this week from Garland to Francis for crack-sealing.

Magnolia Street is closed between Nebraska and Central avenues.

Bigelow Gulch work one-half mile west of Argonne could cause delays.

Work is under way on the North Spokane Corridor Gerlach to Wandermere freeway grading project. Flaggers will direct traffic as trucks cross Perry and Farwell Road.

Strong Road will be closed east of Austin Road through Wednesday.

Peone Road is closed from Bruce to Market.

South Spokane

Work to rehabilitate 29th Avenue between Southeast Boulevard and Grand Boulevard has reduced traffic to one lane in each direction, and drivers are unable to enter or exit Perry at 29th.

Freya Street will be restricted to one lane at times between Hartson and 37th Avenue for relocation of power poles.

Spokane sweeping

Today, crews will sweep in northwest Spokane in the area bounded by Indian Trail, Driscoll Boulevard, Rowan Avenue and Wellesley Avenue and in the area bounded by A Street, Driscoll Boulevard, Rowan and Johansen. On the South Hill, crews will tackle the area bounded by Havana, Ray/Thor, Hartson and 29th and the area bounded by 29th, 14th, Grand and Lincoln.

Tuesday and Wednesday, crews will sweep the Bloomsday route.

Please move cars off the streets. For more information, call (509) 456-2666.

Spokane Valley

I-90 traffic may be reduced to one lane from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. between Sullivan and Argonne for the installation of lane markers.

Barker Road is closed from Boone to Euclid for road widening.

Flora Road is closed between Montgomery and Mission.

Valleyway is closed to all but local traffic during the day between Conklin and Sullivan.

Park Road is closed from Euclid to South Riverway.

Idaho

Prairie Avenue remains under construction between Ramsey and Huetter.

The Government Way bridge in Coeur d’Alene is closed to traffic. A short detour is in place at the Seltice Way bridge west of Northwest Boulevard.

Construction on Lancaster Road between Government Way and Strahorn may cause delays.

Work on U.S. Highway 95 near the Canadian border may slow traffic.