Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery Charity Profile

Member Driven Community Event: Thursday, October 27th.

Name of Organization: Cascade Bicycle Club

When was the organization founded? 1970

Mission: Cascade Bicycle Club, the nation’s largest statewide bicycle organization, is powered by 17,000 members and serves bike riders of all ages and abilities throughout the Puget Sound region and across Washington state. With a mission to improve lives through bicycling, we deliver community and school-based education programs, grassroots organizing workshops, free group rides, world-class events and more.

Why are people passionate about your organization or cause?

Cascade Members and supporters are passionate about Cascade Bicycle Club for many reasons. The thread that connects them all is at the heart of our mission — many have personally experienced or seen how bicycling can improve lives and transform our communities. Their quotes speak for themselves:

“For me, [Cascade’s] Advocacy Leadership Institute dispelled the notion that individuals are powerless to affect change in our community. The awesome variety of speakers representing the many different levers of city decision making, coupled with hands-on, practical tools gave me the confidence to get more involved in sustainable transportation advocacy. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is tired of riding or walking around town on sub-par infrastructure.” -Neil Larson, ALI grad

“As teachers, we look at [the Major Taylor Project] ‘Bike Club’ as a way to keep students in school — period.” – Alanah Baron, Highline School Literacy Specialist

“It had been six months since I’d moved to Seattle, and I was looking for a community. I certainly found my people.” – Sam Ketts, Cascade Volunteer

“I’ve done the STP maybe seven times, I bike commute, I love my bike. Biking is part of my identity…And I have to admit that when I saw the She Bikes class on how to fix a flat, it’s the first time I ever considered actually attending such a class. There’s something that’s really hard to put my finger on about the male-ness of biking in Seattle … whatever it is, thanks. I feel like Cascade is for me, too. And I didn’t really before.”— Anonymous, Cascade Member

“You give a kid a bicycle in my neighborhood and it means confidence, it means another path, it means a future." – Pat Thompson, Executive Director of the YES! Foundation of White Center

What were you able to accomplish in 2015?

In 2015, we:

Introduced more people to bicycling.

·       24,600 students received bicycling education

·       Taught 1,435 adults in bike maintenance and riding classes

We transformed the region.

·       Passed the $930 million Move Seattle Levy to invest in better bikeways over the next nine years

·       Moved the Cross Kirkland Corridor forward with approved rail removal

·       Counted 74,790 people walking and biking in the annual statewide count

 We saw more butts on bikes.

·       Introduced three new rides to the Puget Sound Community: Seattle Night Ride, the Ride for Major Taylor, and the Woodinville Wine Ride

·       25,693 event ride participants logged a total of 3,333,062 miles

·       Received funding for 50 permanent bike counters across Washington state

·       Increased the number of Free Group Rides offered by 25%

Share 3 fun facts or stories about your organization.

·       In 1980, the eruption of Mount St. Helens canceled the annual STP, and Cascade created a ride to Vancouver, B.C. — the Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party (RSVP).

·       During the STP, we serve 35,000 sandwiches, 17,000 fresh baked cookies and 10,000 servings of oranges.

·       Story: Never too old to learn by Kalpana Kanal, Cascade Member

How can people get involved with your organization?

There are so many ways to get involved at Cascade Bicycle Club! Join us on a Free Group Ride, become a Cascade Member or volunteer to support our signature programs, including: events like the Seattle to Portland (STP) and Ride from Seattle to Vancouver & Party (RSVP); advocacy work like Connect Puget Sound; and education programs like Let's Go, the Major Taylor Project and more.

Website: cascade.org

Facebook: facebook.com/CascadeBicycleClub

Instagram: instagram.com/cascadebicycle  @cascadebicycle

Twitter: twitter.com/cascadebicycle   @cascadebicycle