Welcome to Spoketown: Bike to Work Week

Something is happening here. You see it in rain, shine, and, yes, last week, even snow. From commuters to hipsters, (plus new bike businesses springing up next door ) more and more, two-wheels is the way to go.

However, we wouldn’t say Spokane is bike friendly as far as infrastructure. Yet. There’s lots of work to do in way of signage and lanes but fortunately enough we have such a fantastic network of passionate activists and upcoming bike events that the wind is to our backs.

So DTE has you covered for all things cycling in Spokane.



In the first of a series of posts, we’ll begin with Bike To Work week . (We hope to conclude on an FBC ride.) Last year was a success, with 900 registered riders, and already registration is right around the corner, beginning next week, and the event itself lasts from May 10 ^th -16 ^th .

Before the 2008 kickoff, Barb Chamberlain told the Spokesman-Review, “I think people would be scared off if they had to change their whole life all at once. But it’s so doable, once it’s part of your routine.”

We are all creatures of habit, and it takes a simple event like Bike To Work week to make us realize change is easily within our reach. And the impact is huge. Riding a bike for an hour not only leads to physical fitness and if you commuted to work on a bike at least four days a week (presumably eight miles, round trip), you would save yourself 54 gallons of gas annually and 1,140 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.

Coming up, there are four Bike To Work Spokane workshops, to teach you the skills and cycling to make riding safe and fun.

Eileen Hyatt, a retired school teacher and nationally certified instructor through the League of American Bicyclists, will teach each workshop. Topics include traffic skills, clothing tips, gear and lighting with prize drawings and refreshments.

The workshops are free and available on a walk-in basis with no need to register. Workshop times, dates and locations are:

Thursday, April 9th, 7:00 – 7:45pm at REI, 1125 N. Monroe

Tuesday April 28, 6-7:30pm at Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley*

Wednesday, April 29, 6-7:30pm at Mountain Gear, 2002 N. Division*

Monday, May 4, 6-7:30pm at North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Rd*

(*Additionally, North Division Bicycle Shop will feature roadside repair instructions from their techs.)

Hyatt is also the coordinator for the Bike Buddy program, which matches new bike commuters with a trained volunteer familiar with the commute between their neighborhood and workplace. These volunteers will help you choose routes, gear, and other basics for a safe commute. For more information on the workshops or the Bike Buddy program, contact mailto:SpokaneBikeBuddy@aol.com

Bike to Work Spokane is organized by a volunteer committee as a project of the SpokeFest Association, in partnership with the City of Spokane Advisory Board and the Bicycle Alliance of Washington, a 501c3 non-profit organization.

There will be more information coming soon, we’ll keep you posted.