Community

*Update: Attend a Complete Streets Spokane meeting, Wednesday January 13th from 5:30-7pm at the YMCA!

With a commute-alternative-loving company like ours, it’s not surprising that we have a broad range of experiences with alternative transportation. You’re likely to find us walking, biking, riding the bus, or carpooling, both to save money and to help the environment. You’ll also find that an unusually large number of our employees have been hit by cars, or narrowly missed, while commuting to or from work.

We’re full of stories about our adventures dodging cars and chasing after buses…

R&T owner Russ Nobbs is an avid user of commute alternatives. In the warmer months, he rides a recumbent bicycle. In the winter, he walks or rides the bus.

Earlier this week, Russ missed the bus.

In his own words:

“It was a dark and rainy night, Monday evening. The #45 leaving downtown at 7:20pm stopped at Goodwill on 3rd for a passenger. At the next bus stop to the East, the driver passed me by even though I had my arm out trying to wave him down. I was standing at the stop in front of the church, near the light. True, I was wearing a dark leather jacket and true, the driver was visiting with a passenger standing behind him.

The East Fifth bus behind the 45 did stop for me, tried to reach the driver of the 45 by radio and failed. I got off the East Fifth at Arthur and walked the rest of the way up to 13th.

I’d not mention this incident except that it is not uncommon to wave the 45 down in this area. Another regular rider who gets on at the Goodwill stop wears a bright yellow jacket for night visibility. She’s experienced the driver missing her entirely at the Goodwill stop. I’ve had to step out and wave the 45 down at both the Goodwill stop and the next stop to the East.

I suspect the evening runs may not have a lot of riders getting on the bus in the area beyond Division and therefore the drivers are not very attentive in that area. I’m writing this in hopes that the drivers can be encouraged to watch for riders in this area as well as the more populous areas. Those of us who work late need the bus, particularly on dark and rainy nights.”

Russ sent his account to Susan Millbank, the Spokane Transit Authority Ombudsman. Susan responded immediately, offering R&T free safety flashers to make our employees visible at night. We asked for a small number to pass out to those most likely to need them. They were personally dropped off by Terri, an STA employee. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that instead of the dozen flashers we were expecting, the box contained 100 safety flashers!

Now that’s service. Thanks, STA!

So if you’re out on the road in the Spokane area this winter, you may be a little less likely to hit (or miss!) the employees of R&T.

* Update (Jan. 7, 2010): The Spokane Spokesman-Review has published a story about walkability and growth planning, illustrating its points with my accident.

Season’s greetings! This snowy, dark Tuesday afternoon, a couple of us were putting our coats on to go home. “Walk defensively!” a coworker joked. I did–and I was hit by a car.

I’m lucky enough to work for a hippie bead seller. Rings & Things encourages us employees to bike to work, walk, snowshoe, or use some other “commute trip reduction” alternative. I’ve learned a carbon ton about ways to show some love to our environment and our cities.

So my reaction to being run over is strangely positive…

I get my big chance to tell you about Complete Streets.

This is a movement of people with the utterly non-radical notion that “walking or cycling shouldn’t be a dangerous lifestyle choice.” From what I can see of their membership, locally they’re led by some pretty established and down-to-earth personalities in our local political scene. They work to make the city a place where you’d want to ride your bike, or walk around.

Amazing! What could this lead to?

• People might drive less, with lots of healthy results.
• There might be more people enjoying the downtown area, instead of speeding through it.
• More people might feel safe downtown, knowing they’re not just scenery.
• There might be more activities downtown.
• Businesses might re-occupy the classic old buildings in the downtown area.
• Downtown might be pleasant again…

That’s how it used to be; I remember. Guess we’re talking about a downright conservative idea 🙂

So, think about it. I was run over. My boss was hit. One of my coworkers was hit in a crosswalk. All downtown, all on the way to work. I could list more that I know of, but you get it. It’s not that we’re a bunch of uncoordinated nutcases–we’re just out there walking & biking. And we’ve learned one thing:

All we want for Christmas is change! Think about making your downtown safe for walkers & bicyclists. Check out what Mark Fenton says about these kinds of things; he’s a PBS TV host who’s thought a lot about it. Thanks, and happy holidays!