SDOT has been adding a ton of additional bike parking. Could that be part of why poorly parked bikes are becoming less common?
The city’s quarterly audit of bike share parking (PDF) found a massive 57% drop in the percentage of Jump and Lime bikes parked incorrectly.
Of 756 bikes audited (approximately half Lime and half Jump), staff found only one (0.1%) that was an “ADA-prohibited obstruction hazard,” basically bikes that don’t leave a minimum of four feet of walkway space. This is way down from the 13 (1.6%) found in the second quarter of this year. 5.3% of bikes were deemed “obstruction hazards,” meaning they were obstructing a walkway or curb ramp, but not completely blocking it. This is down from 17.4% in the second quarter.
What could explain such a big decrease in poor parking? I can’t say for sure, but I have some theories.
Rooted In Rights produced a great video for SDOT explaining not only where to properly park a bike, but also why poorly-parked bikes create such problems for people with disabilities. It’s been viewed 5,000 times on Youtube, so that’s pretty decent exposure. And while I’m sure the video inspired some people to do a better job of parking bikes, I bet it also inspired people to move poorly-parked bikes when they encounter them.
From SDOT.Photo taken May 31 shows that the bike lane ends before the intersection.
Here’s some great news for southend bike riders: SDOT has decided to complete the westbound S Columbian Way bike lane at Beacon Ave after all.
As we reported in June, neighbors of the major Columbian Way repaving project were surprised to see that the brand new protected bike lane ended about a half block early, leaving an uncomfortable uphill gap used by people driving turning right on to Beacon Ave. The bike lane, the biggest bike infrastructure improvement in southeast Seattle this year, was supposed to be a complete connection all the way to 15th Ave S, serving Mercer Middle School and Jefferson Park. There was no mention on the project website that the bike lane had been cut back half a block, and advocates were caught unaware. Even some SDOT staffers didn’t seem aware of the change.
Needless to say, people were pretty upset, yours truly included. As I wrote:
“A bike route is only as comfortable as its least comfortable section. A missing gap like this is likely the difference between whether a family will use the lane with their kids or not, for example. This is the route from Columbia City to Jefferson Park and Mercer Middle School, for example. So eleven-year-olds are now supposed to just merge with car traffic every day while biking up a major hill to school?”
Well, SDOT listened, and they are fixing it. Right now. (more…)
Mayor Jenny Durkan made her boldest safe streets stand yet when she unveiled a 25 mph speed limit sign on Rainier Ave S, the first of several thousand sign changes coming in the next year and a half. But that’s just part of her effort to get Vision Zero back on track in the second half of her term.
The city will also add more red light cameras, add speed zone cameras to five more school zones and have SPD conduct more crosswalk yielding enforcement. A new Major Crash Review Task Force “will convene a panel of experts to analyze every serious and fatal collision in our City and provide recommendations to prevent similar incidents from happening again,” according to an SDOT Blog post. It’s rather amazing such an effort doesn’t already exist, so this is a welcome effort. It could be especially effective if the task force is empowered to direct major street safety changes.
And one of the biggest improvements may be among the most difficult to see: A major increase in the number of traffic signals across the city that give people walking a short head start. In fact, the city has already been quietly implementing these “leading pedestrian intervals,” which are very easy and cheap to do. Essentially, you simply program the signal to show the walk sign a few seconds before the green light. That way people on foot are well-established and visible before people turning their cars start to move. This StreetFilms video explains the concept well:
Seattle has dramatically increased the number of these walking head starts in the past couple years, going from just a couple a few years ago to 125 today. And the city now plans to double that total by the end of 2020.
From SDOT (UPDATED 12/11 to add the 2020 projection).
In addition to writing, I also take care of this incredible kiddo.
The contract is signed, so it’s official: I’m writing a book about Seattle bike culture and politics for University of Washington Press.
Tentatively titled “Biking Uphill In the Rain” and code-named (by me) “Seattle Bike Book,” the book will take a big step back from the daily news grind and look at what has been happening in this town. What has worked? What failed? And what does it take to build a movement to challenge an entrenched and dangerous car culture?
The book will give me a chance to conduct some long-form interviews and go deeper than I can go in my near-daily posts on this site. With the advantage of hindsight, I will highlight some unsung heroes and reflect on the styles of advocacy that has proven effective in the long-run. It won’t see a bookshelf until at least 2022, since UW Press has a lengthy peer-review process. But I’m excited that the scale and timeline of release will allow me to get some distance from current-day city politics.
Don’t worry, Seattle Bike Blog isn’t going anywhere. In fact, I will need your support more than ever if I am going to pull this off. The book advance is enough to replace my tired 2010 Macbook Pro, which I’ve used to type nearly every word on this site, but not too much else.
More than 90 readers pitch in a combined $600 every month as Seattle Bike Blog Supporters, and a handful of great local businesses invest in advertisements. Through this income, I have been able to provide truly independent reporting about biking and transportation in Seattle since 2010. I am not beholden to any politician, organization or company, and I intend to write an honest account of our city’s bike movement, warts and all.
But I won’t be able to do it without you. That’s why I’m also launching my second-ever supporter drive. My goal is to double the site’s monthly reader support by the end of January. So I’m hoping to get to $1,200 per month, which would be 180 people at our current average contribution rate of $6.60. I’m also urging current supporters to consider increasing your contribution if you can to help me reach this goal.
Anyone who has contributed for at least one year will have the option to be acknowledged in print when the book is published. And, of course, you will know that you are supporting Seattle Bike Blog’s continued and effective work.
You no longer need a Paypal account to sign up, though that is an option. Any credit or debit card should work:
If you would like to arrange payment via check, email [email protected].
I have some pretty exciting personal news to announce, but I’m holding it until Monday. OMG, that’s so mean. Why would I do that? I’m building hype. It’s part of a very loud whisper campaign. Am I doing this right? You’ll just have to check back Monday morning to find out…
But it’s time for the Bike News Roundup! Here’s a look at some stuff going around the web lately that caught our eye.
First up, it is still so satisfying to watch the final pieces of the Alaskan Way Viaduct disappear. Good riddance!
Sure, it’s December and the winter solstice is just around the corner, but don’t let anyone tell you to put your bike in the garage until spring. Seattle is a year-round biking town, and there’s still so much biking to do before the year is over.
And the US Cyclocross National Championship is in Lakewood December 10–15. We don’t usually write about racing events, but it’s not often that we get a national championship nearby.
Tour of the Basic Bike Network. Saturday, Dec 7th. 10:00 AM -12:00. Starting at Lake Union Park. Tour the Basic Bike Network and celebrate the three major pieces that were completed this year, and see what remains to be done. RSVP on Facebook or to [email protected] (NOTE: This is planned along with Cascade Bicycle Club.)
Intro to Family Biking Advocacy. Sunday, Dec 8th. 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Cal Anderson Park Shelter House (Capitol Hill). Come learn about how to get involved with local advocacy as a family biker! Getting involved in local advocacy as a parent can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be difficult! Join us for this fun, family-friendly event to learn how to use your personal experiences and stories to help create the city you want to see. RSVP on Facebook or to or to [email protected].
Dongho’s Favorite Things of 2019. Sunday, Dec 15th.11 AM – 1 PM. A walking tour of notable projects completed in 2019 with the City’s chief traffic engineer Dongho Chang. Featuring a new woonerf, an infamous bus lane, and perhaps Seattle’s coolest traffic signal. RSVP on Facebook or to [email protected]
Is there a December biking event you want folks to know about? Add it to our events calendar. Also check out Everyday Rides, a new biking events calendar in town.
