43 Replies to "TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday updates, including bridge crash, E. Marginal bicycle collision"

• Jay August 7, 2013 (7:41 am)

  There’s an accident EB on the bridge tying things up a bit right now. Looked like no injuries. A couple of SPD units blocking traffic.

  • WSB August 7, 2013 (7:45 am)

    Thanks!

• Stn August 7, 2013 (7:51 am)

  Center lane just over the rise. Quite a rear-ender. Don’t appear to be injuries.

• East Coast Cynic August 7, 2013 (8:13 am)

  Boy am I glad my employment is close enough to bus to rather than the boonies which would require driving on an increasingly chaotic rush hour WSB.

  My sympathy to the fender benders.

• MB August 7, 2013 (8:15 am)

  Traffic on 35th is backing way way up the hill. Can’t even get on the bridge.

• Saralynn August 7, 2013 (8:18 am)

  Just an FYI, I live about 200 feet from the bridge. Avalon is backed up all the way to 35th.
  No one is moving. On the bridge or Avalon. Might need to add some extra travel one this morning.

  • WSB August 7, 2013 (8:21 am)

    Thanks. Even though the crash is cleared, the backup will undoubtedly take a while longer …

• Fed up August 7, 2013 (8:27 am)

  Eastbound Fauntleroy people, please, stop blocking the intersection! Traffic on Oregon cannot enter the intersection when they have a green light. Traffic backed up to CA!

• Robert2715 August 7, 2013 (8:27 am)

  Nice day to bail to the Water Taxi. Fog in Elliott Bay is awesome right now.

• Keirh August 7, 2013 (8:40 am)

  There is a bicycle car collision on the highlnad park way hill. Happened at 8:30 am- just now. Looks like the biker is in rough shape but ok.. Traffic is backed up the hill.

  • WSB August 7, 2013 (8:54 am)

    Keirh – thanks. That was dispatched (I just noted it via Twitter, then got sidetracked for a bit) as a bicyclist falling, not a collision, fwiw … and the medic call did indeed sound less serious than the earlier incident. – TR

• Olly August 7, 2013 (8:44 am)

  F*cking ridiculous commute – accident or not. This has spiraled completely out of control. Hope the influx of people moving to W Seattle enjoy burning gas each and every morning.

• WB August 7, 2013 (9:01 am)

  Couldn’t get past the backup on 35th. Took the Highland Park Route, but great sadness there too. Loooooong commute.

  • WSB August 7, 2013 (9:20 am)

    The HP medic call seems to have closed. Meantime, a team member who has been driving outbound each morning during summer reports that Roxbury to 1st Avenue South Bridge turned out to be an OK way to go … though if you’re starting from north WS instead of south WS, that might not be so helpful.

• trickycoolj August 7, 2013 (9:13 am)

  Yikes HP Way is a scary place for bicycles. Exactly why I refuse to ride the 5 miles to work.

• schwaggy August 7, 2013 (9:22 am)

  I’m gonna second Fed up’s comment. STOP blocking Eastbound Fauntleroy at Oregon.

• J.J. August 7, 2013 (9:24 am)

  The bike/bike accident happened right behind me. A group of us (cyclists) had just turned north on the bike trail along the west side of E. Marginal. There is that first spot where some cyclists cross, right where the trail turns into the new sidewalk.

  Since that ride was killed at the intersection further down E. Marginal a few months ago, I’ve always just stayed on the sidewalk until well past the light. I think someone behind me started across. There was another cyclist going south in the bike lane and they collided. The northbound rider was in pretty bad shape–bloody nose and semi-conscious.

• AJP August 7, 2013 (10:08 am)

  Cyclist on Highland Park way was my husband, he’s doing all right, just banged up a bit. Hit a pothole and went over the bars.

  • WSB August 7, 2013 (10:36 am)

    Thanks for the update, AJP, glad he is mostly OK. Hope when everything is sorted out that you can call 206-684-ROAD and report the pothole if police didn’t do it themselves (if they were there to investigate) … yikes!

• J.J. August 7, 2013 (10:24 am)

  Correction, it was the southbound ride who was in pretty bad shape. I don’t who the northbound rider was, but nobody else was on the ground so he must been okay.

• Citizen Sane August 7, 2013 (10:32 am)

  I don’t think you can blame commuting fiascos like today simply on more folks living in West Seattle. Yes, more cars are on the road, but if everyone pays attention and doesn’t drive like a douche, the majority of these fenderbenders simply wouldn’t happen. Take today for example. A rear-ender simply means that someone was following too closely for the speed and/or conditions, or wasn’t paying attention to what was in front of them (some cel phone/texting/fiddling w/stereo action going on?).
  ‘
  Commuting is best viewed as a team sport; we’re all trying to get somewhere efficiently, and if we all bring our ‘best game’ and be a good team member, rather than a selfish individual who speeds/tailgates/talks/texts/etc., nightmare commutes like these wouldn’t happen.

• Olly August 7, 2013 (10:48 am)

  @CitizenSane You’re not wrong. Sadly, my conclusion after driving a car and riding a motorcycle here for years is that the majority of people in Seattle ARE douchebag drivers. More people, more problems.

• East Coast Cynic August 7, 2013 (12:05 pm)

  Even when there are no accidents, the conga lines to I-5 on the WSB during rush hour move much slower than they used to.

• Community Member August 7, 2013 (12:34 pm)

  Accidents happen, and backups happen. My impression is that this morning’s commute was made much worse /even more frustrating when double dump trucks carrying dirt from the former Petco sight decided they had the right to to block the intersection at Fauntleroy/Alaska.

• CJ August 7, 2013 (12:41 pm)

  …Or someone cut someone off, forcing them to stop short but not short enough.

• Lars August 7, 2013 (2:01 pm)

  Make it easier and safer to commute by bicycle and the car congestion will go away faster. Much cheaper than roads, bridges and Rapid Ride.

• West Seattle since 1979 August 7, 2013 (2:03 pm)

  We need light rail.

• NW August 7, 2013 (2:09 pm)

  J.J.

  I have experienced far too many cyclist going to fast in such close proximity to on another while on the same route. Folks need to take in their surroundings more while cycling and basically slow down and give more space to other cyclists. Accidents like these are bound to happen if cyclist agressively use bike trails without forethought of others or possible upcomming situations blind corners road debris slick trails. Guy was probably hstling to get to work, alas to the hospital instead.

  I wish the WSB would do a story on it and pin point with photos these dangerous areas where bicycle wrecks are very likely. Please consider this to open up cyclists eyes to this.

• NCO August 7, 2013 (2:17 pm)

  @J.J.

  I’ve been using the pedestrian cross walk at Spokane to cross E. Marginal on my bike, instead of following the sidewalk north along the west side of marginal. This gives you a clear crossing to get to the north-bound bike lane on the east side of E. marginal without riding in 2-way bike traffic on a sidewalk and without having to make a sketchy crossing at some random place along E. marginal. The extra time spent waiting for the “walk” signal at Spokane/E. Marginal is worth it, considering the dangerous alternative: trying to look forward and backward to cross multiple lanes of truck traffic and to cross a south-bound bike lane.

• TM August 7, 2013 (2:54 pm)

  Feels more like LA than Seattle the last couple of years. Avg. 2 hours driving each day, 13.5 miles from WS home to work in Interbay. Biking not a safe option when it gets dark and rainy; likewise on those days bus rides get unwieldy and unpredictable. Real change in quality of life.

• J.J. August 7, 2013 (3:13 pm)

  @NCO, crossing at Spokane in the crosswalk is definitely safer. The problem is, then you roll north and get to the light at E. Marginal and Hanford (where the cyclist was killed a few months ago).

  The bike lane is in-between a right turn lane and a lane going straight–often both occupied by semi-trucks. I’m an experienced rider and frankly I don’t feel safe even though it’s a bike lane. Trucks swing wide when they turn, and the intersection is full of potholes.

  Instead, I just ride at a reasonable pace down the sidewalk on the west side of E. Marginal (around the fire hydrants) and avoid the whole mess. Then when I’m about half way down the E. Marginal straightaway, I can cut across with complete visibility both ways and no intersections. Not ideal, but I feel like it’s the safest route.

• J.J. August 7, 2013 (3:29 pm)

  reasonable pace, not pack

• CandrewB August 7, 2013 (4:59 pm)

  Soooo wish the Mariners didn’t schedule games that get out during rush hour. At least not when they play the Canucks.

• More WS Offices!! August 7, 2013 (5:08 pm)

  It’s just a matter of time before more professional services open offices in WS thus reducing long and stressful commutes. Live/Work local!!

• AJP August 7, 2013 (5:47 pm)

  PS: A HUGE thank you to the two cars who stopped to direct traffic and call 911 (and me) when my husband was laying in the street. Didn’t get your names, don’t know if you’ll read this, but thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to help.

• flimflam August 7, 2013 (6:31 pm)

  very nice to hear about people doing the decent thing, AJP. hope your husband is ok.

• AE August 7, 2013 (6:36 pm)

  I can’t believe people deal with this every day. Biking is already (statistically) safer than driving, and it will get safer as more people do it.

  Some people love crossing at the Spokane intersection, but I still use the sidewalk until I can get over. It’s a mess. People take the Spokane-1st corner too wide, and the sun gets in your eyes, and just tonight I took it slow-n-tight and still my front wheel hit a piece of gravel and I almost went down.
  .
  Best wishes to the cyclist in HP today. That route sucks.

• J.J August 7, 2013 (9:40 pm)

  @NCO, Crossing at Spokane in the crosswalk is definitely safer at the spot. The problem is, then you roll north and get to the light at E. Marginal and Hanford (where the cyclist was killed a few months ago).

  The bike lane is in-between a right turn lane and a lane going straight–often both occupied by semi-trucks. I’m an experienced rider and frankly I don’t feel safe even though it’s a marked bike lane. Trucks swing wide when they turn, and the intersection is full of potholes. And it’s a long light.

  Instead, I just ride at a reasonable pace down the sidewalk on the west side of E. Marginal (around the fire hydrants) and avoid the whole mess. Then when I’m about half way down the E. Marginal straightaway, I can cut across with complete visibility both ways and no intersections. Not ideal, but I feel like it’s the safest route and my preference.

• SMS August 7, 2013 (9:56 pm)

  Took me almost an hour to get from WS to Belltown this morning due to the bridge accident, and then another hour to get home this evening (due to Mariners game traffic I think?)… yuck. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better commuting day for all of us!

• T Kowalski. August 7, 2013 (11:20 pm)

  I witnessed the whole bicycle crash as I was seconds behind. As Immediate as it happened there were three other riders down next to the injured cyclist assessing, and keeping him from moving. I called 911. Within about 2 minutes the EMT’s arrived. The Southbound Cyclist was in rough shape but conscious. The other cyclist was only slightly injured, but very responsible and gravely concerned. A big sense of thanks to those cyclist that threw down their bikes to lend assistance.
  That area is a dangerous spot and all cyclist need to be hyper alert.
  Upon getting on my way again I came up on a cyclist not wearing a helmet and just meandering his way down the street coming up to the Coast Guard Facility. If he had been in the accident that I just witnessed, he more than likely would not have survived. I was going to say something, but I didn’t becauseI sort of thought that the Darwin Theory does work, eventually.
  I feel badly for the two cyclists involved in the crash today. However, They were both wearing helmets, and it is precisely THAT which prevented it from being much worse. I talked to the Mayor about the accident this morning and he had my full attention. He said he would definitely address that part of the route.
  Again, a big thanks to the quick action of other cyclist on the scene and to the EMT’s and Police who responded quickly and professionally.

• Jeff August 10, 2013 (7:17 am)

  Too many cars in West Seattle.
  All the hi-rise, condo, apartment building needs to stop now.
  We need to put it into law folks…..
  Tell our political people and gather signatures.
  Peace

• Dropping Knowledge August 10, 2013 (9:46 am)

  I agree with CitizenSane, too many people are so self-centered/selfish as-to where they need to be they have no forethought that others are in the same predicament. My best advice is to WORRY about what you CAN change (i.e. your speed/distance/attitude) and not worry about being late. And for those who are running late, man up (or woman up) and realize YOU are the reason you are late, not traffic as traffic is fairly constant (very few exceptions).
  I have been commuting for over 15 years from W. Seattle to Downtown/Ballard/Georgetown and am rarely late, why? Because I plan ahead. And when I am running late do I rush/speed/tailgate, heck no… Getting a ticket will make the trip take longer, getting in an accident is even worse — and try explaining to your boss that you got in an accident at 8:05am when your start time is 8am. People need to take *personal* responsibility for themselves and what they can do to improve the situation.

• mark August 15, 2013 (11:35 pm)

  lyle hit a pole blindside hes ok but 9 ribs cracked punchered lung shoulder and head injurys unknown yet he did write on paper his name with family information. he is in the tukwila area so burien hosp. highline mite be where hes at. lyle is one of the most down to earth guy with hes country attitued picture the cave man on all those guico insurence ads he could play the part Im posting this hoping to get others to help me look into this more hes lived in this comunity for 25 yrs big smile with rosy cheaks. please pass this on to his compation in time of need. Thanks lyle 13225 old pac hyw tukwila 98168 if anyone was there that time too see it please contact the highline hospital in burien or mark at markvr_intityofenergy@yahoo.com

Sorry, comment time is over.