Thistle stairs – are walker/ runners not welcome?

[bhakti]

I feel lucky to live in Seattle in close proximity to ocean, lake and mountains. While I cannot afford a house with a view, I am content with visiting public spaces where I can enjoy the beauty of Seattle. One of these places is Thistle stairway, just above Lincoln Park. Not only walking or running the stairs offers free alternative to a stair stepper, it also provides plenty of shade and a beautiful view.
It is my understanding that these are public stairs. Recently, I had a couple of encounters that made me feel like I am not welcome there by local residents. Last one was on a beautiful Sunday morning, when I came upon a house owner watering plants by the stairs. I smiled and said hello and the man frowned and looked the other way. I was having a perfect morning until then, but this encounter made me feel sad.
It is my belief that the popularity of stairs makes the area safe as any criminal activity would be witnessed by walkers. Also, what a great way to share view with us less fortunate.
I was wondering if other people using Thistle stairs had experience like mine. I would also like to hear from adjunct home owners, how they feel about the stairs’ popularity.

• This topic was modified 6 years, 4 months ago by bhakti.

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[mark47n]

I’d say that the Thistle St. Stairs are public and a “street end park’. That said, there are many in the area that believe that these little parks, which provide thru-way access to pedestrians, are really their own and frown on outsiders using them. It’s a little like some of the various little street access points to the water. There are a few where the owners repeatedly post “No Trespassing” signs adjacent to the access to make it appear that they own it but the are, in fact, public.

So, go on, keep using the stairs. They’re yours to use.

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[JoB]

maybe eh was just having a bad day

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[WSB]

Some people are shy. Trust me. And shyness can be mistaken for gruffness.

Anyway, we have lived not far from the uppermost end of those stairs for a quarter-century and walk past the top of them multiple times every day. Walked the stairs many times in younger years. There are always runners and joggers using them (though I’ve never seen more than a couple at a time). They are not a “park” as described above but an actual SDOT right-of-way – with Seattle’s hills, more than a few streets include stretches of stairway where it was too steep for a street to be built. The top stretch has only one house bordering it (though there has been a long-pending proposal for another one) but the lower stretch, which is less steep, goes between houses, most if not all with fenced yards. Anyway, whichever stretch, it’s public property, so it belongs to you, and to all of us. – TR

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[22blades]

Sorry you had the encounter. These types of stairs (public right of way) are so popular, there’s even a book devoted to them. He should feel lucky that you are making use and enjoying the stairs as opposed to some unwanted activity.

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