Bikers and Hikers along Birch Bay Drive

May 11-2020 UPDATE
Good Article on Biking Bellingham Herald
You can Bike around Birch Bay.

He is new to Birch Bay and he has a new way to get around.

Tips for Biking, Hiking & Driving Along Birch Bay Drive

(Drivers)
Go slow. Be kind.
(Walkers)
Walk facing automobile traffic.
Look & listen for traffic.
Stay to the left and share your lane with bikers. (For cell use: stand off to one side.)
It is better if you can establish eye contact with bikers & drivers.
(Bikers)
Bike the same direction as autos. Pass between pedestrians and autos.
Look & listen for traffic.
Try to establish eye contact with walkers.
(Everyone) There is a lot of nonverbal communication that goes on. It is helpful if other people are aware of you and you are aware of others.
After dark, wear reflective gear or light-colored clothing & carry a light.

Several singes have shown up like this along Birch Bay Drive and adjoining streets.

Your Right of Way
Along the Bay

Give your input on Biking and Hiking along Birch Bay Drive. What can we do to make it better? Give your input so your neighbor can see what you write and respond to it. Your responses will be brought to Whatcom County’s Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Give your thoughts at the bottom of this page.

What Draws People to a Park?
80% of the time it is for a walk.
What do people do along Birch Bay Drive? They walk, Bike, Skate Board, and even Roller State. Many of the people driving their cars along Birch Bay Drive are driving there because they like it.

This is a long article from Brookings. Any time you spend reading it is worthwhile.

Good Video By Birmingham

This is what Bellingham is doing for bikers and pedestrians.
In Bellingham, far more people get around in cars than by walking or biking.
68 percent drove to work, 10 percent of commuters car-pooled, 8 percent walked, 3 percent biked, 5 percent took the bus and 6 percent worked from home.

There is a (likely apocryphal) story about Dwight Eisenhower who, while president of Columbia University, had a solution to this problem. He recommended that rather than pour sidewalks when new buildings were built, the school should just plant grass, and after the students have worn trails in the grass, put the sidewalks there. Read the full article.

What draws you to Birch Bay Drive?

This is a link to a wider area for pedestrians and bikes in Whatcom County.

You may make recommendations to the Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee. Send it to
cshop@birchbay.net and I will forward it to the committee chair.