As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, we are all hankering to get outside and spend time on the Seattle area’s wonderful trails. Routes like the Burke-Gilman, Sammamish River Trail and Cedar River trail are awesome car-free spaces for people to get exercise, transport themselves, and simply enjoy their surroundings.
However, more crowded trails mean that safety on trails is an important concern in the coming months. To that end, Cascade will be sending our Bicycle Ambassadors to some trail safety “hot spots” in the coming months in order to both support trail users and remind everyone of some common safety behaviors (alert others when passing, keep pets on a close leash, use lights after dark etc). As we plan this outreach effort, I’m looking for any suggestions from YOU: are there specific sections of Seattle-area trails that could use some extra TLC in the safety department?
There is an open message board thread on this topic to post your reply or you can add it to the comments section below. Thank you for helping us make this project successful.
I’ve only recently started exploring the bike trails around Seattle, instead of just biking for daily errands. I’ve been quite startled at how few people on bikes slow down or yield to crossing vehicles at the numerous trail crossings on the Burke Gilman. The signage at crossings is inconsistent – in many places, the trail has stop signs, or yield signs; in others the cross streets have yield signs; often the trail stop signs are paired with large yellow warning signs for crossing traffic. Unlike drivers I encounter when riding city streets, drivers who cross the Burke Gilman almost always yield to bikes, anticipating that people on bikes will not stop even when there are stop signs. When I attempt to follow the signs and yield, drivers wave me through.
I think the most sensible response to this situation would be to change the signage to match people’s behavior: place stop or yield signs for the vehicles crossing the trail, and big yellow warning signs on the trail indicating the presence of a crossing. Most people on bikes do seem to stop for stop lights, so if there are intersections where it is really unsafe for bikes not to stop, place stop lights.
Unfortunately this is quite unlikely to happen, so in the meantime, everyone mind your manners!
The stop signs on the trail are confusing for both the drivers and the riders. Apparently, the rider and driver both need to stop, and then the rider has the right of way in the crosswalk. Some drivers think they have the right of way, because of the stop sign on the trail.
I agree, it doesn’t make sense. There should be stop or yeild signs at all trail crossings for the street users, and yellow crossing signs on the trails. It would be great to have these standardized.
I found this very informative discussion on the topic of stop signs on the trail.
http://seattlebikeblog.com/2011/11/23/stop-signs-at-trail-crossings-are-often-confusing-for-everyone/
Thanks, Kirk! The discussion on Seattle Bike Blog is very helpful, at least in confirming that the present setup doesn’t make sense. Good luck to the Cascade Ambassadors if they try to increase compliance!
In terms of trail hotspots, the Myrtle Edwards/Cenetennial Park/Waterfront Trail/Terminal 91 Trail has become very hazardous on sunny mornings, evenings and weekends. With the bicycle trail still closed due to construction of the Thomas Street overpass, the narrow pedestrian path is overburdened by the traffic and becomes quite dangerous.
The Thomas Street overpass project is delayed, and work has virtually stopped on it at this time. The SDOT could easily open the bicycle path north of the construction site to relieve this problem, but they have declined to do so. This section of pathway is completely ridable, and opening it when construction is not occuring would help to relieve the pressure.
I know this is alittle off subject, but The SRT between the 2 bridges that crosses over the river in Bothell, that stretch of trail approx 1/4 is mad unsafe, so much root damage has made that section the roughest and most dangerous part of the trail and needs attention…
Is this limited to the west side? Traveling north on Coal Creek Parkway, for the longest time I would go straight through the crazy intersection of cars getting on/off the freeway. Recently I saw the tiny green sign (new?) that suggested I cross the street to get on a path! I tried it and appreciated it, but STILL accidentally got off the trail earlier than I was supposed to and I had to make a dodgy sprint back onto the road right near a blind corner. The area is overall dodgy and some direction would be MUCH appreciated!
you need to contact the city of bellevue transportation department about improving the signage. once you become familiar with the area, using the offstreet paths from Factoria Blvd to Newport Shores are much friendlier than riding in the street.
There are two intersections on the Burke Gilman Trail that are very dangerous. They are both located on Bothell Way. One at Ballinger and the other, one intersection south. The problem is the lanes do not allow for safe access from one side of the street to the other side. It is particularly bad for cyclist riding northbound who have to make an extreme sharp right turn, around a light standard, to enter the right side lane.
If you want clarification, feel free to contact me.
Alki trail is dangerous in summer both for cyclists and for the pedestrians who ignore the ‘wheels only’ markings and walk on the trail instead of the walking path. Riding on the road is not a good option because of the bumper to bumper traffic. Better signage on the trail even flagging would help.
On many parts of trails that prohibit motor vehicles, the barrier post in the center of the trail is both SHORT and GRAY, making it difficult to see. This is especially dangerous in low-light and rainy conditions because the post BLENDS IN WITH THE PAVEMENT making it difficult to see. I nearly hit one of these posts when passing a jogger whose body blocked my view of it until after I had passed her. I wrote to the president of the CBC several years ago and sent pictures of a paved trail in Oregon that uses HIGH (around ten feet) POSTS and paints them BRIGHT RED-AND-WHITE so they are easily seen from a distance and in incelement weather.
I communte between 45th NE and Sand Point Way to Kenmore on the Burke-Gilman. The new trail between 145th and Kenmore has spoiled me and has most certainly increased the safety in that section.
The rest of the trail is safe for the most part except for a few narrow spots and the huge bumps from roots. Riders try to avoid these bumps (some are mountains) by swerving around creating a potential collision hazard. One exceptionally bad spot is by Matthews Beach but they are continuous throughout this section of the trail.
The other hazard are the riders who are training for the Tour De France creating a hazard for all. I am very afraid a child will be seriously injured or killed by someone who simply cannot and will not slow down. EVERYONE, at least slow down when you see a child and when the trail is very busy with both bikers and pedestrians. I am not sure what can be done to slow down the all the Lance Armstrongs on the trail.
I am very hopefully we can resurface this section of the trail or at least cut out the major bump hazards increasing the safety.
I am very thankful to the people responsible for converting the train tracks to the Burke-Gilman trail. I love love love the Burke-Gilman Trail.
JG
I agree with the previous post regarding the trail barrier posts. I think their original purpose was to keep cars off of the trail system but is this really needed. Some of the trails around the south end are now missing these posts, and I have never seen a car on the trail (green river or interurban trails). I however do know of a person that is now unable to run or walk becuase of these posts.
Why can’t we just get rid of these dangerous posts or use something that doesn’t tear your leg off?
Fairer weather brother and sister cyclists,
It’s so great to see you enjoying the better weather on all our local trails. Where have you been in the off-season? Please, please, please remember that single file riding is much, much, much safer than riding two (or, yes, sometimes more) abreast as our trails become more occupied w/ all sorts of users. Most of our trails have almost enough width to accomodate three bicycles, but pushing the capacity to three bikes across leaves no room for error or passing.
Keep the rubber side down.
The Stone Way eastbound crossing of the BGT is appallingly dangerous. That odd little building there completely blocks the view to traffic on 34th, much of which turns right onto Stone/Northlake, often at an unsafely fast speed. The crosswalk light is also badly timed there, running “walk” only half the time when both directions of 34th are moving.
And weekend warriors – a paceline is NEVER appropriate on the trail. Please find somewhere more rational to train.
Hello. I completely agree with the signage issue . I also feel a big issue as a pedestrian or as a cyclist tjat enjoys the trails is the following: MOST cyclists do not use a bell or annouce that they are passing–a sign and clearly posted ‘rule’ on the trail. It is mostly about safety but it is also a common courtesy to others. Unfortunately, the people who also drive cars and DO NOT a) signal their intent or b) obey posted signs/traffic lights (espeically the yields and stops) or c) obey traffic laws (ie: keep right when they are slower traffic), or d) notice that there are actually other people on the road besides themselves – - they are out there riding bikes and are not subject to monitoring, not required to have a basic education or to obtain and maintain a license. As for me, I try to follow this : be the change you want to see in the world.
Thank you to everyone for your feedback and suggestions! It is so awesome to have the collective knowledge of so many folks, and I will do my best to make sure we get Ambassadors to all of these locations. It’s also great to get some ideas about which messages to push-i.e fast riders and unclear passing/intersections seem to be the biggest concerns. Thank you again for all this feedback, and I hope this conversation will continue. Look out for the Ambassadors along the Elliott Bay Trail (near the Sculpture Park), Sammamish River Trail (in Bothell), and Burke Gilman Trail (by UW) in the coming weeks!