Cascade bicycle club endorses McGinn

Mike McGinn arrives at a mayoral debate in June. (Photo: Johnathan Fitzpatrick)

Fueling his image as a candidate who'd strongly pursue alternative forms of transportation, Mike McGinn received the endorsement of the Cascade Bicycle Club in Seattle's mayoral race. The club had endorsed Mayor Greg Nickels in the primary. But with Nickels failing to make it to the general election, the club is backing McGinn over T-Mobile executive Joe Mallahan.

Here's the press release the club sent out Thursday morning.

Citing his strong record of standing up for bicycling, walking and transit, Cascade Bicycle Club, one of the largest bicycling organizations in the United States, today announced an endorsement of Seattle Mayoral candidate Mike McGinn.

 "Mike McGinn is among the most pro-bike and sustainable transportation candidates we’ve ever worked with,” said Chuck Ayers, executive director of Cascade Bicycle Club. “He has repeatedly taken on tough fights to advance a sustainable transportation agenda, and he has more than earned our support.”

McGinn was Cascade Chapter Chair for the Sierra Club during the Bridging the Gap Streets Levy, which raised $695 million, a significant portion of which funds bicycle, pedestrian and transit improvements throughout the city. He worked with Cascade Bicycle Club to pass Seattle’s Compete Streets ordinance – one of the strongest, if not the strongest, complete streets laws in the United States.

He also played a significant role in defeating the flawed roads and transit ballot measure in 2007. Seattle Great City Initiative under McGinn’s leadership and Cascade Bicycle Club worked hard to pass a transit-only measure in 2008, which is funding expanded light rail, commuter train and bus service throughout the region. He also helped lead the successful Seattle Parks and Open Space Levy campaign in 2008, which gives significant funding to complete the urban trails network.

Referring to the fact that McGinn is a daily bicycle commuter and has featured his support of bicycling, walking and transit strongly as a part of his campaign, David Hiller, advocacy director of Cascade Bicycle Club said, “Mike has ‘biked the talk’ in both his public and private life. With his leadership, we believe he will continue to enhance Seattle’s reputation as a green city.”

McGinn thanked Cascade Bicycle Club for its support. 

 ”Cascade Bicycle Club is one of the strongest organizations in the country that advocates for transportation options that are sustainable and innovative,” said Mike McGinn.  “I am honored to receive their support.”