The real problems with biking in Seattle

At least one avid cyclist isn’t surprised Seattle is no longer considered one of the top 10 places to ride a bike.

The city doesn’t have an effective policy for making bike commuting enjoyable and safe, according to University of Washington Atmospheric Science professor Cliff Mass. In his blog, Mass cited three issues that have stalled commuters from truly embracing biking to work.

If only the city’s Parks Department would take maintenance seriously on the Burke-Gilman Trail, Mass said, noting this bicycle superhighway has untapped potential. He gives extra points for improved crossings in the U-District, but said promises to make lasting repairs have not been fulfilled.

Maybe the most significant problem Mass cited is there are no established routes from the north or south ends (West Seattle and Eastside, too) into the city. The Ship Canal Bridge on I-5 is jammed with single drivers in cars who could easily be on bikes every day.

Not to mention, the city would have to work with adjacent cities to make sure the route continues without interruption. In Shoreline, that’s currently only one route, according to King County’s bike map.

“Amazingly, the city has not established a single route whereby a cyclist can commute without serious and dangerous contention with cars,” Mass wrote.

For example, if a rider starts off on the Interurban Trail at the Seattle/Shoreline border (145th), the cutoff is Northgate Way/Holman Road, according to the city’s 2015 Bike Map. There’s no safe jog over to Greenwood Ave or 8th Ave. If one does make it, Greenwood Ave. is cut off at the zoo; 8th Ave. pops you onto the Burke-Gilman Trail. And not even half of that example route features protected bike lanes.

“If Seattle is serious about fostering bicycle commuting there must be protected bike routes,” Mass said.

Lastly, the city has wasted money on PR-schemes that have done little to help bicycle commuters, according to Mass. The bike symbols (sharrows) painted on the roadways have done little to actually protect bicycle riders, especially from open car doors. According to Mass, the shared bike programs, like Pronto, are a colossal waste of money and nobody is using them.

(Note: Speaking of steep. There are only two north-south routes around Queen Anne: Elliott Bay Trail and Dexter Ave. N. on the city’s bike map. Both are considered unprotected bike lanes.)

So what can be done?

Mass recommends the city come up with four major routes for out-of-town commuters, stop wasting time on PR opportunities that make no difference (kayaking around a Shell oil rig) and commit to something that will truly help get people out of their cars.

SK