SAFETY: Icy bicycle path near the low bridge, despite above-freezing temps

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

A reader e-mailed tonight to share this safety alert for bicycle commuters:

This morning at 9:00 a.m., there was black ice on the bike path just north of the Spokane St. Bridge on Harbor Island. It was 40 degrees, but this area is probably in shade all day this time of year. A group of cyclists spread bark to improve traction. We could see skid marks where it appeared other cyclists had spilled.

Consider walking your bike through this section. It is only 50 feet or so.

Earlier, we had received one report that a bicycle rider was injured just before 9 am at a location logged by Seattle Fire as 1002 SW Spokane. We didn’t get word until long after the call closed, and could only confirm with SFD that one person suffered “minor injuries.”

Northwest January 7, 2016 (5:44 am)

Years ago in the fall contacted north delridge community members organization and we spent a good 2 hrs raking sweeping and bagging leaves along this stretch of bicycle and pedestrian path. Seems it needs to be addressed again to prevent this.

John January 7, 2016 (7:54 am)

A biker fell in front of me this morning Thursday the 7th. When heading east over the lower bridge you turn right to go under the bridge….(not illegally bisect the intersection like many law breaking bikers do)….you hit a 90 degree right hand turn after being under the bridge. At that point a biker in front of me went down.
Please be careful this morning.

Kevin Freitas January 7, 2016 (8:10 am)

Wowza, thanks for this alert. I haven’t ridden to work yet in the new year but plan to tomorrow. A buddy of mine broke his collar bone a few years ago after slipping on black ice on his bike in Tacoma — only takes a split second on such thin tires.

TheKing January 7, 2016 (8:37 am)

This story is a gentle reminder as to why I like my car.

john January 7, 2016 (10:40 am)

Thanks to a group of cyclists hanging around a bit to warn other cyclists including me. Putting the studded bike tires back on the front at least for a few days. Get some Nokian A10 hakkapeliitta tires. Works great, best compromise I think for our kind of icy road/trail conditions but not deep snow

JAT January 7, 2016 (12:34 pm)

John, are you certain it is illegal to bisect the intersection the way some cyclist do? How about to transition onto the eastbound roadway after the bridge and continue straight? Just want to be sure what’s legal here…

Leelee January 7, 2016 (8:22 pm)

Is the stretch safe when coming off of delridge??

Kevin Freitas January 8, 2016 (10:29 am)

I didn’t have any trouble with the area just off Delridge onto the bike path, @Leelee.

Seemed better on the north, Harbor Island part of the trail but still took it slow. The trail at the base of the bridge on Harbor Island was clear and dry this morning.

Sorry, comment time is over.