Cascade Bicycle Club

Cascade Bicycle Club is a nonprofit community organization headquartered in Seattle, Washington, focused on bicycling advocacy, education, community programs, and recreational riding. Its work serves people who ride bicycles across Washington State and the wider Pacific Northwest. The organization is described as one of the largest statewide bicycling nonprofits in the United States, with nearly 10,000 members. It operates through a volunteer board of directors, a professional staff of approximately 30 people, and more than 700 volunteers. The club combines public-policy work with a substantial events program. Its best-known activities include organized rides such as the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic, commonly known as STP; Chilly Hilly; Ride for Major Taylor; Flying Wheels Summer Century; Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party, or RSVP; Woodinville Wine Ride; and Kitsap Color Classic. These events range from smaller community rides to large participation events attracting thousands of riders. The organization uses them to encourage bicycle participation, build community, and raise visibility for cycling as transportation and recreation. Advocacy is a central part of Cascade's identity. The club produces public information about bicycling and engages local and state governments on road safety, bicycle routes, trails, and transportation planning. Its advocacy materials have included a report titled "Left by the Side of the Road," which argued that the region lacked enough safe and effective bicycle routes. Between 2009 and 2011, Cascade worked with other advocates and policymakers to advance Washington's Vulnerable User Bill. The resulting 2011 law increased mandatory penalties for negligent drivers who injure or kill vulnerable road users, including bicyclists and pedestrians, while allowing judges to reduce penalties in some cases in exchange for safety education or community service. The club has also participated in infrastructure disputes and trail-development efforts. It supported extending and completing portions of the Burke-Gilman Trail along Seattle's industrial waterfront in Ballard and joined the City of Seattle in litigation after local business opposition obstructed progress on the project. This reflects the organization's broader role as both a cycling community and a policy advocate for connected, protected, and practical bicycle infrastructure. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cascade expanded its community-service role through the Pedaling Relief Project. Started in spring 2020 in response to food insecurity and food waste, the project became a permanent program in 2021. It has two principal components: food rescue and home delivery. Food-rescue teams use cargo bicycles and trailers to collect donated food from local grocery stores and bring it to food banks and direct-distribution events. The home-delivery component works with food banks to transport grocery bags prepared by volunteers to clients who have difficulty reaching food-bank sites. Through this work, Cascade applies bicycle logistics to food access and mutual-aid activities as well as to transportation advocacy.

Cascade Bicycle Club is a Seattle-based nonprofit cycling organization whose activities span recreational riding, transportation advocacy, education, and community service. Its geographic emphasis is Washington State, although several of its signature rides connect communities across the Pacific Northwest. The organization is supported by a volunteer board, professional employees, and a large volunteer network, and is described as having nearly 10,000 members. A defining feature of Cascade's development has been the combination of ride organization and public advocacy. Rather than operating only as a social club, it has used its membership and volunteer base to promote safer conditions for people who bicycle. Its advocacy work includes public-facing bicycling information, engagement with local governments, and campaigns concerning bicycle routes, trail connections, road design, and penalties for dangerous driving. The club's report "Left by the Side of the Road" documented what it characterized as a shortage of safe and effective bicycle routes in the region, helping frame bicycle infrastructure as a transportation and public-safety issue. From 2009 to 2011, Cascade participated in the effort to strengthen Washington penalties for negligent drivers who injure or kill vulnerable road users. Advocates pointed to cases in which fines under existing law could be as low as $42. A bipartisan version of the Vulnerable User Bill passed in 2011. The law raised mandatory fines, while allowing judges to reduce them under specified circumstances and substitute measures such as driver-safety education or community service. The campaign illustrates Cascade's role in state-level legislative advocacy as well as local cycling policy. The organization has also supported expansion of the Burke-Gilman Trail through Seattle's Ballard industrial waterfront. When local business opposition delayed construction, Cascade joined the City of Seattle in litigation intended to clear the way for the trail project. This involvement placed the club directly in a local land-use and transportation dispute and demonstrated its willingness to use legal and civic channels in support of bicycle infrastructure. Cascade's public profile is also built through its annual riding calendar. The club hosts Chilly Hilly, Ride for Major Taylor, Flying Wheels Summer Century, the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic, Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party, Woodinville Wine Ride, and Kitsap Color Classic. Participation varies considerably by event, from several hundred riders to as many as approximately 8,000. These rides provide recreational opportunities, strengthen the regional cycling community, and create visible demonstrations of demand for bicycle travel. In spring 2020, the organization responded to pandemic-era food insecurity and supply-chain challenges by establishing the Pedaling Relief Project. The initiative uses cargo bikes and trailers in two ways. Its food-rescue program collects donated food that might otherwise be discarded and transports it to food banks or direct-distribution events. Its home-delivery program works with food banks to bring volunteer-packed grocery bags to people unable to visit food-bank locations easily. The project became permanent in 2021, extending Cascade's use of bicycles from recreation and advocacy into food access, waste reduction, and mutual aid. Today, Cascade Bicycle Club's identity rests on this multi-part model: it organizes prominent rides, supports people who bicycle, advocates for safer and more connected infrastructure, and applies cycling resources to community needs. The available reference material does not identify a founder, founding year, current named executives, ownership structure, or financial information.

• 2021

  Pedaling Relief Project made permanent

  [1]Cascade Bicycle Cluben.wikipedia.org

  The food-rescue and grocery-delivery initiative became a permanent program of the organization.

• 2020

  Pedaling Relief Project established

  [1]Cascade Bicycle Cluben.wikipedia.org

  Cascade created a bicycle-based food-rescue and home-delivery program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 2011

  Washington Vulnerable User Bill passes

  [1]Cascade Bicycle Cluben.wikipedia.org

  A version of the bill passed with broad bipartisan support, increasing mandatory fines while allowing judges to prescribe safety education or community service in qualifying cases.

• 2009

  Vulnerable User Bill advocacy begins

  [1]Cascade Bicycle Cluben.wikipedia.org

  Cascade Bicycle Club participated in a campaign to strengthen Washington penalties for negligent drivers who injure or kill bicyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users.

A nonprofit cycling organization combining mass-participation rides, bicycle education, transportation advocacy, and community service.

• Organized bicycle ride

  Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic

  A signature Cascade Bicycle Club endurance ride connecting Seattle and Portland. It is one of the organization's best-known mass-participation events and exemplifies its role in organizing large regional cycling experiences.

• Organized bicycle ride

  Chilly Hilly

  A recurring recreational ride hosted by Cascade Bicycle Club. It is part of the club's annual event calendar and contributes to the organization's community-building and participation programs.

• Community service program · 2020

  Pedaling Relief Project

  A permanent bicycle-based food-access initiative with food-rescue and home-delivery components. Cargo bikes and trailers transport donated food to food banks and direct-distribution events, while grocery deliveries support clients who face difficulty visiting food-bank locations.

• 2020Pedaling Relief Project

  Seattle and surrounding communities, United States

  Cascade used cargo bicycles and trailers to rescue surplus food and deliver groceries to people experiencing food-access barriers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  Outcome. The program became permanent in 2021 and continued as two complementary food-rescue and home-delivery services.

  Source
• 2009Vulnerable User Bill campaign

  Washington State, United States

  Cascade advocated for stronger penalties for negligent drivers whose conduct injures or kills bicyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users.

  Outcome. A version of the bill passed in 2011 with bipartisan support and increased mandatory fines, subject to judicial discretion in some cases.

  Source
• Burke-Gilman Trail extension advocacy

  Seattle, Washington, United States

  The club supported extending the Burke-Gilman Trail through the Ballard industrial waterfront and joined the City of Seattle in litigation after local businesses obstructed progress.

  Outcome. The reference material identifies the litigation and advocacy effort but does not provide a final legal outcome.

  Source

• 2020

  Launch of the Pedaling Relief ProjectStrategy

  Background

  The COVID-19 pandemic intensified food insecurity and created a need to redirect usable food to communities while limiting unnecessary waste.

  Action taken

  Cascade created food-rescue and home-delivery programs using cargo bicycles and trailers, working with grocery stores, food banks, volunteers, and direct-distribution groups.

  Aftermath

  The initiative was made permanent in 2021.

  Source

• 2011

  Support for the Vulnerable User BillOther

  Background

  Cascade and allied advocates argued that existing penalties for negligent drivers who harmed vulnerable road users were inadequate.

  Action taken

  The club supported a legislative campaign that helped secure passage of a Washington bill increasing mandatory fines and allowing certain alternative judicial measures.

  Aftermath

  The measure passed with broad bipartisan support, although judges retained authority to reduce fines in specified circumstances.

  Source

1. 1Cascade Bicycle Cluben.wikipedia.org
2. 2Cascade Bicycle Club official websitecascade.org