FOLLOWUP: SDOT releases data on West Marginal Way, half-year after adding protected bike lane

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, April)

Last spring, SDOT installed a protected two-way bike lane along part of West Marginal Way SW, more than two years after proposing it and eventually agreeing to delay it until the West Seattle Bridge reopened. This week, it’s released data on how the lane addition is – or isn’t – affecting traffic, and what kind of rider usage it’s drawn. Overall, SDOT says, the change has added half a second to the average travel time. It’s also added people biking, walking, and rolling on the stretch, with stats including:

SDOT was hoping to bring down vehicle speeds, with radar feedback signs and a speed limit reduction to 30 mph. Their slide deck says that in fall 2022 vehicles were averaging 37 mph at West Marginal/SW Alaska, and are now averaging just under 38 mph, but at SW Dakota, they’re down to 36.4 mph from 40.2 a year earlier. The slide deck has many other data views, including “interaction” analysis at business driveways, and there’s even more in this 26-page report. Here’s what SDOT says is yet to come on the stretch:

Don Brubeck December 6, 2023 (4:57 pm)

I drive and bike through here. The project has made it safer and more comfortable for both driving and biking. No more reckless high-speed passing on the right by drivers, and a decent place to ride a bike between the Alki and Duwamish trails. It is good to see an SDOT project with attention to business concerns, and before and after data measurements, shared with the public.

Johnny Stulic December 6, 2023 (5:12 pm)

Fantastic report. Let’s use the baseline data from the Covid years when no one went anywhere, making sure it also uses rain soaked March, then “compare” it to post-Covid years in sunny August. That way our “bicycles are totally viable mode of mass transportation for tens of thousands” will surely justify making traffic worse by taking out lanes. “If you build more roads, people will drive more”, LOL.

WS Guy December 6, 2023 (6:02 pm)

Great comment.
Bob December 6, 2023 (6:16 pm)

Their findings show traffic/transit speeds and times weren’t really affected, so why are you getting all worked up? If anything, now you don’t have to swerve around bicyclists.
Bus December 6, 2023 (6:24 pm)

The COVID years coincided with the West Seattle bridge closure, which in turn coincided with a huge uptick in people biking to work in order to use the low bridge. These numbers are even more impressive when you consider they’re being compared to the “walking to work is now faster than the 1st Avenue Bridge” years.
KM December 6, 2023 (6:44 pm)

Imagine being this mad about a half second delay.
- Johnny Stulic December 6, 2023 (7:56 pm)
  
  No one’s mad about a fictional half second that SDOT obviously never measured but derived from this skewed report. What we all should be mad about is that SDOT has been forcing the bicycle lanes based on false projections and ridiculous reports such as this one. If they were somehow added to the existing roadway infrastructure, no one would bat an eye, but they are implemented by removing existing vehicle lanes, making already horrible Seattle traffic far worse. Meanwhile, even generous counting of bicycle traffic downtown comes up with no more than a few bicyclists every few minutes, at peak times and ideal weather. We need real solutions for solving Seattle traffic, not perpetual pipe dreams where we’re always just one day away from becoming the Amsterdam of the West Coast.
  - Dear John December 6, 2023 (8:59 pm)
    
    John there is no solution to traffic that relies on the continued use of cars. The largest highway systems in the US still have wild amounts of congestion.
  - PigeonRidge Ben December 6, 2023 (9:01 pm)
    
    Is this the council member elect’s burner account? When car lanes are removed from use on a stretch of road like this, with few intersections and no stop lights or signs, the users who are impacted most are the folks who find the speed limit too slow for their taste. If you are able and willing to ride a bike as an alternative to driving a car l, I hope we can accommodate you with safe infrastructure even if it has a minor negative impact on my day to day life. Let’s remove as many barriers as possible to healthy, clean transportation options while creating as many disincentives as possible for dangerous and dirty options.
  - Blbl December 6, 2023 (9:26 pm)
    
    Exactly, Johnny. Skewed is a kind word for this bogus report. The bridge reopening might have something to do with those numbers. 100,000 fewer drivers every day on that road just might impact the data.
  - Elton December 7, 2023 (10:08 am)
    
    When are you seeing traffic on W Marginal Way nowadays? I’ve driven down it at multiple times of day and multiple days of the week and I can’t remember the last time I hit traffic there. Conversely, there was no safe way to bicycle there without these changes. Seems like a win for bicycles without impact to cars. In downtown Seattle – people need to be using public transit and bicycles more. That’s a fact. I don’t see how you’re going to add more lanes for cars in downtown and there are extremely few protected bike lanes as it is in downtown. So blaming bicycles for traffic problems is fairly ridiculous.
WarOnCars December 7, 2023 (3:19 am)

Take a few minutes and look up “induced demand”. Or would facts go against what you feel is right?
- alkistu December 7, 2023 (12:40 pm)
  
  More lanes, more cars.
Rohan Singh December 7, 2023 (5:30 am)

Did you even look at the slide? They’re comparing biking in August 2022 to August 2023 for the headline number.It also includes a number for March 2021 but that’s not what they based the comparison on… probably because they already thought of seasonality.
bolo December 7, 2023 (12:15 pm)

LOL Johnny Stulic, the Covid years were when bicycling use exploded, especially in/out of West Seattle, as that time coincided with the upper AND lower bridge restrictions to personal use automobiles. In fact, bicycles were hard to acquire, both new and used, because they were so much in demand.

So no, it was not a time of “when no one went anywhere.” There were many many bicycle miles ridden during that period. Try again.
minus20iq December 11, 2023 (6:54 pm)

This is called just-one-more-lane-ism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dKrUE_O0VE

Sunny.206 December 6, 2023 (8:09 pm)

Not a very good use of our money :(, it looks like it effects about 300 people at the height of the summer season, most are not even commuters, I wonder how many $$ went into this? I’m sure there are other routes that would benefit way more than these bicyclists and 44 walkers. Traffic speed not even considered.

foop December 7, 2023 (1:32 pm)

This project cost a $100,000. Road maintenance costs far more than that per mile and bathrooms on Alki cost over $600k. How is this a poor use of money? Making WMW safer for literally everyone.”Of the 21 projects studied in Washington State, the cost per lane mile varied from $1 million per lane mile for a rural widening project near Walla Walla to in excess of $180 million per lane mile for the Alaskan Way Viaduct and sea wall replacement in a high density urban area of Seattle.”

Kyle December 6, 2023 (8:52 pm)

So much was spent for so few users.

Erik December 7, 2023 (1:45 pm)

Right? Percentages looks great when the numbers are so small!
minus20iq December 11, 2023 (6:56 pm)

But parking spots cost money — to pay for land, pavement, street cleaning, and other factors. So the net effect of all this is to subsidize the cost of parking with tax dollars or rent money, regardless of whether a person drives. “This means people who don’t own cars pay for other people’s parking,” economist Donald Shoup told me last year. “Every time you walk somewhere, or ride a bike, or take a bus, you’re getting shafted.”THE FREE PARKING SUBSIDY IS WORTH AS MUCH AS $127 BILLION ANNUALLYHe’s estimated the annual free parking subsidy to cars to be as much as $127 billion nationally. For daily commuters who park for free, this subsidy can be worth more than the cost of driving, on a per-mile basis. This incentive makes people more likely to drive: one study found that people who live in residences in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx with minimum parking requirements are significantly more likely to drive to work in Manhattan, compared with others who live and work in the same areas.Not even considering roads for cagers.

Puget resident December 6, 2023 (9:25 pm)

Any data from during the wet and rainy season? If data is shared, I’d be interested in seeing the data from all 12 months.

Alkistu December 6, 2023 (9:54 pm)

I am not surprised. Anytime healthier and happier is made easier the results are the same. I am also not surprised that some drivers are showing outrage over this success. Far too often the street design facilitates bad behavior and those who want to travel down that corridor at 50 to 60 mph get their way. The two lanes in one direction design, especially in a relatively low volume traffic corridor only facilitates speeding and aggressive driving. Speed and aggression are a very dangerous combination. I would only hope that this information will inspire our city planners to extend the cycle track to Highland Park Way for a direct connection to the east/west cycle track coming in the near future. Boeing workers, give this route a try. You will be rewarded with good health both physically and mentally. No wonder doctors are prescribing cycling to their patients.

Del December 6, 2023 (10:28 pm)

I definitely saw more people sitting at the corner of West Marginal Way year over year since they did this!

alkistu December 7, 2023 (12:39 pm)

Do you mean sitting comfortable in a car?

Rory December 7, 2023 (12:51 am)

As a bicycle commuter to Boeing field I want to thank SDOT for making the commute much safer because that stretch of road is simply not safe for cyclists without the bicycle lane. Hopefully the combined health and attitude benefits of cycling when combined with a safe route will improve participation.

platypus December 7, 2023 (2:07 pm)

Its been amazing! Do other people know that the feeling they are dreaming a car can give you of open road, exhilaration, and freedom is actually achievable on a bike but sitting in traffic will never achieve. Plenty of room in the bike lane!

WarOnCars December 7, 2023 (3:17 am)

The gnashing of teeth from car drivers over bike lanes never gets old b/c it only tells on themselves how single modal their lives are; utterly dependent on a personal vehicle to get anywhere in one of the best cities in the US to be car-free. Take a day and try to bike around West Seattle and see how hostile and unaccommodating routes are for any other transit method than a car. The quote “when all you’ve ever had is privilege, equality feels like oppression” is evergreen.

miws December 7, 2023 (12:41 pm)

WoC, my favorites are the ones that are like “…I’ve been driving this stretch 34 times a day, both day and night, for the past 54 3/4 years and have *never* seen a bicycle!” ;-) —Miws

22blades December 7, 2023 (5:33 am)

No more aggresive passing & lane changes Southbound approaching the Longhouse.👍

sam-c December 7, 2023 (8:13 am)

Now if there were only a way to keep people from aggressively tailgating..(on that stretch or elsewhere even…)

Aaron G December 7, 2023 (9:32 am)

I’m glad they put this in place. It makes biking and walking through here safer. I always see people here on weekends. It’s good for the Longhouse folks, too, which is one of the reasons it was put in place – to make crossing to the Duwamish safer. People who don’t bike may not realize, but this safely connects West Seattle to all points south including South Park, Renton, Tukwila, Kent, etc. Bikes may only be 3% of road users out there but we only get 0.01% of the infrastructure. We make the best of it and these little connections are essential for regular folks to get on bikes to be able to get around, explore, and enjoy Seattle. I’m seeing a lot more of this with the rise in popularity of e-bikes. Thank you SDOT.

wcmom December 7, 2023 (11:36 am)

Great, safe addition to biking infrastructure in West Seattle. Now if only the Duwamish Trail had safe access up the hill to the White Center/Highland Park areas.

alkistu December 7, 2023 (12:37 pm)

WC Mom, The design and funding for the Highland Park Way cycle track is being pushed forward. Of course for most it will be an E Bike track but not for all. I have been a proponent of continuing the WMW cycle track to HPW to make that southwest connection you referred to. You recognize the difficulty of crossing that busy intersection. These improvements will further our inevitable transitions that are being enjoyed by cities worldwide.
- cyclist December 7, 2023 (2:34 pm)
  
  “Of course for most it will be an E Bike track but not for all.” Likely true, but it will also draw alot of us Strava KOM diehards!
HBJ December 7, 2023 (3:40 pm)

Agreed, there’s no way I am going to try to ride through the Meyers Way/Olson Place intersection. That’s just asking to get run over.

tooMuchDebtForMyGucciBelt December 11, 2023 (7:00 pm)

I only get 0.01% of the infrastructure that cagers get but I pay for 1000 cagers… time to increase taxes proportionally to the structural damage that SUVs cause, not even counting traffic fatalities. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/12/11/upshot/nighttime-deaths.html

Sorry, comment time is over.