Bicycling is the most efficient mode of transportation and can easily be used for travel anywhere within town, or with better equipment and proper conditioning for longer distances up to 50 to 100 miles. If steep hills bother you, it’s OK to walk the bike or perhaps find a less hilly route.
Bicycle routes often tend to be different than the routes that autos take. Bicycle riders tend to prefer streets with bicycle lanes or wide shoulders to provide separation from traffic. Frequently bicyclists take back roads or trails as alternatives to heavily trafficked roads with narrow or no shoulders.
What equipment is needed to bicycle for transportation? Obviously a bicycle and helmet are needed and lights for cycling at night. Obtaining a reasonably good bicycle appropriately fit to the rider is essential. If a bicycle doesn’t fit or is clunky, it will not be used much. Buy a bike from a bike shop or find a good used bike. Specialized bicycle clothing is not necessary for local trips around town, but becomes important for longer distance cycling. Always be sure to wear brightly colored clothing so you are visible to cars. Those bright yellow vests are great.
If you have physical challenges that inhibit more strenuous pedaling but still want to bicycle, excellent electric-assisted bicycles are now available as well as electric scooters of various types. See the electric vehicles page for references.
Bicycle Clubs
City of Port Townsend Non-Motorized Transportation Advisory Board
250 Madison Street, 360-379-5083
The Advisory Board’s purpose is:
- Promotion of walking and bicycling for both recreation and transportation throughout the city.
- Advising the City Council on the planning, funding and maintenance of the City’s non-motorized transportation facilities, including implementation of the Non-Motorized Transportation Plan
- Sponsoring a wide range of volunteer non-motorized transportation projects such as:
a. Neighborhood trail-building work parties organized throughout the year
b. Designing a pedestrian trail and bicycle guide map for Port Townsend
c. Developing a plan for bicycle parking throughout Port Townsend.
Port Townsend Trail Crew Facebook Page
The ReCyclery
1925 Blaine St., Phone: 360-643-1755 The ReCyclery Website
- Can you imagine a community where it is easier to walk or bike to school?
- Can you imagine the majority of students arriving to class invigorated and excited to learn?
- How about school parking lots filled with bikes instead of cars?
- What if parents didn’t have to worry about their kids getting safely to school on their own because their schools taught them how to bike safely, streets had cross walks, safe routes to ride, and less parents on the road driving their kids to school and rushing to work?
The ReCyclery HAS imagined all of these visions and is working with community partners in taking steps toward achieving them!
Walking and biking is not only beneficial for students’ health and wellness, but it also helps them concentrate at school. It makes the roads safer, reduces carbon pollution entering our atmosphere and keeps money that would be spent on filling gas tanks in our pocketbooks.
This campaign will last for 2.5 years. It was inspired by a Safe Routes to Schools grant received by Jefferson County Public Works at the beginning of 2013. The grant also includes funding for bicycle and pedestrian road improvements in and around Chimacum School.
The City of Port Townsend also has funding for significant improvements along Sheridan Street, connecting to Grant Street Elementary School.
In the fall of 2013, we started STEP ON IT! programs for students in grades 3 through 8 in Port Townsend and Chimacum Schools.
Ways to get involved include (but aren’t limited to):
- volunteering in schools with ReCyclery classes on pedestrian and bike safety
- becoming a Walk/Bike to School chaperone
- being on a parent committee
- attending or hosting parent meetings
- starting conversations about how to encourage more kids walking and biking to school
Help The ReCyclery reach its goal of getting half of Port Townsend on bicycles by 2020. Your donations are tax-deductible and will be used to help pay for work benches and bicycle parts. Direct donations to The ReCyclery at 1925 Blaine St #500, Port Townsend, WA 98368.
For more information, stop by or e-mail The Recyclery.
Visit The ReCyclery and/or check out their recent YouTube video. Watch the 2010 PeakMomentTV interview, Changing the World One Bike Rider at a Time
Bicycle Shops – Port Townsend
835 Water St., Phone: 360-379-1295
252 Tyler St., Phone: 360-385-6470
Williwaw
123 Frederick St, Port Townsend, WA; Phone: 360-379-8809
The ReCyclery (retail)
1925 Blaine St., Phone: 360-643-1755 Shop Webpage
Changing the World One Bike Rider at a Time
If you have a bicycle shop and want to be listed on our web site, please contact us at tlab@l2020.org. We offer bicycle shop listings as a courtesy because bicycles represent sustainable lifestyles and communities. We want to list all local area bicycle shops.
Utility Vehicle Project
Utility Vehicle Project Website Check out a local Port Townsend inventor’s design for a cargo bike.