Archive for the ‘Greenways’ Category

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Greenways are going places

Thursday, October 25th, 2012 by

Sometime in September, I started noticing changes happening on 39th Ave. NE. First, some ramps were being built to connect to the Burke-Gilman Trail. Then the intersection was popped out for safer pedestrian crossings. And then concrete islands appeared on 65th St. to help with safer crossings. ‘Lo and behold, folks, a new neighborhood greenway is well on the way!

This Friday, Oct 26, the 39th Ave. Greenway is opening to great fanfare. And costumes. And kids on bikes. And donuts!

From the Wedgwood Community Council:

While not all of the painting and striping will likely be completed in time for the ribbon cutting, that won’t stop us from having fun.  There will be a ribbon cutting, refreshments, and festivities at the greenway’s connection to the Burke (39th Ave NE & NE 52nd Street) beginning at 8 a.m!  The Thornton Creek Elementary south bike train will depart around 8:45 a.m. in the full glory of their Halloween costumes. You can see the full invitation HERE.

Join us there to celebrate and ride Seattle’s newest greenway!

Then on Sunday, join us for a fun family bike ride along the Ballard Greenway. The ride meets at the Ballard Commons at 10 a.m. The ride is organized by Cascade ride leaders and greenway aficionados Cathy Tuttle and Robin Randels.

The group will first explore the west side of the Greenway to see how it links to the Burke-Gilman Trail, then pass the Ballard Library to explore the east side of the Greenway before returning to the Ballard Commons and on to the Ballard Farmer’s Market.

Volunteers from Ballard Greenways, including local bike advocate (and recent ALI graduate) Shannon Koller, will be on hand to answer questions about the project. At approximately two miles, the route is short enough to accommodate our younger family members. You will encounter gentle hills, roundabouts, marked and unmarked intersections, uneven and cracked pavement, traffic lights and a bike lane. This presents an opportunity to teach our emerging urban cyclists about how to successfully navigate these elements in a supportive and fun environment.

Posted in Daily Rides, Events, Family biking, Greenways, Kids on bikes | 6 Comments »

Mayor’s proposed budget shows strong support for bicycling — action needed

Tuesday, September 25th, 2012 by

Mayor Mike McGinn delivered his 2013-2014 Proposed Budget on Monday afternoon, which includes necessary support for bicycling.

Photo courtesy of Seattle Mayor’s Office

Highlights in the budget include:

- critical funding for required planning to help complete the Missing Link of the Burke-Gilman trail;

- an extra $1,256,000 over two years to plan and build neighborhood greenways that make it safe for our kids to walk and bike to school;

- funds to build a protected bikeway cycletrack along a segment of 7th Ave downtown and plan for an extension of the route;

- $150,000 to create a plan for world-class bikeways downtown;

- a study to examine building a bicycle-pedestrian-transit bridge across the Ship Canal between Ballard and Fremont; and

- $10 million over two years to repave city streets, making them safer for everyone.

These are exactly the kind of investments we need to make if we want Seattle to become a city where everyone has the freedom to safely bike to get where they need to go because our city is connected with a world-class network of bikeways.

Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee the City Council will protect funding for these critical investments as they make their budget decisions over the next month.  And as we know, if we don’t make the necessary investments, Seattle will never become the city we know it should be.

But you can help!  Tell the City Council to protect bicycling in the budget.

If you prefer to tell the Council in person to protect funding for bicycling, please attend the City Council budget hearings on Thursday,  Oct. 4, and Thursday, Oct. 25. These hearings will take place at 5:30 p.m. (sign up at 5 p.m.) in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 600 4th Ave.

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Posted in Advocacy, Complete streets, Greenways | No Comments »

Ballard greenway delayed

Tuesday, September 11th, 2012 by

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has decided to put the Ballard Neighborhood Greenway on hold for now. 

The Ballard Neighborhood Greenway is a proposed 2.1-mile-long, slow-traffic road that provides people of all ages and abilities with safe, convenient, and comfortable opportunities to walk and bike to destinations like the Ballard library, parks, schools, and the Burke-Gilman Trail.

Beginning at the Burke-Gilman Trail at Seaview Avenue N.W., the greenway would travel along N.W. 58th and 57th Streets, and end at 4th Avenue N.W.

When SDOT presented its plans at an open house in July, they were met with some opposition from some concerned neighbors.

From SDOT:

“…SDOT will seek additional input from impacted residents and local community groups over the next several months and will reevaluate the proposed plan.

SDOT is also planning to host another open house during Spring, 2013, where staff will provide an update and additional information about Neighborhood Greenways.  Invitations to the open house will be mailed to residents approximately two weeks in advance.

We are also preparing a written response to the questions and concerns we received, which will be available on the project website later this month.

Again, thank you for your comments and feedback.  We hope you will continue to be involved in the development of this project.  You are also welcome to send additional comments or questions at any time to walkandbike@seattle.gov or by calling 206-684-7583.”

We look forward to the Ballard Neighborhood Greenway being built next year.

Posted in Around town, Greenways | 2 Comments »

Momentum gaining to make Southeast Seattle more bikeable

Monday, August 27th, 2012 by

Or at least the stage is being set.

Earlier this month, Cascade’s Bicycle Ambassadors headed down to Columbia City to lead a kid’s bicycle parade in the Rainier Valley Heritage Parade. People decorated and displayed their bicycles and family bicycle fun was had.

A big question that I came away with is why can’t I feel this comfortable bicycling in Rainier Valley all the time? There are a few movements afoot and the opportunity to get involved is right now.

From Bike Works:

HELP DESIGN A GREENWAY FOR RAINIER VALLEY- Easy, Safe, Enjoyable walking and biking for everyone!!

Have you ever thought, “I’d love to walk to the store, but that street crossing is too dangerous”?  Or, “I wish I felt comfortable biking my kids to school, but there’s no good route”?  Would you like to make the Rainier Valley a fun and inviting place to walk and bike around, while also providing easy and clear routes for drivers?  Then come on down to Bike Works and start the Labor Day weekend right with a Neighborhood Greenways gathering!  Draw your favorite biking and walking routes on the Rainier Valley map.  Pinpoint the things you love and hate about walking and biking in your neighborhood, or places you think are dangerous.

Enjoy the satisfaction of being involved in building a network of safe streets through the Rainier Valley, making it easy and low-stress to get around by foot, car, bus, and bike, for kids, adults, and people of all skill levels.  Once we have data from a bunch of folks Rainier Valley Greenways will apply for funding through the city (via the Bike Master Plan and others) to address the issues and make it real!  Cookies, snacks, drinks, maps, and thought-provoking discussion provided.  Join in!

Friday, Aug. 31 6 to 7:30 p.m. At Bike Works- 3709 S. Ferdinand, Seattle WA  98118

Wednesday, Sept. 5 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Rainier Beach Library Meeting Room, 9125 Rainier Ave S

See you there!

Posted in Greenways, Southeast Seattle Bikes | No Comments »

Walk the Ballard Neighborhood Greenway this weekend

Thursday, August 2nd, 2012 by

Following an open house event last week, Ballard Greenways is hosting a neighborhood walk along the proposed Ballard greenway along NW 58th St. this Sunday.

Ballard Greenways previously invited neighbors to ride the proposed greenway route. On Sunday, the community is invited to walk it.

At last week’s open house, the Seattle Department of Transportation presented its plans for the Ballard Neighborhood Greenway, a 2.1 mile long greenway beginning at the Burke-Gilman Trail at Seaview Avenue NW, traveling along NW 58th and 57th Streets, and terminating at 4th Avenue NW.  The greenway will make it safer and more comfortable to get around Ballard and visit places like the Ballard library, parks, schools, and the Burke-Gilman Trail.

Proposed improvements include:

- Signs and pavement legends along the greenway
- Stop signs to control traffic crossing the greenway at certain intersections
- Widened sidewalk on Seaview Avenue NW to access the Burke-Gilman Trail
- Median island at 24th Avenue NW and NW 58th Street
- Diverter for eastbound traffic at 15th Avenue NW and NW 58th St (at St. Alphonsus School)
- Additional bicycle parking at destinations along the route

While work on the greenway is set to begin this September, the discussion is far from over. The SDOT presentation drew a large crowd of interested as well as concerned neighbors, and this weekend’s “Let’s Walk Ballard” events aims to continue the conversation about bringing safe and healthy streets to Ballard.

The walk starts at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 5, at West Woodland Elementary School, 5601 4th Avenue NW, and will end an hour later at Ballard Commons Park, 5501 22nd Avenue NW. This is an opportunity to get informed about greenways, share ideas and express concerns. Children are welcome.

For more information, visit the Ballard Greenways Facebook event page.

Posted in Advocacy, Complete streets, Greenways | No Comments »

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