Updates: Car-free “Summer Streets” day, first report

First report – California Way is open up and down the hill, but you have to turn right (toward Seacrest) at the bottom – that’s exactly where the road is blocked off to westward traffic. Off now to check along Admiral feeder streets to Alki. ADDED 8:37 AM: The Alki-bound streets along Admiral are marked LOCAL ACCESS ONLY starting at Lander – but at the bottom of the hill, neither 62nd nor 63rd has a sign right now; we turned beachward at 63rd but of course you can’t detour west at Alki because of the sidewalk work, so we turned east and then routed onto 61st to head inland.

Not sure if that will remain the detour the entire day but we’ll check later. Lots of folks already gathering for the West Seattle 5K (WSB sponsor) at 9:30; we’ll be covering that and more, as it goes.

10:27 AM UPDATE: We’re covering the 5K separately (see that story here) but also making a few more notes here about car-free logistics, till we launch a new report when the activities start in earnest about an hour from now. Parking enforcement officers on Segways are on patrol, as the 5K participants continue crossing the finish line (after almost an hour, it’s down to the walkers now). (added later – a pic of the Segway officers, pre-race):

10:44 AM UPDATE: The 5K is officially over- but remember, the streets are already closed for the day, so people are walking, biking, skateboarding already. High clouds have moved in so it may not be as baking-hot as yesterday seemed.

11:21 AM UPDATE: The tablers and demos are setting up, since activities kick off shortly. From the Tully’s window, we see Zipcar setting up right across the street – the Ryan Leech setup with Norco is just east of there (he’ll be putting on a mountain-bike-stunt-riding show a bit later; here’s the full schedule of bicycle-related events, courtesy of Cascade Bicycle Club). Around noon, we’ll be heading back outside to take a look at how restaurants are doing, since that continues to be a point of contention for some — whether the “car-free days” depress business. Things seem rather brisk here in Tully’s, though we have no point of comparison to a normal Sunday morning.

Erik May 31, 2009 (8:44 am)

All parking around Admiral in the 60’s is history.

Alki Resident May 31, 2009 (9:14 am)

What a beautiful day for the 5k. Lots of runners of all ages out to enjoy what looks like a great event.

I wish the folks of the Lupus 5k (and I have contacted them) could take note of how this race is set up. The sound level of the mike is perfect. It reaches all the runners without blasting out the apartment dwellers on Alki Ave. I can’t believe the difference!

Have a great run, guys!

llalki May 31, 2009 (12:02 pm)

The parking has really opened up after the race was over. I live in the 60’s, a block off Admiral, and there is parking available. Just don’t park right in front of my house :-)

Denise May 31, 2009 (12:19 pm)

Best day on Alki all year! No car stereos, no motorcycles revving, just the sound of people talking, laughing and playing. A soft murmur that frankly lulled me into a lovely, satisfying nap. This beach is world class and clearly this was the way it was always meant to be enjoyed. Not next to a busy street. Oh I wish every day could be like this on Alki… (I’ll keep dreaming)

miws May 31, 2009 (7:18 pm)

Those scooters are cool!! :cool:

When I first saw them, I couldn’t quite figure what was different between them, and the regular Segways, other than the white color, and SPD shield etc. It finally dawned on me awhile later, that they were three-wheelers, instead of two. The only other custom Segway I’ve seen, was in the latter part of last year up at the Burien Transit Center. A guy had a Segway customized to look like a Rolls Royce. :cool:

Mike

Tami May 31, 2009 (8:35 pm)

Car Free Day is nothing but a pain and a hassle and huge expense that our tax dollars should be spent on!

My son was hassled by the cops taking his Nana to church and then coming back home wiith a picture ID proving he lives on Alki he was hassled again and to no he could not go back home.

My son was finally able to get back into Alki and back to our house. I don’t appreciate how this was set up for the residents to get in and out for the day very very very poorly done!

Tami May 31, 2009 (8:46 pm)

Our tax dollars should be spent on far better things like repairing our roads or helping families that have lost there jobs.

Next year close the road from Anchor Park down to Alki Beach. There is no reason to close off the boat launch and the curve because there was nobody at this end.

Thank God It’s Over

JH May 31, 2009 (9:44 pm)

Well Tami, at least you agree our tax dollars should be spent on Car Free Day (in your first post)! Sounds like it was set up successfully to get residents in and out. Ask for ID, let them in…your son made it home. Why whine? And what does this mean: and to no he could not go back home.

Spellcheck should be your BFF!

Tami May 31, 2009 (11:20 pm)

No JH I guess you don’t get the joke LOL spending $thounds of dollars on Car Free Day is the Joke not good judgement on behalf of our Mayor.

The Car Free Tags that was placed on our doors stated at the very bottom in very tiny print that the the east bound lane would still be open foir the residents to get to and from there residents on Alki not that they would be hassled and told to find another way down by the cops.

From just the pics on here it is just a small street fair so it would be easier to shut down the beach area across from the few shop and food places.

WSB May 31, 2009 (11:39 pm)

To be clear, the intent of this, as far as we can divine from having spoken with city folks two years in a row now, is not “a street fair.” Whether you agree with it, disagree with it, think it was run poorly, think it was run well, the point was to close the waterfront boulevard in its entirety so people could bicycle, skateboard, walk, run in the street … the booths were a total side note to that, and most of them were in support of those activities (Cascade Bicycle Club, etc.). And while the activities were primarily concentrated in the heart of the beach zone, walkers, bicyclists, skateboarders did use the entire 2-plus mile stretch … we walked the whole thing to observe, as we did last year. Just a data point … TR

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