Action: This week make the Bellevue Bike Network a priority in November!

The campaign to build a 57-mile network of safe bike lanes throughout Bellevue continues this week with three open houses (June 28, 29 and 30) where city staff want to hear your transportation priorities for a proposed November ballot measure.

Over the past few years, the Bellevue City Council has had an ongoing discussion about the city’s ability to fund the long list of capital projects needed to serve the entire community, including the construction of a rapid, safe, and connected Bellevue Bike Network. Discussions are now heating up as Bellevue City Council is considering placing two measures that could appear on the November 2016 ballot.

What the levy includes is still an open question and that’s why your voice is needed at the open houses. Without your input for a Bellevue Bike Network, other priorities will rise to the top and getting investments for safer streets and connections will be more difficult.

Attend one of three open houses on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night. All three open houses go from 5–7 p.m. (presentation begins at 5:45 p.m.):

Tuesday, June 28

Bellevue Youth Theatre, 16051 NE 10th St.

Wednesday, June 29

South Bellevue Community Center, 14509 SE Newport Way

Thursday, June 30

​City Hall, 450 110th Ave. NE, Room 1E-108

While attending these open houses is really important, also be sure to participate in the city of Bellevue's online survey for the proposed levies. The survey contains great questions, specifically about the bike network.

Making safer streets for everyone remains a top reason to make investments in Bellevue. At the March Bellevue Bike Network open house, 35 percent of attendees reported that they “feel unsafe” riding a bicycle in Bellevue and 48 percent reported that they “sometimes feel unsafe” riding a bicycle in Bellevue. When asked what might prompt attendees to ride more often, 40 percent reported more separation between cars and bikes. There is great potential to increase the number of people who might choose bicycling for health or financial reasons if the city is able to build a safer and more connected network of facilities.

Cascade strongly supports safe and protected bicycle facilities, such as protected bike lanes. According to trends around our region and country, we know that 60 percent of people would like to bike more often, but don’t because they feel unsafe.

Making the Bellevue Bike Network a priority in the proposed November transportation levy provides Bellevue an exciting opportunity to start transforming into a city that’s walkable, bikeable and safe for everyone to get around, no matter their mode of travel. Safe routes through Bellevue are needed now more than ever. Bellevue City Council endorsed Vision Zero last year and must now start redesigning streets so that people can safely travel on bike and foot to work, school or the grocery store.

As momentum around creating healthy, safe, walkable and bikeable communities is growing around our region, Bellevue can become a leader in developing a bike network proposal that is comprehensive, connected, and achievable in the near term — but city staff and elected officials need to hear from you to make it happen.

Let’s make investing in the Bellevue Bike Network a priority in November!