May 2 Advocacy Training / Campaign Planning Workshop

Photo of WSBC members looking at route maps at an SDOT open house for neighborhood greenway projects.

Are you interested in making West Seattle a safer place to walk or ride a bike but don’t know where to start? Tuesday evening is your chance to learn how to build community support, work with agencies and elected officials, and make your neighborhood a better place to live.

West Seattle Bike Connections has invited Clara Cantor, Community Organizer with Seattle Neighborhood Greenways, to teach methods for planning your project, finding allies and handling opposition. Our discussion will highlight WSBC’s top priority (an east-west route through southern West Seattle) but what you learn will make you a better advocate for any project you want to see in your neighborhood.

Join us on Tuesday, May 2 at 6:30pm to 8:30 pm

At Neighborhood House: 6400 Sylvan Way SW

Entrance and bike parking are at the northwest corner of the building.

This is our regular monthly meeting time, dedicated this month to this workshop. We welcome and embrace the diversity of experiences and knowledge of everyone in our city, particularly with regard to race, ethnicity, culture, socio-economic background, gender, sexual orientation, age, and physical ability. We invite you to join us!

Large group of cyclists gathered at Spokane Street Bridge for memorial for RobbGroup photo of people waiting to testify to City Council for safety improvements on West Marginal Way SW at Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural CeneterWSBC folks meeting with SDOT traffic engineer and Tony Fragada from Alki Community Council at Harbor Ave/ SW Spokane intersection. WSBC, SDOT and Port of Seattle reps meeting on West Marginal Way SW to discuss potential bike lane. Claudia Mason speaking to bike riders gathered for memorial for Robb Mason at Spokane St Bridge.

Bike Everywhere Day – May 19

West Seattle Bike Connections and friends welcome you once again to Bike Everywhere Day at the west end of the Spokane Low Bridge from 6 to 9 AM. Homemade baked goods, beverages and information on bicycling routes and planned improvements will be available, and local enthusiasts can answer questions about commuting, recreational cycling and other biking issues including the newest campaign we are cooking up. photo of woman riding bike on trail approaching Spokane Street Bridge. Semi truck and high bridge in background.

Spokane St Bridge closure – recommended detour

As you know, the Spokane Street Bridge is currently out of commission. To ride or walk from West Seattle across the Duwamish River it is now necessary to use the First Avenue South Bridge or the South Park Bridge.

Here is a bike detour route from our Resources page that we recommend. A bit longer but with less vehicle traffic and lower vehicle speeds than SDOT’s detour route. Most of it is signed as a bike route, but signage is lacking at the foot of the First Avenue S Bridge. The RideWithGPS route has audio and printable cues for turns. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34419471

Here is a current video of that route, from John Graham: https://youtu.be/eLyQXbQ7xfw

More than 2-1/2 years ago, we asked SDOT to make permanent improvements for a safe detour route to the Spokane Street Bridge for just this sort of predictable and likely event.  Our allies at Duwamish Valley Safe Streets, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways, and Cascade Bicycle Club joined us in these requests for the Reconnect West Seattle work. SDOT did not respond, except for minor improvements on 6th Ave S and one track crossing. Now it is an emergency. SDOT is putting together a temporary detour route with temporary protections, and the City is working with King County Metro to offer free bus and water taxi rides for all who need alternatives. While hoping for a more pro-active work for permanent improvements, we are grateful for the current effort. The temporary work and the transit fare relief give options for people biking, and provides a valuable opportunity to test out the planned bike lanes for part of West Marginal Way SW, and bike routes in Georgetown and SODO.

If you try either or both of these routes, or have another to suggest, please let us know what you think.

How do we end traffic violence?

Robb Mason was killed by the driver of a white or silver sedan at the east end of the Spokane St Bridge right near this spot. Here is another one willing to do the same thing. Joe is clearly visible, clearly intending to cross the at the clearly signed crossing, with family and friends on the way to Seattle Neighborhood Greenways safe streets party. Joe has the right of way. The driver has an obligation to stop but does not care. How can we get drivers like this to care? Or, at least prevent them from committing this kind of violence?

Terrible tracks no more

Some good news! The terrible track crossing on the Duwamish Trail by the cement plants was fixed last week with permanent steel-edged precast concrete panels.

We’ve been asking for years. This kind of spot improvement makes it safe and comfortable to travel by bike. Thank you to SDOT and BNSF!

And, thank you to Desiree Serr for the photo.

This is an actively used rail line, so do watch for trains, and cross tracks at 90 degree angle.

Remember Robb Mason. Make a statement

Remember Robb Mason.
Make a statement about safe bike riding and dangerous car driving.
This Friday, July 29, 7 PM
Critical Mass memorial ride from Westlake Center to east end of Spokane St Bridge.
https://i0.wp.com/www.seattlebikeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/RobbMason.jpg?resize=460%2C614&ssl=1
Photo of Robb Mason from his friend Judi and Seattle Bike Blog

Pedaling Relief

Have you heard about the Pedaling Relief Project?  They are inviting new volunteers to deliver groceries by bike from White Center Food Bank to people in need in White Center and West Seattle.

Info and sign up: https://cascade.org/prp-west-seattle-white-center

Bike Everywhere Day May 20, 2022

Join West Seattle Bike Connections, SDOT and the Flip Your Trip team from 6-9 AM and again from 4-7 PM where bike trails meet just west of the West Seattle Low Bridge. Satisfy your morning hunger with homemade baked goods and coffee, and tasty treats and bikey beverages at both events. Get advice on safe routes and equipment, including the latest information on construction of the upcoming East Marginal Way S Corridor Improvement Project, and a selfie with Sal the Salmon. Simple bike repairs come courtesy of Westside Bicycles in the morning and Bike Works in the afternoon. Light sets, bandannas, koozies and other swag will be available, and you can sign up for a prize giveaway from local businesses.

If you can volunteer to help for an hour or 9 two between 6 and 9 am, email us at westseattlebikeconnections@gmail.com .

West Marginal Way SW / Duwamish Trail missing link

SDOT announced a decision for the Duwamish Trail missing link on West Marginal Way SW: Protected bike lanes will be installed after the West Seattle Bridge reopens in mid-2022.

While sooner would be better, it is good to have this commitment from SDOT to permanently improve safety for bike riders and vehicle drivers on West Marginal Way SW. Reducing the opportunities for reckless right-side passing by impatient drivers should reduce the frequent crashes that tie up traffic for hours and injure people using this route. WMW is an essential freight route. We understand the need to prioritize freight and to accommodate all others who must use this street.
Kudos to the SDOT Vision Zero team. They developed a creative plan and reached out and listened to all who depend on this street for transportation and for safe pedestrian crossing at the Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center.
This will fill in a missing link in the Duwamish Trail, a regional bike commuting and recreational route leading to the Alki Trail, West Seattle Junction, South Park, Georgetown, Green River Trail, Tukwila, SODO, Downtown Seattle, and the Mountains to Sound Trail. The route serves marginalized communities in the Duwamish Valley. This route is critical for all bike traffic between northern West Seattle and Greater Seattle at times when the Spokane Street Bridge is closed to bike traffic for inspections and repairs. The improvements will make the route safer for commuting by bike, especially in winter and at night, and more comfortable for people of all ages and abilities.

Bike Everywhere Day Celebration Station – Friday May 21

6 to 9 a.m. 5/21/21.
Come visit our Bike Everywhere Day station where the trails meet at the west end of the Spokane Street Bridge!
In partnership with Commute Seattle, WSBC will be joined by Westside Bicycle and Bike Works, who will be providing bike checks and simple repairs. We’ll have information on bicycling routes, giveaways (including a bike from Bike Works!) and a selfie booth to snap a #FlipYourTrip photo with Sal the Salmon, courtesy of SDOT. Volunteers will be on hand to answer your local cycling questions–from commuting to just getting started. We look forward to seeing you!
Check out Cascades Bicycle Club’s map for other celebration stations and Bike Month activities. https://cascade.org/rides-and…/bike-everywhere-month-2021
Four people standing and chatting, one with bike, at our Bike Everywhere Day Celebration Station. People with bikes meeting in early morning at our Bike Everywhere Day Celebration Station table and tent. Councilmember Lorena Gonzales with e-bike at our Bike Everywhere Day Celebration Station.