Last day to comment on Highland Park Way SW bike lane/trail concepts

SDOT is considering plans to improve bike access up and down Highland Park Way SW, a long and fairly steep section of roadway that serves as the only viable bike route option between the Duwamish Trail/1st Ave Bridge and Highland Park. Complete their online survey by June 15 (tomorrow!).

Building this connection is one of West Seattle Bike Connections' top priorities, and the current design concepts would either widen the sidewalk significantly to create a walking and biking trail or install a downhill protected bike lane while directing uphill riders to take the sidewalk. A third option would be to build the bike lane in the interim with the intention of building the trail when funding is available. There is not a no build" option.

All options would repurpose one of the two downhill general traffic lanes to create space for either the bike lane or the wider path, but both options maintain two uphill general traffic lanes. We know from Vision Zero data that the majority of traffic deaths occur on streets with multiple lanes in the same direction. It would be great to see SDOT consider a design with one general traffic lane in each direction as well as bike lanes in each direction. Perhaps the bikeway could be on the northwest side of the street to better connect to the Duwamish Trail. This would also reserve the existing sidewalk as pedestrian space.

But the good news is that all options would be an improvement over the current conditions. No bike lane can level this hill, but having a protected space were you can safely take your time makes a big difference.