
What we reported here last Friday night is now officially confirmed: Alki’s “Car-Free Day” is set for noon-6 pm Sunday, September 7th. According to the official information handed out at the announcement event that just concluded at Alki/Bonair with Mayor Nickels and SDOT director Grace Crunican (pictured above) — both West Seattleites — plus City Councilmember Jan Drago and others, the closure will be from Harbor Ave/California Way SW to Alki Ave/63rd. Here’s a map (the hikers mark the western and eastern ends of the closure):
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Here’s video of the mayor explaining how he got into the spirit of the announcement while on the way there:
As we also had reported, the “Car-Free Day” won’t be entirely vehicle-free — there will be a lane for the Water Taxi shuttle and for residents who can’t get to Alki homes any other way; that’ll be the curb lane. Many more details and video to come in report #2; the mayor was joined at the announcement by West Seattleites including Christy Pudduck and Sarah Steere, the entrepreneurs who run Coastal on Alki — you’ll hear from them in report #2, along with Abby Suplizio, who leads the West Seattle chapter of CoolMom, the group that got first word of the impending announcement. Car-Free Days also were announced for Capitol Hill and Rainier Valley areas; read ahead for the official city news release:
Mayor Greg Nickels announced today that three streets will be
opened to pedestrians and cyclists for three “car-free†Sundays in
August and September. By opening select streets, people will be invited
to walk, bike, skate, run and play in the street.“Neighbors will have three to six hours to experience our streets in a
new way and to see how livable a city can be when people drive less,â€
Nickels said. “This is our chance to experiment and to evaluate how
these events work for people. And we’ll be fighting global warming at
the same time.â€As part of Seattle Climate Action Now’s “Give Your Car the Summer Offâ€
campaign to combat global warming by encouraging residents to drive
1,000 fewer miles a year, these car-free days will link recreational
activities to neighborhood business centers. Cars are Seattle’s biggest
single source of climate pollution and the city is offering a wide range
of incentives for people to give up their cars for a day, a month, or a
lifetime.Three locations will be car-free:
· Sunday, Aug. 24: “Car Free VolunteerParkand 14th Avenue East.â€
Opens 14th Avenue Eastfrom VolunteerParkto East Republican Street, from
noonto 6 p.m.during the Peace Concert in the park. The Volunteer Park
Western Loop will also be car-free.
· Sunday, Aug. 31: “Car Free Rainier.†Opens Rainier Avenue
Southfrom South Orcas to South AlaskaStreets from 3 p.m.to 6 p.m.To link
Genesee Park to Columbia City, cars will also be restricted on Conover
Street, part of 38th Avenue South and South Alaska Street. This event
coincides with Bicycle Sunday on Lake Washington Boulevard· Sunday, Sept. 7: “Car Free Alki.†Opens Alki Avenuefrom
California Way Southwest around AlkiBeachto the south end of 63rd at
Beach Drivefrom noonuntil 6 p.m.One lane will be coned off for the Water
Taxi Shuttle and to provide access for residents living along Alki.People attending car-free days who do not live in the neighborhood are
encouraged to take transit, bicycle or walk to the car-free locations.“This is a great opportunity to safely open our streets for families to
enjoy walking and biking to and through popular destinations in our
city,†said City Councilmember Jan Drago.In addition, Parks and Recreation’s popular Bicycle Saturday and Sunday
program is being expanded to include VolunteerParkand SewardParkfor one
weekday each, and to add dates to Bicycle Saturday and Sunday through
September for walkers, bikers, skaters and pedestrians.
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