The case of the disappearing bike rack, solved

| Transportation | West Seattle news

From the “in case you wondered too” file: Dave emailed to ask what happened to the on-street bike rack on the northwest corner of California/Oregon, by Dumplings of Fury and its north neighbors. He used it to park on Sunday, April 27, but found the rack missing this past Sunday. Our photo from yesterday shows the bicycle marking on the street but the rack (and other infrastructure) missing; here’s what it looked like in a 2023 Google Street View image:

First we asked the West Seattle Junction Association if they were aware of the removal. They weren’t. So we then asked SDOT, which is accountable for installing and maintaining these racks; spokesperson Mariam Ali checked around and then replied to us Tuesday, “Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We didn’t remove the bike rack at the northwest corner of SW Oregon and California SW, and we’re not sure what happened to it. Our crews will install a replacement.”

However, when we took a closer look at the scene Wednesday before writing the story, we thought there had to be more to it – couldn’t have been a metal theft, as the wheel stops and bollard were gone too. So we asked SDOT about it again, wondering if they had cross-referenced all the permit filings in the area, etc. That turned out to be the key, said spokesperson Ali:

After receiving your follow-up question, I connected with another team we hadn’t checked with earlier and confirmed that the bike rack was removed as part of the construction project at 4448 California Ave SW to accommodate traffic rerouting in their traffic control plan. Once construction is complete and they’ve completed any restoration work, they’ll reinstall the bike rack at the same location.

Concurrent with that update from SDOT, WSJA told us they’d just received the same explanation. So bottom line: The bike rack on the northwest corner of California/Oregon was removed as part of the mixed-use project on the northeast corner (background is in our coverage of its groundbreaking), but will be reinstalled when construction is complete (expected next year).

Kathy May 8, 2025 (12:43 pm)

The bike rack on California by West Seattle Nursery fell down (rotted at the base?). That’s a place where you really need a rack for your cargo bike because parking for the nursery is very limited. The nursery staff said they are going to get it replaced but last time I was there the parking strip was full of plants.

WSB May 8, 2025 (12:47 pm)

Was it an SDOT install? If so, seems like a Find It Fix It thing…
DaveB May 10, 2025 (8:09 am)

I noticed that last time I was there. I locked to a street sign post on the NW corner of California & Brandon.

Jeff May 8, 2025 (1:09 pm)

So long as the coffee shop drive through traffic is backed up into the street blocking things, the bike rack is absolutely small potatoes in terms of traffic flow in that spot.

Oerthehillz May 8, 2025 (5:15 pm)

Some mornings it’s ridiculous that the back ups there are allowed. Often when I walk there the sidewalk is blocked and I have to walk into the street to get around the cars on the sidewalk. I imagine it’s a huge struggle for people in wheelchairs or walkers, etc…
- Gatewood resident May 8, 2025 (8:54 pm)
  
  What about all the cars in the northbound lane that block traffic trying to turn left (across the double lines) to get into the coffee drive thru? I’ve emailed Lulu Coffee and the Chamber of Commerce about the problem, especially being so close to a busy intersection, but no reply.
  - Burbs May 9, 2025 (7:42 am)
    
    I’m very supportive of local businesses and especially supportive of local coffee shops, and do frequent Lula (on foot) because they have fantastic drinks, but the drive through and (many of) the customers who use it are a menace to the neighborhood. That block is so busy with pedestrians, delivery trucks, unprotected left turn lanes and now construction, and drivers block the street, sidewalk and turn lanes every day. Lately I’ve noticed they are even blocking the one parking space on the corner with pink traffic cones. Unfortunately I have no reasonable idea for a solution and find the whole situation to be a bummer.
WestSeattleBadTakes May 10, 2025 (1:07 am)

Ban all drive-thrus within city limits.

M.B. May 8, 2025 (1:11 pm)

It appears someone tried to cut the nursery bike rack off at the base (per employee report) and it’s been reported to the city with no response yet.

Aaron G May 8, 2025 (1:14 pm)

Thanks for reporting on this. The bike racks in the Junction are well used.

Erik May 8, 2025 (1:39 pm)

Typical SDOT not knowing what’s going on.

CW May 9, 2025 (5:17 am)

SDOT is a large organization with many projects and responsibilities. The problems you see and are quick to point out are due to the fact that it takes searchable data bases and PEOPLE to effectively record and monitor all the work within SDOT and across departments. Neither the city nor voters are willing to make that investment.

Marina May 8, 2025 (2:02 pm)

Thanks, WSB! I wonder how far SDOT would’ve gotten into their re-installation process (and how much tax money they would’ve wasted) had you not followed up and asked them to cross reference all the permit fillings in the area.