Ravenna is among the bumpiest arterial streets in the city, and it is a vital link in the bicycle network. But for the past several years, the deteriorated road conditions have made cycling a pain, and many of the bike lane markings have disappeared, creating confusion for people driving and biking alike.

The new road design plans are fairly similar to the way things are today, but many key issues will be addressed. Instead of having an extra-large bike lane — which some drivers mistake for a second general traffic lane — the bike lane will be protected by a three-foot painted buffer similar to Dexter Ave. The bike lanes will still be on the left side (next to the park median), but they will look a whole lot more like bike lanes.

(Note: SDOT plans shown in this post are subject to change. Also, engineering schematics often make things look more complicated and overwhelming than the final product will be.)

Among the trickiest parts of the design is how to handle left-turning cars. Today, the bike lane gets squeezed into a tiny waiting space, and transitions are uncomfortable. The new design will have a clear transition with the bike lane painted green where cars are meant to merge (similar to N 34th at Fremont Ave). The bike lane at these intersections will also be a little wider than they are today (though five feet is still a little skinney for some people to feel comfortable).

Also in the plans, that crazy five-way intersection at Green Lake Drive will have a huge new curb bulb, which will make it far more comfortable for people on foot.

So, that’s the good news. Now, the bad news. Ravenna Blvd will be under construction from early spring until early fall. Detouring could be a headache during certain phases, and there will be several weekend closures throughout the process. Since there is no route parallel to Ravenna Blvd, be ready for some round-about alternatives.

Though, as someone pointed out at the Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board meeting Wednesday, if you are biking on Ravenna today, biking on it during construction really can’t be much worse.

Length of Ravenna Blvd to be repaved:

View Ravenna Construction in a larger map

First up, CivLAvia is a boon to businesses along the route. One more fantastic argument for organizing something like this in Seattle…

News from the Pacific Northwest:

• The Cleverness of the “Barrel Fee” | Sightline Daily – Since it’s not only hitting people who drive, then there seems to be no reason why it should fall under the state’s Amendment 18 (if you ask me, a total non-lawyer).
• Urban Adonia: Bike Infrastructure that Doesn’t Help Bicycling – Adonia encounters the world’s shortest bike lane (unofficial).
• BikePortland.org » Meet the man fomenting Portland’s cargo bike culture
• What’s right under our nose | Taking the Lane – Interesting video of a dangerous intersection.
• Bike maintenance parties wrap-up « Cascade Bicycle Club Blog – 177 hours volunteered to get bikes rolling for education programs. Awesome.
• BikePortland.org » ODOT employee dies after being hit while riding on rural Salem road
• BikePortland.org » Why people flee the scene of hit and runs
• SDOT Blog » The many varieties of bicycle facilities

News from around the nation and globe:

• Is a Microsoft App in the Works Racist?
• Kansas City Passes Resolution for Bike-Share Program – RTC TrailBlog – Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
• Florida highway crashes: Wrecks kill at least 10, troopers say – latimes.com – Terrifying.
• LeBron really rode his bike to the game – Heat Index Blog – ESPN – Speaking of LeBron, have you seen his awesome custom bike? Those wheels look tiny in the photo, but they are actually 29s…
• Report: States Should Index Gas Taxes to Inflation | PubliCola – Duh! I can’t believe this is even up for debate.
• CicLAvia – YouTube
• Security Video of Fatal Hit-and-Run Doesn’t Match NYPD Descriptions | Streetsblog New York City
• GOP highway spending bill ‘the worst,’ Ray LaHood says – Burgess Everett – POLITICO.com
• Streetfilms | The “Cities for Cycling” Roadshow Rocks Chicago

“I want to build a community where people can get access to what they need to,” he told the Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board. And though he has extensive experience making roads efficient for motor vehicle travel, he said cars should not be mandatory for people to get around.

Chang takes over the lead traffic engineering position vacated by Eric Widtrand in July. While the city employs many engineers, Chang will be a key advisor to senior city staff and will report to the SDOT director (currently Peter Hahn). Road design changes (like, say, adding new bike lanes or rechannelizing dangerous roadways) ultimately go through the City Traffic Engineer.

A Seattle resident, Chang has spent the past several years as the City Traffic Engineer in Everett, where he helped make the Swift bus rapid transit routes a reality. He expressed pride in that system, saying it was a relatively small investment that made a big impact on community.

As a traffic engineer for 21 years beginning with WSDOT, he said it is exciting to work in the city where he lives.

This won’t be Chang’s first time getting involved with Seattle’s transportation issues. He was a volunteer member of the Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board before getting the job in Everett. His time on SBAB coincided with the creation of the Bicycle Master Plan.

“To come to this board after sitting on the other side, it’s a little surreal,” he said. He stayed for the whole meeting.

The forces behind the group so far include myself, David Amiton and Alexa Heidrich, but this first meeting is in large part to meet others who want to take an active role in the group. Presenters will explain how neighborhood greenways work, and the group will discuss ways to promote them to the city and to others in the neighborhood.

From Central Seattle Greenways:

Neighborhoods throughout Seattle are realizing their dreams for family-friendly walking and biking routes using Neighborhood Greenways – safe, low-cost and low-stress walking and biking corridors connecting people with the places they want to go. By adding traffic calming, safe crossings at busy streets, and extra trees and greenery, a network of low-traffic streets can be transformed into useful, park-like routes around the neighborhood.

In 2012, the Seattle Department of Transportation will fund or build Greenways in Wallingford, Beacon Hill, Ballard, North Delridge and Greenwood, with plans to continue funding community-driven Greenways through 2013. Let’s make sure Central Seattle – Central District, First Hill, Capitol Hill, Madrona, and Leschi – doesn’t get left behind!

Neighborhoods that have been successful at bringing Greenways to their streets relied on engaged citizens to build community consensus around routes and advocate for them during planning and funding processes. Following this recipe for success, we invite you to participate in Central Seattle Greenways, a community group dedicated to bringing Neighborhood Greenways to Central Seattle.

Join us for our kickoff community meeting at Central Cinema (21st & Union) on Thursday, February 9th, 6:30-8:30 pm, as we start building momentum for safe, direct, and low-stress walking and biking routes that serve Central Seattle’s residents, families, businesses and neighborhood organizations.

For more on the meeting, check out the Facebook event. To keep up-to-date with the group, you can follow Central Seattle Greenways on Facebook.

Well, one West Seattle commuter decided he was sick of waiting, so he’s organizing a community trail clean-up day Saturday starting at 2 p.m. to clean up around the W Seattle Bridge.

From Neal “Fat Guy on a Bike” Poland:

I am planning on hosting a cleanup “party” this Saturday 1/4/2012 for anyone interested in helping clean up the commuter trail/bike lane areas around the west Seattle bridge and the Port of Seattle. Due to the winter weather, there is tons of gravel, glass and other nasty debris that, if cleaned up, would help make a safer commute for everyone.

Indeed! Some of us see that debris and say, “I wish someone would clear this!” Others (like me) take photos of it:

Debris in the University Bridge bike lanes reached a ridiculous point.

But Poland decided to do something about it, and that’s totally rad. It won’t clean all the city’s bike routes, but it will make one key spot better. So grab a broom, figure out how to haul it on your bike, and help him out!

Details (see also the Facebook event):

Meet at the fishing pier at 9AM.
Bust out some sweeping of the trail and maybe a little trash pickup. I”ll provide the trashbags if folks can bring their own brooms, etc.
Call it quits by 11
Then bonfire and BBQ on the beach for anyone interested.
Those interested in hitting the beach can RSVP me @ fatguyonabikeseattle@gmail.com so I can plan accordingly.

Click poster for printable PDF

First up, the ladies behind the monthly Menstrual Monday rides will ride to the Bikery February 6 for a Women & Wrenches bike repair night.

From the Menstrual Monday blog:

The Bikery is a non-profit community bike workspace that you can read about it in our site visit last week. We will have use of their tools and benches, but most importantly, we will have access to their super knowledgeable friendly female and pro-female mechanics. We can be split into groups depending on skill level or what people want to learn. This is a great chance to learn the basics, add-on to the skills you have, learn the solution to a problem that has been stumping you, or mentor other women. This will be hands on, so be prepared to get dirty! The atmosphere is super casual, non-intimidating, ultra supportive so bring all those questions you have been afraid to ask or knowledge you want to share!

To thank The Bikery and their volunteer mechanics for opening up special hours for us, we would like to ask a suggested donation of $5 (feel free to give more if you can) for the class to benefit The Bikery. Winter is their hardest season financially, and they can really use every bit of support.

Let us know if you have anything in particular you would like to learn!

As always, the ride meets at Seattle Center at 6:30pm and departs at 7:00pm to head up to The Bikery. If your bike is down or can’t make the riding part feel free to come to The Bikery.  If you have meant to come out to a ride this is a great chance to check out The Bikery and spend time with some great bike ladies.

Second, the 2012 Women on Wheels at Gregg’s Greenlake Cycle is scheduled for March 1. You can sign up online if interested in attending the free ladies’ night at the bike shop, complete with a speaker and free booze.

Here’s a video from last year’s event:

Kat Sweet talks at Gregg’s Women on Wheels 2011 from Dirt Corps on Vimeo.

From the Bicycle Alliance of Washington:

Today, the Washington State House of Representatives passed the Neighborhood Safe Speeds Bill (SHB1217) unanimously.

The bill’s unanimous bipartisan support is mirrored by its backing from over 20 organizations, boards, and cities from across the state, including the Washington State PTA, AARP-Washington, as well as the cities of Spokane, Bellingham, Seattle and, Kirkland.

The Neighborhood Safe Speeds Bill makes safer streets and neighborhoods by allowing cities and towns the authority to set speed limits to 20 miles per hour on non-arterial streets. It does not mandate any change, it simply provides cities and towns the authority to do so.

“Communities are asking lawmakers to give them more cost-saving tools and local options instead of mandates,” says, prime sponsor, Representative Cindy Ryu (D-32). “This bill will help. It removes an expensive state mandate that deters communities from lowering speed limits on non-arterial roads even when they recognize that lower speeds would make people safer or promote local businesses and jobs.”

HB 1217 joins HB 1700 in the Senate wait list. HB 1700, which would expand the tools available for creating and maintaining complete streets, passed the House January 23 by a significant majority of 63-32. That bill could save tons of money by giving engineers more options for dealing with unique design conditions (more on 1700 coming in a future post).

UPDATE: If you want to help get these bills moving, join a whole gaggle of transportation-loving citizens for Transportation Advocacy Day tomorrow (January 31) in Olympia. Register with Transportation Choices Coalition online.

They need bodies in Olympia arguing for road safety and for preserving bicycling, walking and transit funding. So if you can, make the trip!

Photo of finished section of trail from King County Parks

The goal of reopening the Burke-Gilman Trail from Seattle to Log Boom Park has been delayed another week. Originally expected to be open in December, the project was delayed until “late January,” and work significantly exceeded the budget.

A small section of the trail near Log Boom Park has opened, but most of the reconstructed trail has been delayed. Citing the area’s week of snowfall for putting the project behind schedule again, King County Parks says the trail is expected to open in the first week of February (UPDATE: The project website says opening is tentatively scheduled for February 10).

From King County Parks:

Last week’s snow and ice made things difficult for lots of people in King County – including the crew that has been putting the finishing touches on the major reconstruction of the County’s Burke-Gilman Trail through Lake Forest Park.

The good news: We’re done with the paving, retaining walls, drainage, fencing and signage along this 2.2-mile-long stretch of the BGT.

The bad news: The contractor lost the entire work week because of inclement weather, and this pushes the trail reopening back from what we had hoped would be the end of January into early February.

Work that remains includes installing concrete for the plaza on the southern side of the intersection at Northeast 170th Street.

We’ll keep you updated on the new reopening date and check here for the latest construction updates. We appreciate everyone’s patience!

Map of work area:

In 1982, Seattle had Sprocket Man:

Not to rag on Sprocket Man, or anything. But we’ve come a long way.

(h/t Go Means Go!)

They also have  a great work exchange program where every hour of volunteering gets you $5 in Bikery bucks. This can also be used on their ridiculous collection of parts sold at low not-for-profit prices. Short of frame repair, I can’t image anything that couldn’t be done here.  The mechanics will give you the guidance you need, but make no mistake you will be the one doing the work. Their goal is not to fix bikes, but to empower people to fix their own bikes. While they do have some sweet bikes for sale, it is only to help fund this great space; this is not a traditional bike shop.

To help keep The Bikery as diverse as possible, they are especially looking for more female volunteers. It’s a great way to meet awesome people, give back to the community, and gain more knowledge yourself. They have a variety of needs from working a shift (just three hours a week), to participating in work parties, promotions, or fund-raising. Dont think you don’t have enough knowledge to help! Bex stated when she started volunteering she barely knew how to change a tire. Even someone to just say hi and give a welcoming smile is important.

Read more…

The Bikery is open Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 14th and Main. If you’ve never been (or if its been a while), stop by the shop to do some wrenching or buy some of their super affordable parts and accessories.

Menstrual Monday rides meet at the Seattle Center fountain the first Monday of every month.