by Tom Fucoloro on (#6CSV6)
The Decade of the Eastrail is coming into view. The buildout of this major regional rail-trail will reach a milestone moment Saturday afternoon when the Totem Lake Connector biking and walking bridge opens. The bridge is almost like the golden spike that, thanks to a number of other recent additions, will finally connect the Eastrail [...]
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Seattle Bike Blog
Link | https://www.seattlebikeblog.com/ |
Feed | http://seattlebikeblog.com/feed/ |
Updated | 2024-05-20 13:31 |
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6CS05)
Biking will be by far the best way to get to the 2023 All-Star Game. Though of course we think that biking is the best way to get just about anywhere in Seattle. But for real, I have left many busy Seattle sporting events, and no other option is even close to as good as [...]
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by Tom Fucoloro on (#6CRXN)
This is not the first time we've posted a Bill Nye video on this site, and I doubt it will be the last. The prolific entertainer and engineer best known for serving on the Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board also had a little-known KCTS science show for children that was widely syndicated and made him a [...]
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by Tom Fucoloro on (#6CQV6)
The city plans to build a continuous bike lane on the waterfront side of Alaskan Way under the latest design, SDOT announced Monday. Rather than permanently detour the bike route across Alaskan Way twice within a couple blocks, the new design includes a detour plan for use only during busy cruise ship loading times in [...]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6CPC4)
Bike-friendly city rankings are a bit silly, but there's usually some interesting things we can learn from them. There are so many variables that make places different and might impact a person's experience riding a bike in them that distilling an entire city's bikeability down to a number is impossible. For example, I'm guessing someone [...]
SDOT begins study of CM Strauss’s Leary Way concept for the Missing Link + Legal update on Shilshole
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6CP7M)
At the urging of Councilmember Dan Strauss and with Mayor Bruce Harrell's support, SDOT is beginning early design work on a potential alternative for the Burke-Gilman Trail Missing Link in Ballard. Though the city has a design fully completed and ready for construction along Shilshole Ave NW, the construction permits are held up in court [...]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6CP7N)
Julian Hamilton, 25, pleaded guilty to hitting and killing Michael Colmant in April 2021 and was sentenced to 20 months in prison. Hamilton was driving under the influence after drinking in the park when he crossed to the wrong side of Seward Park Ave S just east of the intersection with Wilson Ave S and [...]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6CJPE)
Newly-announced Federal RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity") grants will help fund several interesting walking and biking projects around the region, including planning work for an ambitious trail from the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal to La Push on the Pacific Coast. The City of Port Angeles led a successful grant application for the [...]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6CJPF)
The good news is that the horrific increase in pedestrian deaths Washington State saw in 2021 did not continue to increase in 2022. But that's the end of the good news in this story. Preliminary counts in a recent report from the Governors Highway Safety Association show that an estimated 130 pedestrians were killed in [...]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6CDYV)
The Nine to Five is a classic, legendary Seattle event that has been making its return in recent years. It is a wonderful counterpoint to the Fremont Solstice Parade bike ride. Rather than celebrate the long day of sun, the Nine to Five celebrates the short night. Riders will hit the streets from sunset to [...]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6CC72)
We are currently in the midst of the biggest social media shakeup in more than a decade, which got me wondering where exactly my readers were spending their scrolling time these days. I also realized that as Twitter interactivity rates declined and I grew increasingly concerned about that platform's overall direction, I needed to diversify [...]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6CARH)
People in Seattle took 3.7 million trips on shared bikes and scooters in the past year, a massive rebound from the 1.4 million trips per year when pandemic restrictions and many business closures were in place. During the busiest summer months, the daily rides averaged over 15,000 trips per day. Six years into the city's [...]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6C6TM)
The Fremont Solstice Parade is perhaps Seattle's happiest day of the year, and that's in no small part thanks to the explosion of brave creativity that is the pre-parade bike ride featuring hundreds of people using their bodies as art canvases. The solstice bike ride is still an unofficial part of the Solstice Parade, but [...]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6C6ST)
It's time for the Bike News Roundup! First up, Oregon created a 30-second animation to teach people driving how to safety pass someone on a bike. The fall distance" bit is an interesting way to teach safe passing on a simplified, public information level. It's probably better than saying at least three feet" since people [...]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6C4MV)
Speed cameras can reduce speeding and collisions while simultaneously bringing in funds to make permanent physical safety improvements to streets. And they can do all this without involving an armed police officer, sidestepping the issue of biased policing. Or at least, that's how it is supposed to work. Whose Streets? Our Streets! is a BIPOC-focused [...]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6C47J)
The Port of Seattle's Interbay detour ended up lasting less than one day rather than the originally-announced 5-day closure. And the result is a much smoother trail surface. Tree roots poking up from below had made the stretch of the Elliott Bay Trail through the Interbay rail yard very bumpy and jarring. As we reported [...]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6C47K)
Seattle Bike Blog has been cheering on the Pedaling Relief Project since it first started as a disaster relief" effort to help food banks handle the tumultuous period when the COVID-19 pandemic began. With many people suddenly out of a job and social distancing requirements complicating the usual methods for distribution, food banks had to [...]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6C305)
Transportation is a major challenge for school districts across the country, and Seattle is no exception. Bus driver availability and funding is a major deciding factor setting school walk zones and start times. Organizing student transportation is a huge undertaking, and lacking transportation can be a barrier for school access to some families. House Bill [...]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6C2HP)
One of Seattle's most unique bike routes threads a path through the middle of the Interbay rail yard, at times squeezed just a few feet and a chain link fence away from rail lines. In terms of width, condition and amenities, this section of the Elliott Bay Trail is far from Seattle's best bike route. [...]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6C0SS)
In our car-dominated American society, using a bicycle as transportation is a very positive thing to do both on a society-wide level and especially on a personal level. Obviously, as someone who rides a bike as my primary mode of transportation and writes a daily bike blog, I love bikes and view them as great […]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BZ4G)
Vehicle safety ratings in the United States don’t in any way factor in safety for people those vehicles hit. In fact, some of the methods used to score high in these ratings results in vehicle designs that make it harder for drivers to see other road users and avoid collisions from happening in the first […]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BXXM)
Do you have 3–6 hours of available time each month for the next two years and want to learn more about how transportation stuff actually gets done (or not) in Seattle? Well then, you should apply for one of the city’s advisory boards. Yes, you. Members do NOT need to have special training or professional […]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BX0N)
Josh Feit is a longtime reporter, a co-founder of PubliCola News and now a writer for Sound Transit. But on Thursday, he’ll showcase a different kind of writing: urban design poetry. Head to Good Weather Bicycle & Cafe in Capitol Hill’s Chophouse Row at 7 p.m. Thursday to hear Feit read from his new poetry […]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BX0P)
Construction on the first segment of the Beacon Hill bike lane (now called the Beacon Ave S & 15th Ave S Safety Project) is still scheduled to begin a year from now, and the project team has advanced design to the major 30% design milestone. This is the point where major designs elements are established, […]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BVJC)
Lucas Salm-Rojo, a junior at Ballard High School, wrote an excellent op-ed for the Seattle Times this week arguing that Seattle Public Schools is making it harder for students to bike to school because not every school has adequate — or any — bike parking. And the problem is particularly apparent at at schools serving […]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BVJD)
The other day my kid and I were biking the same route we bike every day on the way to preschool when something amazing happened: Part of the route had brand new bike lanes. We knew bike lanes were coming at some point, but it was still a wonderful surprise the day it happened. For […]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BTAM)
In response to the surge of letters they received from people concerned about Seattle’s plan to permanently route the waterfront bike path across Alaskan Way and back again near the Pier 66 cruise terminal, the Port of Seattle said it supports a trail on the west side of Alaskan Way so long as it can […]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BTAN)
Bike Everywhere Day is Friday, and people and organizations will be hosting Celebration Stations all over the place to cheer on anyone riding a bike and maybe give out some coffee, snacks or swag. If you work a 9 to 5 job, I highly suggest getting an early start so you can visit some stations […]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BTAP)
It’s time for the Bike News Roundup! Or rather, we are long overdue for a Bike News Roundup. I got out of the groove on organizing the interesting bike and transportation related stories I read back in 2021 when, well, reading the news wasn’t very fun. I was working on my book, and the Bike […]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BQ8N)
It is the year 2023, and Seattle just opened a new highway through the dense and walkable Belltown neighborhood. For five years, there was no connection between Alaskan Way on the waterfront and Western Ave in Belltown, and traffic was working about at well as it ever does. But this month, Seattle opened a new […]
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by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BQ8P)
The long winter finally ended recently in Seattle, just in time for the year’s first heat wave. The sun is out, so biking energy is endless. Seattleites in sunlight are like sharks: they must keep biking in order to breathe. Bike Everywhere Month is well underway, and the number of events is not slowing down. […]
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by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BP4D)
You have already told SDOT to build a continuous waterfront trail between Myrtle Edwards Park and the new downtown waterfront, but city plans still show the trail crossing Alaskan Way twice in a matter of a couple blocks near the cruise ship terminal at Pier 66. Now Seattle Neighborhood Greenways has another action alert you […]
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by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BKYK)
Hello there! Regular readers may notice that things look a little different around here. The previous site design was a customized version of the 2010 WordPress default theme and, well, it has been out of date since about 2012. I’ve been mulling over this redesign for a while, but then a recent update completely broke […]
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by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BKX5)
If you’re reading this, then the site probably looks a little funny. I’m implementing a long-needed redesign to overhaul this 2010 theme with a fresh 2023 theme. The site should still mostly function, but things might look off. Thanks for reading!
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by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BKQS)
Sometimes and idea comes along that is so simple you can’t believe you haven’t seen it before. This prototype traffic signal in Quebec is red by default, and it will only turn green if its radar detects an approaching vehicle that is traveling at or below the speed limit. Signal creator Kalitec calls the signal […]
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by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BJN6)
Here’s a somewhat unexpected note from SDOT: To enhance safety for people walking & rolling, we’re adding more 4-way stop signs on Pine St in the ❤️ of #CapitolHill. Crews worked in wind & rain today to add signs at Summit Ave & Boylston Ave. We’ll add one more at Belmont Ave as soon as […]
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by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BHG3)
The dust from car tires is killing coho salmon, significantly reducing local populations of the vital fish species. This isn’t exactly news, but Q13 recently ran a story about one test for a roadway stormwater treatment concept using compost and sand that is worth a watch. The effort is specifically targeting a chemical in tires […]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BG8C)
Velo Bike Shop is closing after a remarkable and influential 55-year run. Founded in 1968, Velo helped supply the city’s bicycling boom in the 1970s. The shop continued to be an important source of bikes and service for decades on Capitol Hill before moving into the Via6 building when it opened in the Belltown/Denny Triangle […]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BG8D)
All new or upgraded traffic signals in Seattle will feature “No Turn On Red” restrictions by default while also retrofitting dozens of existing signals with the signs. So even though a turn on red ban did not make it through the Washington legislature this year, Seattle is not waiting for the state. In fact, perhaps […]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BF1T)
There are a half dozen trees growing out of the metal grate in the buffer space protecting the 4th Avenue bike lane downtown across the street from Westlake Park. I noticed them while biking home Wednesday evening, and I had to stop. They are the same kind of tree as whatever is growing on the […]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BDW4)
Imagine a street in your neighborhood that is difficult to cross on foot, scary to bike on and/or where buses are constantly getting stuck in car traffic. I know, this was not a difficult imagination exercise. Streets like this are everywhere in Washington State. But when people try to get their city, county or—worst of […]
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BD10)
We don’t often post Federal action alerts here, but this very boring-sounding Federal policy change could have big implications for understanding our nation’s traffic safety crisis. So it’s worth taking a moment to submit a comment. Salud America sounded the … Continue reading →
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6BBKN)
The secret is out: Cascade Bicycle Club will be naming me the 2023 recipient of their Doug Walker Award as a person who “has improved lives through bicycling.” Folks with tickets to the sold out Bike Everywhere Breakfast May 4 … Continue reading →
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6B9W7)
Had an amazing time biking to Seward Park and back today, and from what I can tell half of Seattle had the same idea. The photo above is Lake Washington Boulevard. And no, it’s not Bicycle Weekend yet. Just a … Continue reading →
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6B83J)
Link light rail trains will only be running through the downtown transit tunnel every 32 minutes during a period starting now and lasting an estimated two weeks, Sound Transit announced Thursday evening. Mike Lindblom at the Seattle Times reported that … Continue reading →
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6B7T9)
OK, don’t get me wrong. The electric-assisted, weather-protected cargo bike is without a doubt the workhorse for our car-free family. We put thousands of miles on that thing every year, hauling everything from lumber to groceries to camping gear. And, … Continue reading →
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6B6CP)
Seattle Parks announced a scaled-back schedule for Bicycle Weekends on Lake Washington Boulevard (known since 1968 as Bicycle Sunday). The route and number of weekends are the same, but the timeframes have been cut back significantly. The department also removed … Continue reading →
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6B3WY)
The Washington State legislature has officially passed the 2023-25 budget, which includes significant increases in traffic safety funding as well as new e-bike incentives. Washington Bikes celebrated the budget news, calling the investments in biking and walking “unprecedented.” The appropriations … Continue reading →
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6B1ME)
A single mother of four was killed, the person responsible fled, and nobody even bothered to tell her children. This happened in our city, Seattle, and everyone needs to stop what they’re doing and acknowledge it. The story of what … Continue reading →
by Tom Fucoloro on (#6B0KY)
OK, this is amazing. As a GeoGuessr fan, this game is right up my alley. Or perhaps I should say that this game is parked right in my bike lane. Sanders Lauture created a program last year that allows people … Continue reading →