Sharrow-painting soon on Gatewood stretch of California SW

| Gatewood | Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

First of 2 road-work updates we have for you this afternoon: During Sustainable West Seattle‘s Bike-A-Palooza meeting in April (WSB coverage here), city rep Gina Coffman mentioned one of the next WS road stretches to get sharrows would be California SW between Fauntleroy and Thistle, and indeed, the prep work has begun: They’ve been roughed out this week along part of that stretch in Gatewood; we took the photo on the northbound side at Holden (map). “Sharrows” (full explanation here) indicate road stretches which bicyclists and drivers are supposed to share and have already been painted on several West Seattle arterials; to see where else they’re scheduled to go in the future, check the city’s Bicycle Master Plan – specifically, this map section (zoomable) shows what’s planned/proposed for West Seattle streets.

pie July 8, 2009 (2:52 pm)

The sharrows on California north of Oregon are already mostly peeled off.

Dave July 8, 2009 (3:09 pm)

I fully support bicycle riders, am happy to share the road when I’m driving, and am trying to get out on my own bike more often. But are these things [sharrows] really effective? I hope there is valid study data that supports the expenditures for this effort, showing I’m wrong in thinking that this is a big waste of money!

vow July 8, 2009 (3:48 pm)

Another example of Seattle window dressing instead of effective solutions. More tax dollars flushed for no gain.

We have only begun to give to ineffective solutions – Cap-n-Tax is coming

Sage July 8, 2009 (3:52 pm)

In my bike-riding, I find the sharrows pretty useful despite my initial skepticism about the whole idea. They keep me honest about my lane position, pulling me a bit farther into traffic than I’d otherwise be — which is safer given the door zone and all. Also just seems like a nice signal, makes it way less likely to get a “get off the road” shout out from a passing car as sometimes happens on other stretches. But as pie points out above, the amount of peeling on the sharrows already is appalling. I think it was snowplow related, but definitely needs a refresh.

cranky cyclist July 8, 2009 (5:08 pm)

As a bike commuter, I see little to no value in the sharrows. I was particularly amused by one sharrow that was painted on a particularly rough spot on Beach Drive….

Jeannie July 8, 2009 (6:48 pm)

For a second, I thought it said “sparrow” painting. Leave the poor birds alone. They aren’t colorful, but they are cute. Isn’t there an old song, “Me and My Sharrow”?

WSGuy July 8, 2009 (9:29 pm)

I fully support sharing the road with bikes. Further, I make an effort to take frequent trips on my own bike. That having been said, honestly is there not anywhere else we can be devoting our tax dollars? For heaven sake (as noted in an earlier comment) most of last years sharrows didn’t even make it to 2009! It’s very frustrating to see this (mis)use of money when so many people are struggling to get by.

WSM July 9, 2009 (8:56 am)

What difference does painting a symbol the road it make? Seriously, why are we spending all these tax dollars when bikes can already use the public streets? And I can’t stand PC words like sharrow.

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