Seattle Likes Bikes!

I have been struggling with my role on this site, finding myself more drawn to West Seattle bicycling issues, as can be gleaned from my posts.  I hope to continue to post here now and then, if the site continues, but my focus will be with the newly formed West Seattle Bike Connections group.

We can be contacted via the West Seattle Blog Forum or via Facebook.

Mission Statement:
Provide advocacy and assistance for those traveling by bicycle to, from, and around West Seattle

Goal Statement:
Make cycling a safer, efficient and attractive option for travel to downtown and for destinations in and beyond West Seattle neighborhoods, for riders of all ages and abilities.

Help connect West Seattleites to school, work, transit, shopping areas, friends/family and recreation by bicycle.

Give West Seattle a strong voice in the 2012-13 Seattle Bike Master Plan update.

Engage the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), the Washington State Department of Transportation (WADOT), King County Metro, the Port of Seattle and other groups (governmental, private and non-profit) interested in providing alternatives to driving; emphasize positive impact of cycling on freight mobility and highlight the usefulness of convenient bike+bus/bike+rail travel options for all modes of travel.

Last month, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) put out this memo for the cycling community:

 Cycling safely on the Seattle waterfront

Soon our waterfront will be home to a giant Ferris wheel…but why wait until July to feel the sea breeze on your face when you can ride your bike along the waterfront today? Bicyclists can use the new trail detour, mosey on the sidewalk or ride in the street. All three are a-ok with WSDOT and the City, especially when we see everyone riding safe. 

For example: Waiting for the walk symbol while on the trail detour? Yes, quite safe for everyone. Riding fast on the sidewalk? Not too safe. Pedestrians have the right of way here, so you’ll need to cool your pedals. Running the red light while riding in the street? Definitely not safe — no explanation needed. Besides, traffic studies show that running a red light really doesn’t save much time in the long run. 

I know what you’re thinking: “Why are you telling me this? This is obvious.” Yup, we know that these safety messages are things most cyclists are well aware of, and odds are if you are reading this, you are among those that already ride safe. However, at the end of the day, we recognize the new waterfront detour is a big change for everyone. It will be with us for at least two more years, so we’re doing our part by reminding all travelers – truckers, drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and pedicabs – to watch out for each other and use caution while we all settle into the new route. Thanks for hanging in there with us, and for setting a good example by riding safe out there.

I’ve been thinking on a response to this because it’s such a fraught topic.  It’s been covered by many bike blog sites; Elly Blue discusses doing it, WashCycle explores it as a myth and even the Bike Federation of Wisconsin has concerns.

Some explanation of the street configuration on the Seattle waterfront is needed, especially if one does not ride the waterfront or has not experienced the new traffic flow in that area due to the massive construction projects going on.

See this .pdf for a map of the area: 2012_0518_waterfront_detour_handout

Alaskan Way was a two-lane each way north/south route with crosswalks (some signalized, some not) at each intersection, a sidewalk along the west side of the street along the waterfront, and a shared bicycle/pedestrian path (some intersections of the path signalized, some not) along the east side of the street for non-motorized travelers heading north/south.

Currently the street, from University to King St., is one lane north/south with various turn lanes, bus only lanes, and ferry traffic only lanes. It’s often choked with motor vehicles during rush hour, events and other traffic problems.  The lanes are fairly narrow and it’s often difficult or impossible to pass stopped vehicles via bicycle.  The shared path is no longer continuous (although it is supposed to open later this summer, it will remain dead-ended at Yesler Way).

Mixed use path, view southbound, closed.

The newly installed shared bicycle/pedestrian path that runs underneath the viaduct is fraught with problems for cyclists.  Most cyclists seem to now be choosing to ride the street along with motorized traffic, using the ferry only lanes even to continue riding further south, or the west sidewalk for north/south travel.  And while red light running cyclists have always been a staple of the traffic on the waterfront, it seems to have reached a head.  But why?  And what is the other traffic, including pedestrians doing?

We all know about cyclists who run red lights, those scofflaws!  Putting a bad name out for the rest of us.  Why don’t they just stop it?  Personally, I hate seeing it too.  But why are other riders doing it in such blatant fashion and with seemingly more frequency?

More beyond the break…

Continue reading →

Big changes will be happening starting May 9th.

Here is a map for your review.

Note cyclists (northbound) will be detoured from the west side of Alaskan at S. Jackson to the east side of the viaduct road.  Then cyclists following the detour will cross from the east to the west at Yesler Way for several more blocks to Madison St where they will have to cross from west to east once again where the path will diverge from the street, following the former bike/pedestrian path route along the east side of Alaskan.  Note that traffic will be reduced to two lanes, one northbound and one southbound and there will be new ferry holding lanes on what is now Alaskan Way.  It looks as if the west sidewalk will be open between Yesler and Spring St.  A cyclist can also choose to use the roadway itself, if it’s not choked with traffic.  Good luck and ride safe!  Feel free to post comments or your experience riding through this area or contact the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program directly.  Contact information is available at the program link below.

From the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program -
It’s not yet time for the downtown waterfront’s big makeover, but it is make-room time for the State Route 99 Tunnel project. Crews clearing space for tunnel construction are preparing to reroute six blocks of waterfront traffic from Alaskan Way to a newly improved road beneath the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

The traffic switch – which will happen during the second week of May and last through at least early 2014 – will change ferry access as well as parking and traffic patterns along the waterfront south of Spring Street. A detailed map of the changes, along with a drive-through simulation that shows new routes to the ferry terminal, is available on the program website.

Moving traffic off Alaskan Way allows crews to expand the tunnel work zone north to Yesler Way. The space will be used to prepare the ground beneath Alaskan Way, where the project’s tunnel boring machine will begin its journey in 2013. 

The Washington State Department of Transportation and the Seattle Department of Transportation are rerouting existing roads along the waterfront and in Pioneer Square, and implementing strategies to keep traffic moving while maintaining access to businesses in those neighborhoods, including:

• Allowing drivers to use Yesler Way to exit the ferry terminal
• Increasing the width of Alaskan Way between Yesler Way and Spring Street to accommodate ferry holding lanes
• Adding more than 60 temporary on-street parking spaces on Alaskan Way between Spring and Pike streets

For more information on the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement program, visit www.alaskanwayviaduct.org.

Thanks to Broch Bender of WSDOT for sending me the following information for those cyclists traveling via the waterfront and along E. Marginal Way S.

Starting in mid-May more changes are in store for cyclists on East Marginal Way South and the Elliott Bay Trail between South King Street and Spring Street.

New bike lanes coming to East Marginal Way South in May 2012

The wait for a dedicated northbound and southbound bike lane on East Marginal Way South adjacent to the SR 99 construction zone is almost over. We anticipate crews will finish paving and striping vehicle and bike lanes in both directions of East Marginal Way between South Massachusetts and South Atlantic streets by the end of next month. This means northbound bike traffic will have a straight shot north to South Atlantic Street with a connection to the dedicated shared-use path. The crosswalk at South Massachusetts Street will be removed.

Photos of South end viaduct replacement work

Alaskan Way detour extends to Spring Street

Starting in mid-May WSDOT will expand the SR 99 Tunnel work zone on Alaskan Way north two more blocks to Yesler Way. We’ll keep bicycle and pedestrians moving by extending thedetour under the viaduct to Yesler Way. At Yesler Way, cyclists and walkers will be directed across the street to the existing Elliott Bay Trail (in front of the Seattle Ferry Terminal) through Madison Street. North of Madison Street, we will detour foot traffic back under the viaduct to Spring Street. The Elliott Bay trail will remain open north of Spring Street. This detour will remain in place through at least summer 2014.

Photos of SR 99 Tunnel Project (central waterfront viaduct replacement) work

Broch Bender has been a good contact and advocate for bicycle riders who travel the Alaskan Way corridor from the Seattle waterfront to just south of the Coast Guard Station. Since she has been such a major source of information and a supporter for good bicycle (and pedestrian) access through the construction zones that operate in the area, I recently spoke with her about her interest in working with the cycling community.

Broch Bender

SLB: I have been working with your for some time now when there are changes to the bike routing in the south Alaskan area. How did you become the ‘bike liaison’ for this area?

BB: About a year ago, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) crews noticed more and more folks riding through the SR 99 Viaduct Replacement Project construction zone along the waterfront. A big part of my job as public information officer is to keep an eye out for folks affected by road construction. Our team identified a need to go the extra mile to help keep cyclists and pedestrians rolling safely through the area, and as a cyclist myself, I volunteered to be WSDOT’s bike community liaison.

SLB: Do you commute by bike to work?

BB: Yes, although I am not as hearty as you are! I am a fair weather rider. I usually ride to and from work between May and September. My commute is about 5.5 miles each way.

SLB: What are some of the biggest challenges you face being the ‘bike liaison?’

BB: Above all, the biggest challenge is making the best use of the limited road space available for all travelers during construction. It’s not just bikes that are affected, we’ve got cars, freight trucks, ferry traffic, and pedestrians using shared detours and narrowed down roads. Through careful advance planning WSDOT and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) highway and road designers work to make the best use of all available space, however there are still some adjustments we can make to improve the route. It’s my job to listen to cyclists and act as the liaison between those using the route and those designing and building the route. I need to make sure I am accurate in providing information and interpreting information between the highway builders and the cycling public. Sometimes it’s a lot like speaking two different languages at once.

Continue reading →

Thank you Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT).  The clean path on the east side of Delridge, leading to the lower West Seattle Bridge was finally swept of the leaf and tree debris that  accumulated for months – the path is much nicer (and wider) to ride now.

And another bonus this week was the addition of new path crossing zebra striping in a very needed place, the exit to Terminal 18 Public Access Park (the “Fishing Bridge”).  More drivers have been using this area as a place to U-turn from Spokane Street and making sure drivers are aware there is a busy path in use is helpful.  The park entry striping was also upgraded to be more visible.

Thanks SDOT!