It’s time for the Bike News Roundup! As always, this is an open thread. Discuss anything localish and bikeish in the comments below.
First up, the most terrifying short horror film of 2016 was released in October by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Watch as this proposed road widening project demolishes old buildings and builds an impenetrable division in the middle of the humble communities of Matthews, Stallings and Indian Trail. Rated R for graphic community violence.
One concept for Pike Street on Capitol Hill, from the One Center City draft plan (PDF).Option A is the “no action” option, so we’re leaving it out.
Pike/Pine is one of the most needed and promising connections in the entire Seattle bike network. And the multi-agency One Center City partnership is looking to make major near-term changes along the corridor between Pike Place Market and Broadway that include protected bike lanes.
We already wrote about the One Center City ideas for north-south streets downtown, so this post will focus on the Pike/Pine elements. You can give feedback on the entire plan via this online open house.
Not only are Pike and Pine packed with destinations (video), they also provide the most bike-friendly climbs between downtown and huge swaths of densely-packed Capitol Hill and Central District neighborhoods.
But between playing leap frog with buses and dodging parking or turning cars and deliveries, biking these streets today often feels like completing an obstacle course. And unfortunately, not everyone makes it. Police data shows 15 collisions involving someone on a bike and 23 involving people walking on Pike and Pine between 1st Ave and Broadway in 2016 alone (many more likely went unreported).
So what can be done to make these streets work better? Well, lets start with a few priorities: (more…)
The plan’s concept image of the possible view from the awesome Wilburton trestle.
The King County Council approved a master plan for a trail along the Eastside Rail Corridor Monday by a unanimous vote of 9–0. The vote is a key step towards creating the region’s most significant new trail since the Burke-Gilman opened in 1978.
Connecting through or near the hearts of major Eastside communities from Renton to Bellevue to Kirkland to Woodinville, the Eastside Trail promises to completely change the game for non-motorized transportation east of Lake Washington.
“We will be connecting thousands of residents up and down the Eastside to transit, trail, recreation and economic development opportunities,” said Councilmember Claudia Balducci in a press release after Monday’s vote (see in full below). Balducci chairs the Eastside Rail Corridor’s Regional Advisory Committee and, along with County Executive Dow Constantine, has been a major force behind making this happen and putting a sense of urgency into getting it done as quickly as possible.
There are many pieces of funding and work all moving at the same time. If everything comes together as planned, most sections of the trail could be open by 2020. As we reported in October, the County has already secured $10 million from various sources to rehab the Wilburton Trestle, one of the most challenging and promising segments of the whole route. Building a missing nearby crossing of I-405 is also scheduled as part of a major WSDOT freeway project that should be complete by the end of 2020. (more…)
Graphic from Sound Transit. I hope the buses at least have spaces for a couple bikes…
A lot of people in south King County and Pierce County have discovered the commuting magic of bringing your bike on Sound Transit’s Sounder trains. Bike to the station, easily carry bikes onto the train, enjoy a traffic-free ride to King Street Station, then bike to the rest of the way to work. Easy, low-stress and dependable.
Unfortunately, upcoming work on the Tacoma Trestle means train service will end at Puyallup. Anyone going further south will need to catch a shuttle bus, and taking a bike with you may not be possible.
“Shuttle buses may not have capacity to carry bicycles, so plan on securely locking your bicycle at your station’s bike racks during this time,” reads a note on the Sound Transit rider alert.
The good news is that this only affects a handful of weekdays starting Friday and wrapping up Wednesday.
Maybe this is a good excuse to use Pronto while it is still operating. They are currently offering a special $10 membership deal that is good through the end of service March 31. Lock your bike at the station, then take Pronto when you get to downtown Seattle. So convenient!
You can send this adorable drawing to city leaders asking them to complete the Missing Link.
“Roses are red, violets are blue. Complete the Missing Link, it’s long overdue.”
That’s the text on the adorable valentines Cascade Bicycle Club is urging supporters of the Burke-Gilman Trail to send to city leaders. It is much more friendly than my first attempt at a Missing Link valentine.*
Cascade staff (including my wonderful spouse who, full disclosure, works for Cascade) were also at the Ballard Farmers Market Sunday helping people send physical versions of the valentines urging the Mayor, SDOT and City Council leaders to choose the Shilshole South route and get to work building it.
The timing is important because SDOT is presenting the options to the City Council noon Wednesday, and as we reported in January the choice of an official preferred alternative is imminent.
“Let’s finish this and move on. We have other things to finish,” said City Council Transportation Committee Chair Mike O’Brien to a room full of people gathered at the Elks Lodge in late January to support the trail. He wants to see ground break this year.
Jessica Dickinson, who crashed on the Missing Link and seriously injured her wrist, told her story of dealing with chronic pain and being afraid to bike in Ballard ever since.
“I wonder who will be next,” Dickinson said after telling her story. And she is right to wonder. Nearly two people are hospitalized by Missing Link crashes every month that the trail remains unfinished. Many more are injured, just not badly enough to be hauled away in an ambulance. The status quo is beyond unacceptable. (more…)
After many years at Seattle Center, Cascade Bicycle Club is moving its annual Seattle Bike Swap to Magnuson Park near the club’s headquarters.
Vendors from all over the region bring stuff for all kinds of bikes, from locally-made to imports and from high end to vintage to bargain. It’s $7 to get in ($5 if you’re a Cascade member), or $25 if you want to get in an hour early at 8 a.m. for a chance to get first pickings.
