Countdown to Car-Free Day on Sunday: The Alki alert plan

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As first posted here a week ago, that’s the map from the doorhangers that went out on Alki last week with another alert about this Sunday’s city-organized Car-Free Day, which will close that stretch of Alki SW to all vehicles but the Route 773 shuttle (and local residents who can’t reach their homes any other way) from noon to 6 pm. As mentioned here over the weekend, while there were speed bumps with Car-Free Day #1 on Capitol Hill two weekends ago, general consensus seems to be that Car-Free Day #2 this past Sunday in the Rainier Valley went more smoothly. SDOT’s Rick Sheridan tells WSB today: “There were no cars ticketed or towed during the (Rainier) event. SDOT’s outreach and use of multiple means of communications helped ensure community members were aware of the event and knowledgeable about the parking restrictions.” For Alki, Sheridan says that in addition to the doorhanger distributed last week (see it here ), SDOT also is “visiting businesses in person … and using an automatic phone-dialing system to call people in the area about the event.” (Both of those methods were deployed for last Sunday’s Rainier Valley Car-Free Day; the Alki calls are to be made this Thursday.) He also says the no-parking signs are now scheduled to be “set up a full 72 hours in advance,” which means you should see them Thursday, instead of the previously mentioned Friday – the parking restrictions will be in effect 10 am-6 pm Sunday along Alki SW in the zone shown on the map above (California Way to 63rd SW). We’ll continue posting daily updates (including information on Sunday activities scheduled along Alki during the event); the city’s official Alki Car-Free Day webpage is viewable here.

4 Replies to "Countdown to Car-Free Day on Sunday: The Alki alert plan"

  • GenHillOne September 2, 2008 (7:08 pm)

    I’m very happy to see the additional efforts by the city! I still would be cautious of haphazard play in the streets – mainly because there are a lot more Alki residents able to drive through than on Rainier…but it’s a much better plan in my book.

  • JanS September 3, 2008 (1:39 am)

    I have a friend who lives in the Rainier area, and she said that the street closure was wonderful. They took lawn chairs and sat in the middle of one of the main intersections…had something to eat from nearby, entertained people who walked by…learned the electric slide from someone who was dancing by – lol..all in all a wonderful time had by all in the neighborhood..

  • WSB September 3, 2008 (6:38 am)

    The list of activities that are planned is starting to roll in … we’ll have an update on a few of them later today.

  • GenHillOne September 3, 2008 (7:54 am)

    Here’s hoping, Jan! I have to admit that I’m slightly drawn to the idea of kickball ;)

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