(WSB file photo, ‘ghost bike’ memorial for Maridee Bonadea)

ORIGINAL FRIDAY REPORT: Details and participants are still being finalized, but the date is set for the Fauntleroy Community Association‘s promised public forum about bicycling safety, after the death of Maridee Bonadea last month on SW Wildwood. The forum is set for 6 pm Tuesday, August 11, at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW, south end of the historic schoolhouse). FCA vice president Catherine Bailey says they plan to “hear from the family and supporters of Maridee Bonadea, the cycling community, and representatives from the city council, WS Ferries, SDOT, and others. We’ll publish an update when more details are locked in. Here’s our coverage of FCA’s initial discussion at their board meeting earlier this month.

ADDED SUNDAY: FCA and Ms. Bonadea’s family are also circulating this letter to city officials and asking for others to join the campaign:

Dear Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Councilmembers Rob Saka, Dionne Foster, and Alexis
Mercedes Rinck,

On June 15th, bicyclist Maridee Bonadea was killed in West Seattle. This tragedy was preventable. The dangerous road conditions that contributed to her death have been recognized – but unaddressed – by the Seattle Department of Transportation.

This is an emergency that needs immediate action. SDOT must immediately exercise its authority to permanently remove the street parking on SW Wildwood Place, between Fauntleroy Wy SW and 47th Ave SW. To do this we are requesting “No Parking” signs and paint to eliminate legal parking for approximately 4 cars.

The removal of parking and implementation of bike lanes on Wildwood Place was promised in 2020. It was considered a low cost project. Bike lanes are also included in the 2024 Seattle Transportation Plan and are in line with Vision Zero goals. The community has asked for these improvements for years. Enough.

According to the 2024 Vision Zero Update, the Southwest Seattle Council District has the highest percentage of serious and fatal crashes in the city. We cannot lose more of our community members while we wait for safe, complete, connected bike routes in West Seattle.

In addition to the immediate action requested, I support the Seattle Street Alliance call for three city-wide actions to save lives:

1. Improve visibility at intersections – by removing nearby parking, as on Wildwood

2. Make large trucks less deadly – truck side guards might have prevented two recent bicyclist deaths – those of Maridee Bonadea and Christian Salyer.

3. Make Vision Zero safety improvements a required part of every project review