VIADOOM, WEEK 1: Bridge-bicycling total

The photo is courtesy of Andrew, one of hundreds who bicycled to work during the first week of Highway 99-less-ness – his view from the bicycle path in/out of West Seattle. Don Brubeck from West Seattle Bike Connections calls our attention to the Spokane Street Bicycle Counter (low bridge), which shows 4,553 trips Monday-Friday this week, compared to 2,556 for the same five weekdays last year. “We’d like to encourage people to try it and keep doing it to get through the viaduct/tunnel transition,” says Don. “You can be part of this.”

P.S. Not all riders crossed the low bridge, of course – the Water Taxi has some bicycle capacity (plus added parking at Seacrest) as do Metro buses.

20 Replies to "VIADOOM, WEEK 1: Bridge-bicycling total"

  • Kathy January 19, 2019 (4:27 pm)

    And some people approaching the Spokane St. Bridge turn off before the bike counter to commute south along West Marginal Way, while others from the south end of  West Seattle take Highland Park Way and the 1st Avenue Bridge or 14th St. Bridge in South Park to get across town and never get counted. 

  • Scott January 19, 2019 (5:02 pm)

    Stop calling it viadoom. It’s called progress and it makes you sound very provincial and immature when you use those antiquated phases. We will get thru this and it will be wonderful in the end.   

    • John Smith January 19, 2019 (6:05 pm)

      It’s not progress when we end up with less capacity, lose exits and onramps, have to pay a toll, and can’t even convert the Battery St. tunnel to bus-only.

      • WSB January 19, 2019 (6:18 pm)

        “Viadoom” is one of several terms being used for the current Highway 99-less-ness. Not a comment on the transition. But thanks for your feedback. There’s also Seattle Squeeze and #Realign99. We’ve used them all, as well as “viaduct-to-tunnel transition.”

        • KD January 19, 2019 (10:10 pm)

          I’ve found it amusing that the last 2 weeks or so that when I go to type in ‘Viaduct’ that ‘ViaDoom’ also automatically pops up in the spelling boxes! I don’t even type it in.. it’s already offered! (har-har!!)

      • rpo January 19, 2019 (6:53 pm)

        The new tunnel has four lanes in total….same as the viaduct. Capacity is the same. Effectiveness of the tunnel will be greater due to the wider lanes and removal of sharp turns that slow traffic down.

        • dsa January 19, 2019 (8:41 pm)

          Wrong rpo, in addition to the four through lanes, the viaduct “had” add and drop lanes, which gave it  more capacity and usefulness than the tunnel.

          • Mike January 19, 2019 (9:52 pm)

            Let me edit that for you DSA, the viaduct “had” lanes that funneled into less lanes causing traffic backups.  It also “had” the awesomeness of being the most dangerous roadway if we were to have an earthquake of decent magnitude (or if we have the big one, complete failure killing everyone on and around it).  But ya, let’s all weep for the viaduct being removed with a much safer and longer lasting roadway that doesn’t have the traffic backup issues.

          • Question Authority January 19, 2019 (10:54 pm)

            You and so many others sound like the type who would miss candles when electric light came to be, or pressurized water instead of a well.  Things change, but for some it will never be good enough for one or more reasons.

          • dsa January 20, 2019 (12:15 am)

            Believe the myth if you want to Mike.  The buildings might fall on the still standing viaduct first.  It was *not* an Embarcadaro or Oakland pancaked style design structure like people think.  As for your term “funneling”, I’m not sure what you mean.  For example, northbound there were three lanes, one exiting at the end toward Ballard.  Now there will be no way to avoid downtown or the waterfront traffic to get to Ballard.  Southbound also had three lanes except for the south end after the drop at 1st ave so.  At any rate, it is not helpful to argue, I just hate the way this all came down costing so much and we all got nothing transportation wise.

        • Rick January 19, 2019 (9:51 pm)

          I don’t get your math but eliminating those pesky exits into downtown will speed up the traffic. To Vancouver.

  • Mj January 19, 2019 (5:25 pm)

    The weather was favorable!  

  • Jort January 19, 2019 (5:50 pm)

    Don Brubeck is a true West Seattle treasure. We’re lucky to have him as an advocate for cyclists. 

  • annika January 19, 2019 (8:35 pm)

    Beautiful photo, thanks for sharing it Don!

  • annika January 19, 2019 (9:55 pm)

    Oops, I credited the wrong person for the beautiful photograph – thanks for sharing it, Andrew!

  • Galina Malevannaya January 20, 2019 (7:11 am)

    Used the duct for over 40 years and always loved it!   Happened to know a few that worked on  building it.   Yes a massive quake would have brought it and so much more down.   Most likely steep banks and more.   Always love my chance on the duct,  those who built it, felt it could with stand much more than most of you think.   Battery street tunnel demolition is a complete waste of tax payer money.   Uses:   Pay tunnel, bus, trolley, lightrail,  temporary homeless shelter (tent and the like)  yes there’s water and plumbing avail, parking, (could have made stairways up in quarter sections, parts could have been daylighted), walkway, bike path, there are two sides, and the list could have gone on.   Tell me that we couldn’t update it far cheaper than building the same…moving utilities and the like…but no, it’s going to be a billion dollar dumpster!!

  • Mj January 20, 2019 (9:53 am)

    The 4 lanes in the new tunnel will have more capacity than the 4 lanes of the Battery Street Tunnel.  The new lanes are full width with shoulders.  From WS you exit to DT prior to the Tunnel, yes going to Ballard would involve banging through more signals and would add time.  But overall improved NB SB travel times should result.  Granted the view will not be awesome like it was before.

    • CAM January 20, 2019 (10:21 am)

      I have to admit, I’m really concerned every time someone references the view as a reason they will miss the viaduct. Unless you were a passenger, your view should be of the cars surrounding you not the water, islands, or buildings in the distance. As a person who’s had the pleasure of having to recover from serious car accidents caused by other people’s negligent driving maybe we could find other views that are even better that won’t potentially result in harm to others?

  • David January 20, 2019 (3:02 pm)

    To go to Ballard you go through the tunnel and take a left on Mercer then drive to Elliott and turn right

  • dsa January 20, 2019 (3:45 pm)

    Left on Mercer (after tunnel), then right, ya right.  Thank you

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