FOLLOWUP: Installation begins for new speed cushions/humps on Harbor and Alki Avenues

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

Thanks for the tip! SDOT crews were out today working on some of the 10 new speed cushion/hump sets promised for the Alki/Harbor Avenue area. We found three now in place on Harbor – near Jack Block Park‘s main entrance (photo above), near Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), and near the West Bay Coffee drive-thru. We reported last Monday on the locations where the new speed humps/cushions are planned, shown on this map:

The ones now in place on Harbor are the easternmost ones shown on that map. The new Alki Avenue locations have been marked off; construction wasn’t supposed to start before tomorrow but impending rainy weather may have factored into the change of plan. The city hopes the added humps/cushions will reduce racing and other aggressive-driving problems; as per City Councilmember Rob Saka‘s Monday announcement, SDOT also is still planning some lane narrowing, and is considering whether anything can be done with the Duwamish Head angle-parking zone, which nearby residents want to see changed to reduce its appeal as a gathering spot.

Drew July 28, 2024 (7:10 pm)

Instead of actually prosecuting crime, let’s add some “bumps” to the road. 🤦‍♂️

Cheese July 28, 2024 (10:21 pm)

Design changes to the road are cheap and work 24/7. Cops are neither. Prevention > prosecution after the fact.
- Rhonda July 29, 2024 (12:35 am)
  
  Cheese, please explain how speed cushions and speed humps prevent assaults, shootings, stabbings, robberies, grand theft auto, burglaries, car jackings, etc?
  - K July 29, 2024 (6:51 am)
    
    Hate to break it to you, Rhonda, but cops don’t prevent these things either.
  - Sam July 29, 2024 (8:48 am)
    
    Thanks, Rhonda. Furthermore, I fail to see how these speed cushions will address the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
  - Cheese July 29, 2024 (9:06 am)
    
    Bad faith response. Speed bumps obviously aren’t meant to achieve those aims, and nobody has said they are. Speed bumps do, however, help stop people from speeding, including street racing. This reduces road violence, collisions, noise complaints, etc.
  - Bbron July 29, 2024 (9:12 am)
    
    no where has anyone connected speed cusions to anything other than traffic calming. however, all those potential crimes have a point of intervention way before they happen: increased investment in education, food and medical access, and guaranteed housing are all proven preventative solutions and both more effective and more efficient than reactive, punitive incarceration.
  - Jeff P July 29, 2024 (9:35 am)
    
    Rhonda, it’s weird you think “Cheese” is implying that.
  - James C July 30, 2024 (11:13 am)
    
    They make it hard to race and speed and could do damage to fast moving lowered cars, there by removing late night activity and reducing some of the criminal element causing assaults and crime.
- James C July 30, 2024 (11:02 am)
  
  Anyone know the process to get speed bumps. The racers continue along beach drive to Beach Drive SW by and south of Weather Watch Park. It is dangerous and loud at 2-4 am.

Admiral-2009 July 28, 2024 (7:29 pm)

In rolling through yesterday, there are numerous pedestrian crossings that could have been made into raised crossings in lieu of the speed cushions. I believe this could have been a better option!

Daniel July 29, 2024 (8:07 am)

At least on the harbor side where the southernmost two are, there aren’t any pedestrian crossings. There’s zero marked pedestrian crossings from like the whole mile stretch from the bridge all the way past Salty’s. On the Alki side though, yea that makes a lot of sense.
James C July 30, 2024 (11:03 am)

Crosswalks will not slow down street racers, they don’t care. Nor do they read the blog.

Lucy July 28, 2024 (9:01 pm)

It’s a start. They need more and the humps need to span the entire roadway to deter the motorcycle racers. Then the anti cruising ordnances that ARE POSTED need to be enforced. Get three tickets, your vehicle is impounded. Same with noise violations after 11 pm.

Tired WS Mom July 28, 2024 (9:14 pm)

Ruining Alki, one speed “cushion” at a time.

reed July 29, 2024 (10:29 am)

For you maybe, but many of us appreciate and efforts to slow cars down.

Erin July 28, 2024 (9:54 pm)

Guess it’s another sleepless night on Alki. It just never stops!! The speeding and noise. Why aren’t these people being ticketed Every night til 1:00am, 2:00 am….So sad. Been here 14 years. This is the worst. The speed bumps will just be more of a challenge.

Barb vadakin July 28, 2024 (10:00 pm)

Locals are being punished for outsiders.

Jort July 29, 2024 (10:41 pm)

What’s the punishment? Seriously. What’s the punishment?

Z July 28, 2024 (10:35 pm)

Omg. I’m so done with these people racing all night long. It’s almost a sadistic pleasure to be aimlessly and carelessly driving with no care in the world about who they affect ( babies and old people). I hope the bumps add a little peace and help in some way. Dread the weekends.

Derek July 28, 2024 (10:42 pm)

So Alki gets special privilege? Put these speed bumps all over. Why move the crime to a non rich area?

Marcus July 29, 2024 (6:28 am)

Tell me which other neighborhoods have loud street racers after midnight? The property taxes from all those privileged people will pay for the speed bumps in other neighborhoods. Economic envy seems to be a constant whine here.
- AD July 29, 2024 (11:51 am)
  
  Roxbury and South Delridge. Sixteenth had speeding issues during the daytime until enough RVs moved in. People really don’t appreciate the traffic calming effects of RVs – and at zero cost to the taxpayers!

Chemist July 29, 2024 (12:44 am)

It’s interesting that the city went through the process of designating these areas as Restricted Racing Zones a year or so ago and put in these speed cushions/humps (which don’t need that designation) with no cameras involved.

Whisky Woods July 29, 2024 (6:13 am)

Hopefully SDOT will clean up the planter beds along Harbor ave… SDOT installed them, they need to maintain them.

Runner July 29, 2024 (6:20 am)

Alki is a park. Thousands of people push baby strollers, walk, run, ride bikes, skateboard, rollerblade, etc everyday along Alki and Harbor Ave, with no separation from the speeding and reckless driving cars and motorcycles. That’s one of the huge reasons that the laws need to be enforced in any way needed.

VBD July 29, 2024 (8:43 am)

These bumps have a huge negative impact on cyclists. During the summer, the trail is far too busy for cycling at normal road bike speeds (18-24 mph), so riding on the road is the preferred option. These speed bumps are a hazard, since most cars will move right to put one tire through the gap, which often pinches a cyclist closer to the parked cars. Also, some cars slow down to 5 mph or less quite suddenly, which means bikes have to brake, then re-accelerate, which takes a lot of effort.Overall, it makes the riding experience along this beautiful stretch of road really unpleasant.

Jeff P July 29, 2024 (10:28 am)

The parking spots have long needed to go. That would be the real fix here for cyclists.
- ShareTheRoadAlready July 30, 2024 (10:45 am)
  
  Yes, let’s remove all of the parking along Alki, that will definitely solve the problem so then it could all move to the interior arterials and create even more havoc. Contrary to popular belief removing cars from the road and everyone riding a bike isn’t the solution to every problem in West Seattle.
junctioneer July 29, 2024 (11:50 am)

During the summer, the road is just as chaotic as the cycling path. It’s not fun to bike on either.In the pic above, the gap in the hump is exactly where it seems most cyclists would want to cycle.
- Kalo July 29, 2024 (3:07 pm)
  
  It does seem this was a missed opportunity to put the speed bumps in where existing crosswalks are, making them raised crosswalks. Safer for folks wishing to cross. As for there not being crosswalks between the 7-11 and Saltys, there should be (@Florida St. and Jack Block Park).
Another One July 29, 2024 (1:27 pm)

I’m also a cyclist. This stretch of road is going to be busy, for pedestrians, cyclists, and car drivers alike. No one is keeping a steady speed on this street. Expecting an unimpeded travel experience at a steady 18-24 mph for anyone is an unrealistic expectation.
Chemist July 29, 2024 (2:26 pm)

The alki trail is one of the Seattle parks and rec mixed use trails with a 15 mph speed limit.
James C July 30, 2024 (11:08 am)

I ride Alki and South Beach drive. There is plenty of room to go in-between, to the curb side and even slowing down to 15 mph to mitigate bumps, they are barley an issue on hybrid street bike (peddle power)

Egg July 29, 2024 (9:39 am)

This is a good start, but I’m surprised nobody has considered a closed street plan on the actual Alki beach stretch of road. Or alternatively, make a lot more of the parking to be paid parking, or free 2 hour parking. It would limit people from outside the neighborhood taking advantage of these things.

Ham July 29, 2024 (12:26 pm)

Completely agree. However, people will lose their minds at the idea of not being able to drive wherever they want. As much as I’d like it, don’t see this happening for some years yet.

AlkiDoug July 29, 2024 (9:39 am)

Why not install speed cameras with noise detectors? Yes, they exist! Rev your motor or exceed the speed limit, and bingo you’re on camera – with a ticket in the mail. Then take out the annoying speed bumps. I can live with that.

Another One July 29, 2024 (1:23 pm)

That’s reactive, not preventative. To get a ticket, first you have to speed. The point is to stop the speeding completely. (Not to mention that people do all kinds of things to obfuscate their license plate numbers, take them off, or steal cars.)

John July 29, 2024 (9:43 am)

You know what’s just as bad as a pothole? a speed bump. No wonder I just needed my tie rods replaced I go over the existing speed bumps this whole summer.Ill be using admiral way for now on.

cwit July 29, 2024 (10:45 am)

Looks like the speed bumps are already working! :)
Francis Parkman July 29, 2024 (11:25 am)

Good. We don’t need reckless self-absorbed drivers on Alki!
Bbron July 29, 2024 (4:05 pm)

never has a car ever been damaged going over a speed cushion at speed limit. i bet i know why your car was damaged by them.

Niko July 29, 2024 (7:11 pm)

How to Prevent shootings for dummies Written by Rob Saka

Harbor Ave Resident July 29, 2024 (9:13 pm)

Where’s everyone going in such a hurry….next red light. I see many folks going over the 2mph posted speed limit on Harbor and have been tailgated when obeying the speed limit. These folks aren’t necessarily from out of the neighborhood. Also, cyclist…please give warning when passing pedestrians on the trail…I’ve almost been hit by a bike rider a couple times. Can’t hear you coming. Would be much appreciated and would be beneficial for the cycling community. Be kind please and slow down Thank you