Cyclists

[Al]

By the way, I’m a woman, so if any women are interested – you CAN do it!

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[Al]

I’ve been talking with Cascade Bicycle Club, Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board and Seattle Likes Bikes – none of them have a clear idea about the problems, potential problems, and basic bicycle information from those of us in West Seattle. All three have ASKED for West Seattle bicyclists to contact them with your input (problem reporting, ideas, the looming Viaduct construction that WILL effect the bike route very much…etc.).

http://seattlelikesbikes.org/forum/index.php

bikeboard@seattle.gov

walkandbike@seattle.gov

david.hiller@cascadebicycleclub.org

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[Irukandji]

To and from the grocer’s today, pushing my kid in a stroller up Admiral, I was passed by three bicyclists riding on the sidewalks. Despite the “sharrows,” I can’t say I blame them a bit for fearing for their lives riding on Admiral, especially between 4-6:00 p.m.

I wish it were easier for the cyclists as I’ve HAD it with driver discourtesy. I’ve seen far more angry/entitled drivers, cell phone or not. completely oblivious to the fact that the world is not theirs alone. Heck, I don’t even OWN a bike and I can’t stand drivers.

Slowing you down when I’m in the car :)!

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[vincent]

Sorry Al but I am calling shenanigans on your “talking with various groups” I went ahead and emailed pretty much everyone you listed, (except Seattle likes bikes, as they are just the quasi web presence of a couple of guys from point83 ) and the overwhelming response was they were not soliciting information from West Seattle currently, but you could submit to your hearts content anyway.

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[bigmark]

My wife and I just bought bikes last weekend and were considering commuting to and from downtown for work, so we took a test ride. Getting down there was quick and easy. Getting back was a miserable, hellish experience. Not surprising. We knew that the sudden, dramatic rise in elevation would be tough to tackle, but I don’t think we realized quite how tough. Still, I’d like to try biking to work so I could leave the car in the garage a few days a week. Does anyone have any suggestions/recommendations on the best route(s) to get home? We are at Belvidere and Manning. Avalon to 35th? Harbor Ave to Fairmount? Admiral (how do I get to Admiral off the bridge?)? A secret tunnel / elevator / funicular that I haven’t found yet?

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[austin]

If you come up to Avalon you can cross over Fauntleroy on the overpass-bridge by going up to the top of Andover. Andover’s sort of a mean hill right there but once you’re on the foot bridge it’s not too tough to zig zag up to belvidere and manning. Taking Avalon all the way to 35th is less severe of a hill but a bit longer of a ride.

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[kestricker]

For route information I would go to the Cascade Bike community forum page. Last year I requested route help and had other Cascade members provide 3 options in about 2 days. Just be clear about starting point and ending point and you should get all the information you need. It was extremely helpful.

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[Al]

“Sorry Al but I am calling shenanigans on your ‘talking with various groups’…” Sorry Vince, but I have not only been talking with them but showing up at meetings and discussing it face to face with them. I’m also in the middle of making riding plans with Seattle Likes Bikes! to show them some of the problem areas personally.

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[vincent]

Well I hope you get a nice spoke card out of it.

Feel self important much?

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[Al]

So long as it brings at least some awareness to the problems bicyclists have in West Seattle, yes, it does feel good to try to help. Self important, no. It’s really kind of a PITA.

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[iheartlondon]

bigmark,

you could also ride to the bridge and then strap your bikes onto the bus and ride up the hill on your particular bus. u just have to time it right, but it helps (with people with asthma like me who can’t handle the steep hills in rush hour)

also, i have a question. why do bicyclists where those funny outfits with the ads all over them. don’t they feel like human billboards? i know the skin tight thing is for speed, just wondering about all the ads (name brands).

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[Al]

:-) I don’t know iheartlondon. I do know that sometimes items like that are given away as promotional items at bike events, like free t-shirts or coffee mugs, or are sold at a discounted rate at bike events. It may be a team jersey. It may have been on sale cheap. They are eye-catching however, which helps keep them visible! No different than a bunch of people walking around with “Gap” or “Budweiser” t-shirts displayed to the public…

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[Al]

I attended the Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board meeting last night and here’s some updates that will effect bicyclists to/from West Seattle:

1) Bike lanes N/S will be added to 1st Ave S, Spokane to Marginal in 2008 2) Sharrows will be placed on 1st Ave S, N/S, from Dearborne to Lander in 2008 consistent with the re-paving project. Parking will not be removed. 3) Sharrows will be added to 1st Ave S, N/S, between Lander and Spokane St in 2009 – but not all of it due to Spokane viaduct widening project.

Here’s the kicker which will effect many, many people in West Seatte: ALSO – found out that NO dedicated bus lanes will be allocated to West Seattle/Burien routes during construction – buses will be required to use the same routes they currently do (even if it means the lanes are reduced to one way each direction) and no new bus service will be added. ALL West Seattle commuters are in for some huge slow-downs. See my next post for bike related routing for the Alaska Viaduct project.

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[Al]

Note that SDOT has not published any bike-specific information for the Spokane Street Viaduct widening project although re-routes and construction will certainly affect the current bike route to/from West Seattle.

If you haven’t read the entire document, these are quotes taken directly from the Viaduct replacement project http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Viaduct/library-environmental.htm “Construction Effects & Mitigation.”

Pgs 93-94: “During Stage 1, pedestrians and bicyclists would use the existing combined path south of Atlantic St. Between S. Atlantic & S. Royal Brougham, the path would cross under the existing viaduct and run along a temporary path east of the viaduct. North of S. Royal Brougham, the sidewalk on the west side of Alaskan would be closed and peds and bikes would be routed along the existing MUP. Signs would be posted to help direct peds and bikes through the construction zone.”

During the last 6 mos of Stage 1…bikes using the bike lane on Alaskan could be detoured, as will vehicular traffic…to Atlantic, Royal Brougham, and 1st Ave S. Bikes would have the option of sharing the road with vehicles on the detour routes or using the existing MUP on the east side of Alaskan.”

During Stages 2-4, a combined pedestrian/bike path would be provided on the west side of Alaskan, close to the existing sidewalk. The existing path located on the east side of Alaskan would be closed south of King Street…a connection would be provided to Atlantic…As in Stage 1, bikes would need to use the MUP or share the roadway…

During Stage 5, localized lane closures would be required for final paving and striping. Bikes and peds may be detoured to other routes for brief periods…”

Pg 96: “During much of the construction period, the bike lane on Alaskan south of Royal Brougham would be removed. Bikes would use the shared MUP, although some may opt to share the roadway with vehicles. This would increase the potential for vehicle-bike conflicts…”

Pg 99: “Trucks traveling to and from the staging areas and work zones are expected to use established truck routes, including 1st Ave S…(referring to game/special events traffic) conditions would likely be worse during construction…traffic disruption caused by construction would also effect traffic conditions on nearby local streets. Some drivers would choose to divert to alternate routes. In particular 1st Ave S…”

Pg 119: “The Jack Perry Memorial Viewpoint, Waterfront Bike/Ped Facility, and the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail would be affected during construction…could include noise, blocked and cluttered views, dust, traffic delays, and congestion. Construction would make it more difficult for people to reach parks and recreational facilities and to travel within the project area once they arrive…During construction, the Waterfront bike/ped facility along Alaskan would be removed. Until the new pathway is complete, bikes and peds would use alternate routes such as 1st Ave S…people using the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail along Atlantic west of 1st would also be required to use an alternate route during construction. The experience of bicyclists and peds on the alternative routes would likely be less scenic and perhaps less conducive to recreational (use) than existing pathways.”

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[Al]

Based upon what WSB posted about the Spokane Viaduct work to start next month:

…”Consultants who attended last night’s SWDC meeting on behalf of the city said some of the first work you’ll see will be in August, when a water main will be replaced on a section of lower Spokane Street; the first longterm closure is scheduled to be eastbound Spokane, for about a year and a half starting in fall.”

Detour will be

Eastbound traffic, north via East Marginal Way to Hanford, then to 1st Ave. S to Lander to cross the tracks.

This means traffic will be HEAVY from Spokane to Lander, the major bike cross getting from West Seattle to the northbound bike lane on the east side of Alaskan. Those heading north from south of Spokane St will likely encounter much heavier traffic.

There’s a map at this link: https://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=7504

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[Al]

This encounter recently happened to a bicyclist…not sure if he’ll post here or not, but it’s dangerous and completely illegal.

“Lately with higher gas prices, I’ve been noticing an increase of scooters on the road. I’ve seen all sorts of crazy stuff relating to ignorance of traffic patterns, lack of common sense, and general boldness. Part of the issue is one doesn’t need a special motorcycle license (which involves taking a training course) to ride a scooter. But today I saw the worst:

lower west seattle bridge going westbound was backed up (the bridge had just come back down), and a scooter cut onto the bike path to pass several stopped trucks and cut back on the roadway…

of course, my “hey man, this path is for bicycles and peds; you need to stay on the road” was met with a slew of cuss words and the finger.

…To be clear, this wasn’t on a bike lane, this was the actual bike path, with a curb and grass on occasion separating it from the road…”

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[Author]

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