UPDATED – EXTENDED: Got something to say about Stay Healthy Streets?

10:56 AM: Three weeks ago, the city launched a long-promised online survey about the no-through-traffic Stay Healthy Streets set up citywide this past spring. Today is the final day – so if you have something to say about these streets, whether they should be temporary or permanent, go here to tell the city what you think. So far, they’re in three areas of West Seattle – two that are along mostly pre-existing greenways in High Point and Puget Ridge/Highland Park, and a stretch of Alki Avenue and Beach Drive around Alki Point. The city says it will also seek “public engagement” in other ways but the survey is the first step.

12:58 PM: As noted in comments, SDOT has just announced it’s extending the survey deadline a week, to July 22nd.

40 Replies to "UPDATED - EXTENDED: Got something to say about Stay Healthy Streets?"

  • John July 15, 2020 (11:16 am)

    As if this will actually do anything! The cities made their decision to go forward with their war on cars

    • WSB July 15, 2020 (1:03 pm)

      Actually the initial announcement was that the Alki stretch is temporary, the others permanent. So really, if you have an opinion, you can probably voice it in the same time it takes to complain that it won’t do anything. Unless you don’t care either way, which is certainly an option!

      • Zark00 July 15, 2020 (3:52 pm)

        Take the survey, it doesn’t allow for negative feedback of any consequence, it’s clearly a foregone conclusion that everyone loves this ridiculous idea.

        • WSB July 15, 2020 (4:33 pm)

          That’s not true. I always go through surveys before writing about them and I just through this one again. Not only are there open-ended boxes for other answers on some questions, there’s also “what do you dislike” about them and “what are the downsides.”

        • ~Hockeywitch~ July 15, 2020 (10:11 pm)

          Not true..I wrote all kinds of negative things about the street closures. Plenty of room to write grievances.

  • Lola July 15, 2020 (11:16 am)

    I gave them my 2 cent’s worth not that it will do much good. 

  • WSresident July 15, 2020 (12:45 pm)

    It has been extended to 7/22https://twitter.com/seattledot/status/1283485747463389184?s=21

    • WSB July 15, 2020 (1:01 pm)

      Thanks, that’s since we published this and while I was off the desk for a bit. Updated above.

  • Pawkey July 15, 2020 (12:52 pm)

       While well intended, I do not see the need for Stay Healthy Streets. I am able to go for walks in our neighborhood and avoid close contact with others, and every day witness families safely walking & bike riding. Common sense should precede enacting limitations & access to public right of ways. I believe some neighborhoods see this policy as a tool to reduce traffic on their streets, and wouldn’t we all like a little of that! The survey has a few questions pertaining to race & equity on locations. Don’t we have enough to work out currently without adding more divisions?      Also, have I been missing the news of an increase in vehicle – pedestrian incidents?  Haven’t noticed any. We live in a densely populated environment and it seems to me we’ve been doing OK so far. 

    • heartless July 15, 2020 (1:38 pm)

      The survey has a few questions pertaining to race & equity on locations. Don’t we have enough to work out currently without adding more divisions?”

      The survey exists to check that the Stay Healthy Streets initiative itself is not adding more divisions.

      • Zark00 July 15, 2020 (3:55 pm)

        If that’s the intent of this survey it fails miserably at achieving that goal. It’s wildly skewed, any results from it should just be chucked instantly – completely useless data collection methodology.

  • Joe Z July 15, 2020 (1:11 pm)

    These “open” streets have been really great! Especially since they show up on google maps, which makes it easy to find the best biking/walking connection through a neighborhood. If they double the current number of streets it will make a pretty nice network. It would also be nice to make the barriers permanent since people keep moving the signs. 

    • A July 15, 2020 (3:09 pm)

      Joe- do you think it is fair for the surrounding streets to have double the traffic now due to cars diverting off of the “stay healthy” streets? Should the people living on the stay healthy streets have to pay more in taxes for essentially being given a private street by the city? I live on a street that now has double the traffic due to my neighboring street being a stay healthy street and I do not think this is fair. How do we resolve this issue? Does the city care? I think they don’t and they have an agenda they want to push and it doesn’t matter what you or I think they are going to move ahead with their agenda. I really wish we had a government that represented us rather than one that pushes their ideology. This city is heading down a dangerous path on many different levels

      • Rick July 16, 2020 (8:55 am)

        I think it’s part of “I got mine so fend for yourself” mentality. 

    • Zark00 July 15, 2020 (3:57 pm)

      Sucks when you live near one though. Would you like it if your street was now a 35mph detour that everyone uses because they have to avoid the stupid closed streets? These “safe” streets have made our neighborhood WAY more dangerous. Short sighted, poorly planned, making Seattle a worse place to live.

      • KM July 15, 2020 (5:16 pm)

        I live a block off of a Stay Healthy Street and have had none of these issues. However, it’s not okay that you are, and I’m sorry to hear about the crappy dangerous drivers on your street. I’d be pissed too! Little is done to enforce our traffic laws regardless of which streets are being used. The Stay Healthy Street may have caused a shift to which streets these drivers are using, but dangerous driving and speeding has always been an issue.  I’d like to see automated enforcement and better street design as a solution.

  • Justin July 15, 2020 (2:00 pm)

    I agree, Joe Z! I live on a Stay Healthy Streets and we absolutely love it. And it’s great to see them show up on Google Maps. I’ve been using that for plotting out bike routes as well. I filled out the survey–I’m glad to see they’ve extended it till July 22.  

  • Lola July 15, 2020 (2:05 pm)

    Not to change the subject but I also noticed that the Parks Dept.  (Lincoln Park) has made new sign’s now and the park Closes at 9:30 pm.  They all used to say 8:00 pm on the First Batch they had made, I see they have taken those down.  I believe another article the WSB had posted stated that the Parks had spent around $88,000 for those sign’s. I wonder how much this Change Batch cost them? Another note it seems the tickets they have been handing out in the Ferry Line for the people who Park and walk into the Park for their walk or jog seems to be working.  I went by last night and not one car was parked in the Ferry Line that was not taking the Ferry. 

  • wetone July 15, 2020 (2:06 pm)

      Be nice to open Alki Avenue and Beach Drive section around Alki Point area, because further south by Me-Kwa-Mooks Park  has lost over half the parking/access from seawall construction project. As far as city’s  survey on this and latest WS Bridge usage, I really shook my head wondering who is  writing these questions ? and many had little to do with issue ;)  VOTE

    • tsurly July 15, 2020 (2:28 pm)

      Nah, Alki Avenue and Beach Drive is just fine the way it is and should remain a Stay Healthy Street. I haven’t been down there in a few days, I think I will extend my run this evening to include it.

      • wetone July 15, 2020 (5:16 pm)

          Hey TSURLY, glad you approve of city closing streets off that you don’t use very often ;)  but want to control despite what roadway and area was designed for. Hope you have a nice run and enjoy the views. Many others will not be able to enjoy area because the thinking process of city and a few others ;) Others  prefer or have to drive for many reasons.  Such as age , medical, taking gear for water use or enjoy a picnic and so on. I find it so interesting that most that drive motorized vehicles have no issues with bike riders, runners, walkers or bus riders, but so many of those just mentioned think their way is the only way………    VOTE 

        • Tsurly July 15, 2020 (7:08 pm)

          I haven’t used that street since Monday; that’s hardly not that often. A vast majority of the bike riders, walkers, runners, bus riders, etc you speak of are also own and drive cars, and we have just as much say on how the streets should be utilized as those who choose only to drive. The view down on Beach Drive is nice today, you should go enjoy it. If you are disabled, there are plenty of designated spots for you down there.

  • Marianne July 15, 2020 (2:59 pm)

    I have never seen a person walking/biking down the middle of one of those closed streets.  They are a pain to drive around and I suspect the signs are moved from street to street or just thrown to the side.

    • Tsurly July 15, 2020 (5:05 pm)

      Really?

      • Tsurly July 15, 2020 (5:11 pm)

        All within 5 minutes

        • Foop July 15, 2020 (9:45 pm)

          Tsurly, must have been a light day. I bike that stretch 3-5 times a week and I often have to consciously dodge people, it’s a very well used stay healthy street. I also walk down a different street every morning to move around before my wfh day starts. It’s never busy during the week but I like the security of it and go out of my way to use it. It is quite busy with families on the weekends.

          • Tsurly July 16, 2020 (8:22 am)

            Agreed, I usually see it way busier.

  • Gfranke July 15, 2020 (5:24 pm)

    I know that for the Alki closed area, the homeowners along there pressed for the closure not for safety reasons, but to increase their property value and “have the street to themselves” without having to pay to maintain a private street. They are just giddy that this will increase the values of their homes without raising property taxes, as the assessment criteria will not take the street closure into account, apparently. This is probably the case with many of these closed streets. If these streets are closed permanently, then the City will be complicit in increasing housing inequality in all of the neighborhoods. 

    • Alki Heights July 16, 2020 (10:57 am)

      Believe me, If I lived on that close street near the lighthouse, I would be filling up this comment section with how nice it is and would be encouraging all my neighbors to do the same. But I don’t live there. Yes, Its a beautiful view, And should be available to ALL.OPEN UP THE STREET TO ALL! 

      • heartless July 16, 2020 (11:39 am)

        “Its a beautiful view, And should be available to ALL.OPEN UP THE STREET TO ALL! ”

        I mean, in terms of opening up the street to all, that’s exactly what they did.  I see people walking, jogging, skating, biking, and just in general enjoying it, many more people than before.

        As for the view–yep, it is still there, and is still accessible to you.  Feel free to drive over there and park and enjoy the view (or walk there or bike there, if you prefer).

        I don’t live there either, and I think it’s quite lovely and hope they keep it.  

      • KM July 16, 2020 (11:57 am)

        The street is open to all people, it’s just not open to all cars. What you are asking for already exists, unless you are asking for more cars?

  • Laura Duran July 15, 2020 (6:42 pm)

    The amount of streets closed due to construction right now should give the same results of what all the stay healthy streets do. 

  • Denden July 15, 2020 (6:54 pm)

    WOW, Tsurly 2 people! It would be nice to have 2 people using my street. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, DON’T play in the street. 

    • Tsurly July 15, 2020 (9:43 pm)

      A small snapshot of the more than a dozen people who bikes, walked, or ran through that area in the 5 minutes I was there. Didn’t think it was necessary to document every user just to appease the haters. Enjoy sitting in traffic while the rest of us get outside and enjoy ourselves.

  • Will o Wisp July 15, 2020 (7:03 pm)

    I biked down the street ever other day for  a  couple of weeks.  Always in the morning.  Saw many other bikers.  Lots of walkers/joggers (mostly on the sidewalk) and at least one car each time.  Everyone seemed to get along. So originally I was worried about the loss of parking spaces but now I just enjoy the safe biking. BTW I am 77. 

  • Pissed at seattle July 15, 2020 (8:49 pm)

    Where do these people come from to think its a great idea to stick steal plates in the street.  We have side walks for everyone to walk around.  I don’t understand the need and or the function to redirect traffic.  I see everyone drive around them because its where we live.  Get rid of them.

    • heartless July 16, 2020 (7:08 pm)

      Where do these people come from to think its a great idea to stick steal plates in the street.”

      What?  Not a fan of cars?  

  • Skye July 16, 2020 (12:43 am)

    I was walking along the Beach Drive part of Healthy Streets, and I’m all for them. Unfortunately, some AHs had marked over the signs with stupid grafitti like #Liberal Pathogens. I suspect these are the same kind of Covidiots who don’t wear masks because of … FreeDUMM.Also saw a few cars circumventing the barriers and racing through. I realize you can drive there if you’re a resident, but, considering how fast the cars were going, I doubt they lived in the area.

  • Emmyp July 16, 2020 (10:53 am)

    How nice that beach drive is a private street.How about the other side which is Alki Ave.Loud motorcyclists,car hoodlums,dangerous driving,no parking and mayhem.It is a residential street treated like an out of control freeway.Please please dear city,can’t we have a private street,too?

    • heartless July 16, 2020 (3:31 pm)

      Well, it is in no way a private street, so calling it that is just silly, but if you want your stretch of Alki closed to thru traffic why don’t you organize your neighbors and see if there is enough interest to start a campaign to get it done?  I agree the area would be a lot nicer with fewer drivers, so I wish you the best of luck.  Let us know how it goes!

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