Seattle was recently named the best bike city in the United States by Bicycling magazine. How did this notoriously hilly and rainy city become so inviting to bicyclists? And what challenges lie ahead for Puget Sound bike advocates? Tom Fucoloro, a leading voice on bike issues in the region, blends his longtime reporting with new interviews and archival research to tell the story of how a flourishing bike culture emerged despite the obstacles of climate, topography, and-most importantly-an entrenched, car-centric urban landscape and culture. From the arrival of the first bicycles in the late nineteenth century to the bike-share entrepreneurs of the present day, the result is a unique perspective on Seattle's history and its future. Advocates, policy makers, city planners, and bike enthusiasts around the world can learn plenty from the successes and failures of this city's past 130 years. More than just a mode of transportation, the bicycle has been used by generations of Seattleites as a tool for social change. Biking Uphill in the Rain documents the people and projects that made a difference and reveals just how deeply intertwined transportation is with politics, public health, climate change, and racial justice.
Tom Fucoloro is founder of Seattle Bike Blog (seattlebikeblog.com) and has served as its editor since 2010. He was named one of "15 People Who Should Really Run Seattle" by Seattle Met magazine.
The rise of an improbable bike culture in the Emerald City
"The most informative and definitive history of bicycles and the bike movement in Seattle . . . A must-read for anyone who cares about bicycling in Seattle. Fucoloro introduces readers to the people whose work in past decades benefits everyone who rides a bike today. History's greatest value is in the lessons it provides for the future. Biking Uphill in the Rain provides the context for how we got here, and through its documentation of the successes and failures of the bike movement it gives us the knowledge-and courage-to push for a safer, more equitable, sustainable, and bikeable future." (Cascade Bicycle Club) "A fascinating and galvanizing lens for interpreting Seattle history. Fucoloro's comprehensive and enthusiastic approach highlights cycling, and transportation more broadly, as a social justice issue. He champions a commitment to designing safer roads and achieving zero traffic deaths. It made me want to get out and ride!" - Jennie Diaz, 2024 Washington State Book Award committee, Seattle Public Library "Tom Fucoloro's new book explores the good, the bad, and the sometimes shocking history of Seattle's bike culture." (The Stranger)
