FOLLOWUP: Two notes, four days after bicyclist Maridee Bonadea’s death in Fauntleroy

| Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

Flowers, notes, and Pride flags adorn the “ghost bike” memorial for Maridee Bonadea, the 76-year-old Vashon rider killed in a collision with a truck Monday morning a short distance uphill from the Fauntleroy ferry dock. Two notes tonight: An informal gathering in her memory is planned at 2 pm tomorrow (Saturday, June 20) at Vashon’s Lisabuela Park [map], “to process our shock and support [Maridee’s wife] Laura and family.” Second, we had asked SDOT on Monday about the safety review they promise for locations of deadly crashes; they didn’t have a timeframe that day but SDOT’s Ethan Bergerson has since sent this update:

The Seattle Police Department leads the initial investigation and documents details about the crash. Once SPD completes their police traffic collision report, SDOT conducts our own site review focused on the street design, traffic operations, maintenance needs, and other relevant factors. Our goal is to complete this initial review within four weeks, and use it to inform next steps.

Ann June 21, 2026 (8:28 pm)

I grew up in Seattle biking everywhere. Like Maridee, I have toured and bike the same road into town on Vashon. Maridee and I had an on-going discussion about biking safety. Maridee believed bikes should be at the side of the road. I believe that when and where possible, (when traffic is going slow enough) a bike should take up the lane so that cars must slow down and deliberately go around you. I’ve had a close call when a pick-up nearly hit me as I hugged the side of the road. I have heard that one of the greatest hazards to bicyclists are huge side mirrors on trucks. I advocate being super visible and noisy – high viz clothing, flashing red lights during the day and a whistle as my horn in my mouth when I am sailing down a hill and cars may turn out on me. I wave to drivers to get their attention. So it may not be realistic to widen the bike lane on Wildwood, but bikers could more assertively “own” that stretch of road.

Foop June 23, 2026 (6:19 am)

Widen what bike lane? West Seattle barely has any connected protected bike lanes. What we do have often spits you out into traffic either little warning.bike lanes from constellation park to Barton and 35th NOW.peoples right to move safely around this city is more valuable than car parking.

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