Page from program labeled WOMAN OF THE YEAR. At left, photo of a smiling white woman with short blond hair wearing dark blue glasses, a light grey dress, and pearl earrings. Text: BARB CHAMBERLAIN, ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION DIVISION, WSDOT Barb Chamberlain is a tenacious champion of building pedestrian and bicyclist networks that serve all ages and abilities. As WSDOT's first-ever Active Transportation Division Director, she raises awareness about active transportation safety, equity, and accessibility across the state and at the national level. Barb led the development of WSDOT's award-winning Active Transportation Plan, which is grounded in equity analysis and serves as a decision-making tool for active transportation projects across the state. The effects of her leadership are seen in the historic levels of active transportation funding in the 2022 Move Ahead Washington package. Barb shares her wisdom and expertise through multiple national organizations, raising the bar for transportation plans, standards, guidelines, and professional practice.

A Thrilling Night

Tuesday night brought an incredible event I have to capture: The Women in Transportation Seminar Puget Sound chapter named me Woman of the Year! I want to share my comments from the stage, or at least the version I had…Continue Reading

Black and white photo of two black couples. The women wear white blouses with long sleeves and high necks and dark calf-length skirts. The men wear dark suits and flat caps. They're standing with four bicycles looking straight into the camera.

Bike Books I Recommend: Women on Wheels

Women’s emancipation* and the history of bicycling go hand in handlebars. I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many outstanding women leaders in the movements for better bicycling and safer streets; I just wish each and every one of them…Continue Reading

Shared Streets: A Vision

Years ago in Spokane, I saw the future of bicycling and human-centered transportation on an outing with my family, and it looked great. Here’s what I saw: Where did I see this? Pattison’s North Skating Rink, during the free New…Continue Reading

Thank Heavens for Kind Strangers and Transit

Ride #1 of 2024: Sunny, happy, delightful. Ride #2 of 2024: The reason I’m glad Olympia has transit. A few days after ride #1 I set off in the sunshine for a trip to a meeting with Lee Lambert, executive director of Cascade Bicycle Club. The very…Continue Reading

First Ride of 2024

Today I pedaled along East Bay Drive, smiling because I was riding my bike in the sunshine. So far this month we’ve had days of rain interspersed with sun and I’ve been getting in some long walks in Squaxin Park.…Continue Reading

Photo of a penny farthing bicycle (the kind with the giant front wheel and tiny back wheel) and the words Hello January! above

Riding Down Memory Lane: January

Some blog posts are evergreen, some a flashback to events I haven’t thought about in quite a while. Rolling back through the archives, month by month, yields this round-up of posts written in Januaries past. This isn’t every last January…Continue Reading

Image of the band Queen against a black background, their faces dramatically lit from below.

Bike Song Playlist: Tunes to Get You Rolling

No, I’m not talking about songs to elevate your heart rate while you work on your cadence. I’m talking about songs that celebrate the bicycle and riding for any old reason. What favorite would you add? Mark Ronson, The Business…Continue Reading

Photo of 3 cups of coffee with latte foam art on top depicting a bicycle across the 3 cups. The one at the top has the bike frame, saddle, and handlebars; the two below show the wheels.

#Coffeeneuring 2023: Success!

I mean, how hard is it really to go for a bike ride and get some coffee? Seven times in just over six weeks. With no more than two trips per week. Always to a different venue. OK, so, yes, some particular requirements.…Continue Reading