Seattle Bike Blog

Columbia City shaken after person drives into building + Community walk Friday

By

Tom Fucoloro

| Posted

September 4, 2014

Photo from Seattle Fire

Columbia City residents and workers are still shaken up after someone drove into a hair salon last week and broke through the inside wall before coming to a rest inside the deli next door. Seven people were injured, including several children. Somehow, nobody was killed.

The building’s structure was damaged and at risk of collapsing, but that didn’t stop people nearby from rushing into the building to help free people trapped by the collision. Anthony Robinson wrote a good first-person account over at Crosscut (ignore the misleading headline).

Community members are organizing a “walk-in” for safe streets from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Friday at the intersection where the collision occurred (unfortunately, it is at the same time as the 2nd Ave memorial ride for Sher Kung. There is too much traffic violence on our streets). So if you find yourself continually worried about traffic danger on Rainier, this is a chance to meet others with the same concerns and start taking action.

Details: (more…)

tags: bike works, columbia city, deb salls, phyllis porter, rainier ave, rainier valley

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Kung died just ten days before a safer 2nd Ave + Memorial ride Friday

By

Tom Fucoloro

| Posted

September 4, 2014

The death of Sher Kung on 2nd Ave has shaken up a lot of people whether they ride a bike or not. After all, so many people bike into downtown at the same time of day that it could have easily been anyone, and anyone’s loved one.

You have a chance to honor her life Friday evening by taking part in a memorial bike ride that meets at 5 p.m. at Westlake Park. The ride will move slowly to Benaroya Plaza near the fatal collision site for a short service and moment of silence that starts at 5:30. If you do not have a bike, you can meet the memorial there.

The ride will then continue to Occidental Park where people can learn how they can help to increase safety on downtown streets.

Again, our deepest condolences to Kung’s family and friends.

Kung’s death was the first person to die while biking in Seattle in 15 months, according to SDOT records. Two people were struck and killed in May 2013, including Darren Fouquette May 30 on Airport Way near the border with Tukwila and Lance David May 1 on E Marginal Way.

The city made it more than a year without a person on a bike dying, which is an impressive achievement. But many people were injured during that time, and it probably does not bring much solace to Kung’s friends and family. It’s a start, but it’s not good enough. We have a long way to go before we reach the city’s goal of zero traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

Just ten days before a safer 2nd Ave

Just a couple hours after the memorial ride, the skinny 2nd Ave bike lane will close forever as city workers begin the final work needed to open the new protected bike lane in time for Monday morning. (more…)

tags: 2nd ave, deaths, downtown, memorial rides, sher kung

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Seattle’s Safe Routes to School efforts now reach nearly all schools

By

Tom Fucoloro

| Posted

September 3, 2014

Just one of many walking route maps for Seattle schools

After such terribly sad news like the death of Sher Kung on 2nd Ave last week, it’s perhaps more important than ever to look at road safety programs in Seattle that truly work at preventing traffic deaths and injuries. And there may not be a better example than the city’s fantastically-successful Safe Routes to School program.

In just a couple years, the program has been spreading like a wildfire and now reaches nearly every school in the city in one way or another. Half of all schools will have traffic safety education programs this year, including programs to teach kids best practices to stay safe and encouragement projects like walking school buses and bike trains. These efforts help shift our transportation culture to be more multimodal and safety-conscious. They also help kids stay focused on their other lessons.

This quote from Dearborn Park Elementary Principal Angela Bogan in a city press release pretty much sums up how transformative these efforts can be in just the first year: (more…)

tags: safe routes to school, school zone speed cameras, sdot, seattle public schools

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Elliott Bay Bicycles closing after 31 years, Davidson moving to new space

By

Tom Fucoloro

| Posted

September 3, 2014

Image from the Elliott Bay Bicycles website

Bike Hugger broke the news yesterday that Elliott Bay Bicycles on Western just north of Pike Place Market is closing after 31 years. Bike Hugger called the news “the end of an era.”

Locals probably know it for its service, but people all around the region and the world know it as the place where Davidson Bicycles are made by hand.

The good news for Davidson fans is that maker Bill Davidson is not stopping. He plans to move operations to a new fabrication shop where he can focus on building bikes.

But the retail shop is closing as Bob Freeman starts his well-earned retirement. The shop will close September 30.

Here’s an email to shop customers, posted to facebook: (more…)

tags: bill davidson, bob freeman, davidson, elliott bay bicycles

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Salomon: Safety changes need to be part of Roosevelt repaving project

By

Andres Salomon

| Posted

September 2, 2014

EDITOR’S NOTE: Andres Salomon is an active member of NE Seattle Greenways who bikes his kid around town and cares deeply about road safety. We have been talking a lot about how protected bike lanes and walking safety could be part of the city’s plans to repave Roosevelt Way in 2015. Here are some of his thoughts on how to make a safer street and some information on how you can get involved and help make a better and safer street.

Project area, from the city

The City of Seattle is currently preparing plans to repave and restripe Roosevelt Way NE in 2015. The plan includes some minor improvements for transit riders, but is lacking in general safety improvements and bicycle facilities. This is especially important for a bicycle route that is a major backbone of the bicycle network in the city’s Bicycle Master Plan.

We can and should be asking much more from our multi-million dollar maintenance projects. Concerned neighbors are organizing community efforts to help identify needed walking and biking improvements along Roosevelt Way. A walking audit is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday (today!), and a bike brainstorming session is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The repaving project includes the University Bridge (Eastlake Ave NE), Roosevelt Way NE between the University Bridge and NE 65th St, and small portions of 11th Ave NE and NE 42nd St. The currently 30 percent complete plan features widened sidewalks at bus stops and legally-required ADA-compliant curb ramps at every intersection. Where the sidewalks are to be widened, parking on one side of the street will be removed. A turn lane at the intersection of NE 45th St will also be removed, narrowing the distance that pedestrians must cross. While these are welcome improvements to the street, the restriping does little to address the numerous safety concerns with Roosevelt Way NE. (more…)

tags: andres salomon, construction, roosevelt, sdot

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Small Burke-Gilman work zone in Lake Forest Park this week

By

Tom Fucoloro

| Posted

September 2, 2014

Work location, via google maps

To get the McAleer Creek bridge ready for fall rains, King County Park will need to work on the Burke-Gilman Trail in Lake Forest Park this week. So be ready to dismount and walk through the short work area.

Details from King County Parks:

Beginning today, Sept. 2, bicyclists will be asked to dismount through a short construction zone of approximately 200 feet along the Burke-Gilman Trail where it is crossed by Northeast 170th Street at the north end of Lake Washington. Crews are performing annual maintenance work on the McAleer Creek bypass facility to prepare it for fall rains. The work is expected to be completed by the end of the day on Friday, Sept. 5.

tags: burke-gilman trail, construction, king county parks, lake forest park

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