Seattle Bike Blog

Man struck and killed on Harbor Island identified. RIP Robert Mason

By

Tom Fucoloro

| Posted

July 20, 2022

Data from 2019-2021, from a June SDOT Vision Zero presentation (PDF) to City Council.

The man struck and killed while biking on Harbor Island Friday has been identified as Robert Mason, West Seattle Blog reports. He was 63.

We send our deepest condolences to his loved ones.

Police are still looking for the person driving a white or silver sedan who struck and killed Mason while he was crossing Spokane Street just east of the low bridge to West Seattle. Witnesses told police the suspect did not stop.

Anyone with information should call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206.233.5000.

West Seattle Blog reports that Robb was a massage therapist, and the comments are filling with people talking about how he helped them through difficult times.

This is not the first time a driver has struck a person biking in this location and then fled the scene. A similar hit-and-run collision left a person seriously injured in 2014, the Seattle Times reported.

The fatal collision also adds to a troubling trend of bicycle injuries and deaths in Seattle’s industrial areas. Just two months ago, Gan Hao Li, 73, was killed while biking near 4th Ave S and S Holgate Street. Another man was killed a block away at 3rd and Holgate in January.

SDOT has proposed some “rapid response” changes to 4th Avenue in response to the recent traffic violence and pressure from safe streets advocates and District 2 Councilmember Tammy Morales. But there is so much more to be done.

We know how to make streets safer, but Seattle has lost the sense of urgency we need to fix dangerous streets before the injure and kill more people. We need that urgency back. This is a public health emergency.

tags: harbor island, robert mason, seattle times, west seattle, west seattle blog

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Driver kills person biking near Spokane Street Bridge then flees the scene

By

Tom Fucoloro

| Posted

July 15, 2022

Someone driving struck and killed a 63-year-old man on a bike at the east end of the Spokane Street Bridge to West Seattle Friday evening. The suspect then fled the scene in a white or silver sedan.

Our deepest condolences to this man’s friends and family.

Seattle Times reporter and West Seattle resident Mike Lindblom was at the horrible scene shortly after it happened and posted a photo (Caution: It is not graphic, but may still be troubling to view). The person on the bike ended up just east of the crosswalk to the east of 11th Ave SW, a commonly-used route for people biking from the Spokane Street Bridge bike path to the bike path that connects to E Marginal Way. SPD has since confirmed that the suspect was driving eastbound.

Though the exact circumstances of the collision are not yet clear, the crosswalk serves as the shorter option for people on bikes crossing the Duwamish River. There is also a winding trail that loops around and under the Spokane Street Bridge, avoiding the street crossing but also taking extra time. Both options are popular along this heavily-used bike route.

Google Street View happens to show someone on a bike using the crosswalk.

“Tragic news,” wrote Seattle Neighborhood Greenways on Twitter. “Our hearts break for this person and their loved ones. This is the key bike route connecting West Seattle to the rest of the city, and must be safe for everyone.”

“Sincere condolences to friends and family of the person killed biking on the West Seattle bridge trail this evening,” Cascade Bicycle Club wrote. “As people who bike, we’re in this together. This is a gut punch to anyone who bikes in the city.”

More details from SPD:

Detectives are investigating after the driver in a hit and run collision struck and killed a man riding a compact electric bicycle Friday evening near the Spokane Street Bridge.

At 6:55 p.m., police and firefighters responded to Southwest Spokane Street and Klickitat Avenue Southwest for a collision. According to witnesses, the driver of a white or silver sedan traveling eastbound on Southwest Spokane Street struck a bicyclist that was crossing the road. The driver then continued eastbound and fled the scene.

SFD medics attempted life-saving measures on the bicyclist, but the 63-year-old-man was declared deceased at the scene.

Detectives with SPD’s Traffic Collision Investigation Squad responded to process the scene and begin their investigation. They are asking anyone with information about this collision to call the Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.

tags: deaths, lower west seattle bridge, robert mason, spd, west seattle

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West Seattle Blog: Wittmier completes cross-country ride to raise money for childhood cancer foundation

By

Tom Fucoloro

| Posted

July 13, 2022

Seattle’s Ray Wittmier and his friend Gene Woodard just completed a cross-country bike ride as a fundraiser for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a childhood cancer research organization based in California. They rode in honor of Maya, a family friend who developed cancer at age 7. She is now 13. You can still donate to their fundraiser.

From West Seattle Blog:

They made the trip in 49 days – an average of 70 miles a day – in “every kind of terrain,” from the Rockies to the Plains and beyond. Did we mention, Wittmier is 67 years old, and Woodard 68?

They are thankful for good health throughout their ride; Wittmier jokes that they “never dipped into our Medicare benefits” along the way. Besides funding progress toward fighting childhood cancer, he hopes their ride also will inspire people their age to get up and get moving – whatever their challenges (within the past year, Wittmier had a knee replacement and Woodard had a hip replacement). He recalls that one day, Woodard complained mildly about a particularly hilly stretch – and a family member reminded them, “Think what Maya went through,” especially in her grueling early treatment … and they “never whined again.”

Read more…

tags: ray wittmier, west seattle blog

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Two days before Cascade’s 206-mile STP, ride the much easier Seattle to Bainbridge with Bike Works

By

Tom Fucoloro

| Posted

July 12, 2022

Cascade’s Seattle to Portland ride returns this weekend for the first time since 2019. The legendary double century leaves UW starting at 5 a.m. Saturday with most riders finishing Sunday in Portland.

If it’s your first time riding such a long event, Hanoch Yeung posted a great video on Best Side Cycling looking back on a video he made during his first STP. It’s full of useful advice.

But if 206 miles sounds like a bit much or if you want a little warm-up, Bike Works is hosting the less ambitious Seattle to Bainbridge Thursday, a 6.80-mile ride across Bainbridge Island to Eleven Winery. You’ll have to pay for your own ferry fare, and 10% of what you spend on wine will go to Bike Works. Register online.

More details from Bike Works:

Join Bike Works for a relaxed, no-drop ride on Thursday, July 14th, from the Bainbridge Island Ferry to Eleven Winery at 7671 NE Day Rd W, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.

All cycling styles are welcome. You can expect to ride 6.8 miles each way with 448 feet of elevation – you will need to be able to ride up and down some hills. (See the route here.)

Please plan to meet at the Coleman Dock Ferry terminal in Downtown Seattle by 3:30 to catch the 3:50 PM ferry to Bainbridge Island.

Suggested donations will help cover the costs of pizza, salad, and non-alcoholic beverages, but not ferry fare or wine purchased by the glass or bottle (valid ID required). 10% of all bottles purchased at the winery will support Bike Works programming, as will any registration donations beyond the cost of this event.

tags: bike works, cascade bicycle club, seattle to bainbridge 2022, seattle to portland 2022

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Bainbridge Ferry bicycle waiting area changes + How to stay updated on construction

By

Tom Fucoloro

| Posted

July 11, 2022

From WSDOT.

Starting this week, construction work to replace the old Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal walkway will cause some changes to how biking on the ferry works. The biggest change is that folks may need to wait in lane 6 rather than the covered area near the ferry ramp.

The new elevated walkway will pass right over the previous bike waiting area, so there will be construction activity there for a while. Later this year during the off-season, there will be some significant closures for a couple weeks including a week with limited walk-on-only service. You can sign up for the project newsletter to stay up to date on changes going forward.

From Washington State Ferries:

Construction work brings changes for pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles

Construction crews are onsite at the Bainbridge Island terminal to replace the overhead walkway leading to the ferry. That means changes for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists, along with intermittent lane reductions. The first lane reduction will happen the week of July 11 as crews remove part of the barrier between the exit lanes and lane 1.

Pedestrians
The pedestrian ramp and stairs leading to the current overhead loading structure will be closed starting July 18 to create a construction work zone. All pedestrians must use the enclosed overhead walkway to board and exit the ferry throughout construction. The green line above shows the pedestrian route, which is a change for many.

Bicycles
All cyclists must use the designated bike lane (above in blue) to access and board the ferry. Bikes will stage and board from lane 6. The area below the terminal building where the bike rack was located will be closed on July 11. That bike rack has been moved to the eastern part of the parking lot near the motorcycle parking.

tags: bainbridge island, washington state ferries

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On vacation

By

Tom Fucoloro

| Posted

June 27, 2022

Will return next week.

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