I had the privilege of sitting down with KUOW’s Libby Denkmann this week to talk about some of Seattle bicycle history I wrote about in the first part of Biking Uphill in the Rain.
The Soundside episode is 30 minutes, so grab a cup of something and give it a listen on their website or however you listen to podcasts.
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3 responses to “Listen: Talking Seattle bike history with KUOW’s Soundside (30min)”
I enjoyed the interview on NPR !
I also enjoyed the interview on KUOW.
One remark seemed off. You described the origin of Rainier Avenue South as a state highway. The origin may have been a streetcar. It may have eventually extended to Renton. It was replaced by an electric trolleybus route in about 1940. SR-900 may have led to Empire Way South, now MLK Jr. Way South. The north part of Rainier Avenue South has become a strode, a wide multilane arterial. It also has an interchange north of South Massachusetts Street with I-90. Before it was complete, South Dearborn Street carried the I-90 traffic.
You correctly describe the main bike pathway issue in SE Seattle: the three major options all carry heavy transit routes and are diagonal; it is difficult to add bike infrastructure. I suggest that transit be removed from MLK between the G Line terminal and South Plum Street; it could more easily have bike infrastructure and it would connect with the I-90, South Dearborn, and get close to the Arboretum.
Ah. Rainier Avenue South was also SR-167.