KCTS IN Close covered the city’s work to fix Rainier Ave this week. And though much of the information may not be new to readers of this blog, it’s great to see it explained in such a concise and clear video.
For 2016, we have to make sure the city not only extends the safety project, but also includes people on bikes in the improvements. On a busy street like Rainier, that means protected bike lanes.
As plans for a north-south neighborhood greenway in the Rainier Valley develop, it has become clear that Rainier Ave is the only reasonably flat and direct option for a bike route in the neighborhood. While neighborhood greenways can be great for connecting homes, schools and other destinations, Rainier is the only option for a direct and mostly flat citywide connection — the kind of bike route people use travel between neighborhoods or to major employment centers.
Rainier Valley Greenways leaders have been making the case for protected bike lanes on the street, even demonstrating several blocks of such bike lanes for Park(ing) Day. It was wonderful and worked perfectly.
Let’s make Rainier Ave safe and vibrant for everyone.
Comments
6 responses to “Watch: KCTS on ‘Fixing’ Rainier Ave”
Thanks for keeping this current. In case anyone doesn’t know we have been working on making progress with SDOT. If anyone wants to join our policy rides we love for you to join. Email me at (nospandexreq at gmail dot com) This is your opportunity to talk to SDOT and give feedback. Change just won’t happen without people pushing. http://nospandexrequired.blogspot.com/2015/12/n-s-rainier-valley-greenwayride-to-hell.html
Thanks for all your help, Shirley.
If Seattle is serious about improving traffic safety then it has to (1) start a serious program of enforcing arterial speed limits so that speeding drivers get ticketed regularly and (2) reduce the speed limit on residential streets to 20 mph and enforce that too.
I recall reading data from SDOT that road diets in Seattle have not significantly reduced average speeds or overall throughput. So, the video’s claim towards the end about there being a tradeoff between safety and mobility seems dubious.
[…] Avenue: Are we going far enough to fix this dangerous […]
SE Seattle is the only hood in the city without meaningful bike infrastructure. It also happens to be the least affluent and least white region of Seattle.
Lots of good folks have been working hard to make clear the need and to propose workable solutions. SDOT appears to be listening. But yea shall be judged by thy actions, SDOT.
#FixRainier. And the most important stretch of Rainier is between Mt Baker station and Dearborn. Without that, we’re stranded down here.
In a Move Seattle world, SDOT has enough cash to do whatever project it wants. Will North Seattle get its 15th PBL before SE Seattle gets its first?
We’re watching, SDOT…