Seattle Bike Blog

To many grassroots bike activists in the Seattle area, Brock Howell may have been until recently the face of Cascade Bicycle Club. Howell left Cascade in November shortly after an election where the club’s advocacy team was a major part … Continue reading →

Here’s a depressing fact: In 2013, 885 Americans drove away after killing a person who was walking. One in five “pedestrian fatalities” are hit and runs (for “cyclist fatalities,” it’s about one in six). This statistic speaks volumes about the … Continue reading →

’twas the night before Christmas, and all through the web, every single creature was reading about Washington Bikes’ 2016 state legislative priorities. Last year, transportation money was flying all around the state legislature. As usual, it ended with billions for … Continue reading →

If you are building something in Seattle and need to close the sidewalk, you can no longer simply send people walking out into the street. That’s according to new rules outlined by SDOT (PDF), which we wrote about previously. During … Continue reading →

It’s not just for photo ops, Councilmember Mike O’Brien really does bike everywhere. But he’s also not just about bikes. O’Brien has a seat on the Sound Transit Board, and he has been a strong advocate for biking, walking and … Continue reading →

The construction crew building out the Westlake Bikeway has outlined their schedule, beginning with phase one in January. For the first six months or so of 2016, construction will happen in four seemingly out-of-order segments in the sprawling parking area … Continue reading →

Imagine a direct, fully connected and protected bike route from Roosevelt and Green Lake all the way to downtown. The city is studying how to make it happen. And not only could the project fix some consistently dangerous collision hot … Continue reading →

The Move Seattle transportation levy kicks in January 1, but the expiring nine-year-old Bridging the Gap levy still has a little life left. And part of that remaining funding is being put to very good use: Fixing pavement on the … Continue reading →

So many of you submitted comments shocked by the gigantic waterfront highway presented in the most recent Waterfront Seattle plans that you triggered a requirement mandating the city study a road design that has fewer lanes to cross between the … Continue reading →

After years and years of planning, 2015 was the year Seattle’s Department of Transportation finally tried to hit a stride delivering bike network additions and upgrades regularly and consistently. In order to keep the Bike Master Plan on track, the … Continue reading →

The Bellevue City Council unanimously endorsed Vision Zero Monday, setting a goal of zero deaths and serious injuries on Bellevue streets by 2030. In fact, there was very little discussion or debate about the resolution (PDF), which sailed right through. … Continue reading →

Washington State now has the largest statewide advocacy organization in the nation. The Boards of Cascade Bicycle Club and Washington Bikes voted Tuesday to merge the two organizations, following months of negotiations and member outreach by both groups (see our … Continue reading →

Seattle Neighborhood Greenways hosted their annual volunteer appreciation party late last week. And aside from booze and snacks, the night also included a list of people and campaigns that have helped further the cause of safe streets in our city. … Continue reading →

Eastlake Ave is a white knuckle bike ride. Even though it’s also the only reasonably flat street that directly connects the city center to the University Bridge, there are no bike lanes. Instead, people have to try to navigate the … Continue reading →

It’s time for the Bike News Roundup! Lots of good stuff floating around the web these days, so let’s get started. First up, this 1995 video by the Seattle Department of Engineering (now the Department of Transportation) is a pretty … Continue reading →

Streetcars and bikes have gotten off to a rough start in Seattle. Planning that neglected bike safety has led to many injuries, especially on Westlake Ave and Jackson Street. We have written about the need for protected bike lanes when … Continue reading →

Bikes vs Cars is a new documentary that attempts to lay out the global and local problems caused by car culture and car infrastructure in our cities and how people in cities across the world are pushing back, often while … Continue reading →

This is part two of a series looking at the first year of usage data from Pronto Cycle Share. Pronto organized a “data challenge,” and the submissions they received go deeper than you might expect. The Pronto Data Challenge received … Continue reading →

Bike theft is up, at least on UW campus. “It’s our number one property crime on campus,” said UW Police Deputy Chief Csaba Maczala. “That’s a good thing, since violent crime is down. So I’m glad we most have to … Continue reading →

This is part one of a series looking at the first year of usage data from Pronto Cycle Share. Pronto organized a “data challenge,” and the submissions they received go deeper than you might expect. Did you know there are … Continue reading →

People working to make our streets safer and our bike routes more connected have a lot to celebrate. True, we have a lot of work ahead to make sure projects happen right. But first, let’s party. Join Seattle Neighborhood Greenways … Continue reading →

EDITOR’S NOTE: Thanks, Marley, for letting us know about Max and the ride to celebrate his life. We send our condolences to his loved ones. The Seattle bike community is invited to join together to joyfully remember a beloved friend, … Continue reading →

Downtown Seattle will get its first live-updated bike counter display soon thanks to Commute Seattle. Located on 2nd Ave between Madison and Marion Streets, the counter will tick away daily and annual totals as people bike by. As we’ve seen … Continue reading →

Seattle’s sixth annual Cranksgiving food drive bike ride was Saturday, and it was one for the record books. 160 people bought an astounding 1,560 pounds of food from local food vendors all around town and hauled it by bike to … Continue reading →

The Westlake bikeway lawsuit is over, and construction will begin soon on a two-way protected bike lane from the Fremont Bridge to Lake Union Park. If all goes according to schedule, the bikeway will open in the summer. Mayor Ed … Continue reading →

A man driving a pickup truck in Everett struck and killed a man biking Thursday evening around 6:30 p.m. The identity of the man killed has not yet been released. Our deepest condolences to his friends and family. Few details … Continue reading →

Seattle’s plan to turn one of its worst intersections into one of its best just keeps getting better. With the misleadingly-boring name “Accessible Mount Baker,” the project would simultaneously revolutionize non-motorized transportation in the whole Rainier Valley, prevent dozens of … Continue reading →

It’s a world (online) premiere! Seattle Bike Blog is happy to host the online release of Microcosm Publishing’s Groundswell #7: Gentrification Response Team. For years, Elly Blue and Joe Biel over at Microcosm Publishing have been touring the country visiting … Continue reading →

Construction on the Westlake Bikeway and parking circulation improvements is about to begin. You can learn more about construction activities at an information session 4 – 7 p.m. Thursday (tomorrow) in the Commons Room of the AGC Building. Meanwhile, there … Continue reading →

An independent family drama where cycling in Seattle plays a central role? I bet there are a lot of readers of this blog who can identify with that. You can be among the first people to see Phoebe’s Father 6:30 … Continue reading →

When Mayor Ed Murray presented his proposed 2016 budget, he had to assume there would be no replacement for Bridging the Gap, and it was pretty devastating. There was an exciting $5 million one-time expenditure for expanding Pronto Cycle Share, … Continue reading →

King County will remove the rails on the Eastside Trail, a vital step toward creating a walkable and bikeable trail from Woodinville to Renton. The work was proposed by King County Executive Dow Constantine and approved by the King County … Continue reading →

Work to combine Cascade Bicycle Club and Washington Bikes is still on track and moving forward, according to a WA Bikes update. We reported on the proposed merger back in August, and both organizations’ boards have since adopted a nonbinding … Continue reading →

A food drive scavenger hunt by bike, Cranksgiving riders bike to a secret list of unique food sellers around Seattle buying food to donate to Rainier Valley Food Bank. The 2015 ride is Saturday, November 21, starting at Cal Anderson … Continue reading →

A truly rapid bus on Madison Street from Colman Dock to Madison Valley? Protected bike lanes on E Union Street? Major walking improvements at every terrible Madison intersection? Now that Move Seattle has passed, all this is on track to … Continue reading →

Note: Several are bike stories fell through the cracks during the election craziness. This is one of them. We’re working to play catch-up now that the dust is settling. If you think we missed something big recently, email tom@seattlebikeblog.com. The … Continue reading →

The Fairview Ave N bridge is part of a major bike route hub, and major improvements and new connections on Westlake, Eastlake, 9th Ave N, Lakeview Blvd E and the 520 Bridge will only make it more important in the … Continue reading →

You passed Move Seattle! Have I mentioned recently how great that is for our city? Well, it’s already time to start directing the investment, starting with a major intersection that is the root of so many Southeast Seattle mobility problems: … Continue reading →

The John Wayne Pioneer Trail (AKA the Iron Horse Trail) was one typo away from destruction this year. Not only do we need to protect it from another effort to give away the central half of the defunct rail right-of-way, … Continue reading →

In an odd-year election, Seattle invested at least $400 million into safe streets, and every City Council candidate endorsed by Seattle Bike Blog, Seattle Transit Blog, Seattle Subway or Cascade Bicycle Club appears on the verge of winning. Urban cycling’s … Continue reading →

Mike Wang was biking home to his family one evening in July 2011 when a man driving an SUV made a quick left turn and killed him on Dexter Ave. It’s impossible to fill a hole in the world the … Continue reading →

It’s time for the Bike News Roundup! Don’t forget to vote! And whether you voted weeks ago or your ballot is still at home, you can join me for our first ever Procrastinator’s Voting Party, 5–6:30 p.m. at Chuck’s Hop … Continue reading →

Our Halloween Kidical Mass ride was also a #bikethevote ride. Thanks Princess Leia and blue Care Bear! pic.twitter.com/bwgR8Bm6mv — Madi Carlson (@familyride) November 1, 2015 Did you know there are six ballot drop boxes with easy access to the Burke-Gilman … Continue reading →

Building neighborhoods without sidewalks was a truly terrible idea. I mean, seriously. What the hell? If you’re building a place for people to live, how can you leave out the space for people to walk? It’s absolute insanity, and it … Continue reading →

The roof on the east tower of the University Bridge is leaking. There’s also a water pipe that needs replacing. And, unfortunately, the city needs to close the northbound bike lane in order to make these repairs. Work is scheduled … Continue reading →

Imagine you have two major highways leading into your Pacific Northwest city. One comes from the south and goes all the way to Mexico, the other comes from the east and connects all the way to Midwest and Atlantic ports. … Continue reading →

In the lead up to next week’s vote, the Let’s Move Seattle campaign has been focused on the exciting and new elements of the nine-year transportation levy proposal: Seven new rapid bus lines to all parts of town, Safe Routes … Continue reading →

One of Seattle Bike Blog’s all-time most read stories has a simple title: How to bike in the Seattle rain. Some people thought the post was a cop-out since, in a way, it contains little real advice about what to … Continue reading →

Well, it was worth a shot. The Feds did not pick Seattle’s TIGER grant proposal for funding the Northgate bike/walk bridge and a “massive” Pronto Cycle Share expansion, SDOT confirmed today. The news comes one day after Senator Patty Murray … Continue reading →

Did you know the Move Seattle levy will build a road safety project at every single public school in the city? It’s true! And that’s just one example of a community-generated idea in the nine-year transportation levy. But boosting Safe … Continue reading →