Move Redmond Blog

Small changes in our built environment can have a big impact, for example, the Pride painted crosswalk on Cleveland street creates a sense of place and fosters belonging for LGBTQA people in Redmond. This year Move Redmond and community members who spoke up in support of bike lanes helped secure additional funds for physical separation on bike lanes. This was a small win, with only $150,000 for implementation and $50,000 to support bike and pedestrian improvements for projects in the CIP. The reality is that little changes like barriers on bike lanes are the kind of incremental investments that have a rippling effect to shift habits and safety outcomes. 

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At Move Redmond, we envision an Eastside that is easy and safe to navigate without relying on a car. Redmond can lead the way in ending car dependency to a community where non-drivers have as much access to opportunities as drivers do. These changes in infrastructure will not only make Redmond more sustainable, but also more livable and inclusive. We can create a sense of place and belonging through design that invites people to sit and stay rather than pass through.

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A Week Without Driving is meant to help highlight the difficulties that non-drivers face, including those who can’t drive, can’t afford a car, or simply choose to not drive for personal reasons. Many roads lack basic infrastructure like sidewalks, forcing people to walk on the side of the road, which can feel isolating and unsafe. For those who live further from the city, especially in predominantly communities of color, the lack of reliable transit options can make it feel like a punishment for not owning a car. This experience sheds light on how our transportation systems prioritize driving over creating safe, accessible spaces for everyone, reinforcing inequities in mobility and access to essential services.

Studies show that investing in connected and protected bike routes encourages more people to choose to ride bicycles for transportation. In fact, The National Institute for Transportation and Communities found that installing protected bike lanes significantly increases ridership, more so than buffered bike lanes alone. These arterials are critical for connecting people to key destinations across the city. Building out a low-stress bike network on these streets will transform how people move through Redmond.

If you’ve ever been to Costco, you know it involves a lot of walking! On a recent trip to Costco, we easily walked a half mile inside the store, even without going down every aisle. Adding the distance of walking from a parking spot at the end of the lot, we added another .15 miles. Overall, it’s pretty easy to walk nearly one mile on a trip to Costco.

Now imagine applying the same distance to walking around Downtown Redmond! We made a map showing just how many destinations you can get to within the same mile radius around the soon-to-open Downtown Redmond Light Rail Station.. As Redmond transitions from a suburb into a vibrant city, parking right in front of your destination may not always be possible- but that’s part of the exciting shift toward a more walkable, accessible community! . Embracing this change means more opportunities to explore Redmond on foot and discover all it has to offer

Join us for the 4th Annual Downtown Open Streets Festival, celebrating the power of pedestrianized streets! The fun begins August 17th from 10am to 3pm located at the Downtown Park into Cleveland St and 161st Ave NE. Check out free performances, activities, and, connect with local community groups. Experience a lively atmosphere as we take over the streets, with an estimated 1,500+ attendees throughout the event creating a vibrant hub of connectivity.

Join us on June 22nd from 10am to 3pm for the Move Redmond Overlake Village Open Streets Festival. The event will span from the Overlake Village Light Rail Station to Esterra Park, filling Calder Ave NE and NE Shen St with vendors, performers, and activities. Experience a lively atmosphere as we take over the streets, with an estimated 1,500+ attendees throughout the event creating a vibrant hub of connectivity. Learn more about how you can get to our Open Streets Festival by bus, biking or driving!

We desperately need our elected leaders to value our time and prioritize the kinds of investments that make getting around so much more accessible to everyone. An accessible, frequent and reliable transportation system that works for non-drivers is fully within the realm of the possible. It takes political will and a strong backbone to align our transportation budgets with the needs of non-drivers and trust that prioritizing non-drivers will actually improve the transportation system for all people

On September 20th Move Redmond organized our annual Walk & Talk. This year we started the walk at the Downtown Redmond Transit Center and explored the connections to the Downtown Redmond Link Extension. Our focus for the walk was the connections to the new light rail station for people who walk, bike, and take transit to access light rail. Our goal for the walk and talk is to bring together representatives from local agencies and community members to experience walking together. We were thankful to be joined by King County Councilmember Sarah Perry, representatives from Sound Transit, King County Metro, WSDOT and the City of Redmond. In this blog post, we will share quotes and reflections from participants.

Move Redmond recently met with Kim Huntress Inskeep, a Seattle-based transportation advocate and founder of Transit Trekker. Huntress Inskeep is creating The Transit Trekker Manual aims to help nondrivers and people who want to drive less have easier access to the outdoors while simultaneously advocating to expand rural and regional transit service.