Slog - Comments on New Idea for the Viaduct--Make it a Bike Path!

Comment by DOUG.

DOUG. — Wed, 23 May 2007 09:42:29 -0800

Are you already drunk, Harry Carey? What's the big difference between Mayors Daley & Nickels? Oh, about 150 pounds.

Greg Nickels has publicly admitted that's he's afraid to ride a bike in Seattle. He does not give one shit about making Seattle a bicycle-friendly town, despite his bloated lip service.

One of the first phases of the Bicycle Master Plan (Stone Way) has already been severely altered because 3 or 4 small businesses did not want to lose four blocks of a precious, lightly-traveled lane to bicyclists.

But at least six days each summer the city throws us a bone and shuts down a two-mile stretch of Lake Washington Blvd. Gee, thanks.

Comment by DFWTH

DFWTH — Wed, 23 May 2007 09:55:15 -0800

Ahem, some people already DO ride the viaduct.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih_0QeNtAqA

Comment by Fnarf

Fnarf — Wed, 23 May 2007 10:03:19 -0800

With no lights and dark clothing. Geniuses.

Comment by cuyahoga

cuyahoga — Wed, 23 May 2007 10:31:08 -0800

I think that's a great idea. I would ride in it for sure.

Portland has the Bridge Pedal every August. You get to bike over the bridges in downtown Portland (you can choose between crossing 6, 8 or 10 bridges). It's a really fun event that brings out cyclists of all ages and skills from hardcore racers to kids just learning to ride.

Comment by Boomer in NYC

Boomer in NYC — Wed, 23 May 2007 10:52:10 -0800

Funny how Bike the Drive and IML are on the same weekend...

Comment by Jason Josephes

Jason Josephes — Wed, 23 May 2007 10:53:46 -0800

The people have been voting on this issue with their wallets for years, which is why more of them own cars than bikes. If people really wanted to bike everywhere, they'd stop driving. Pretty simple stuff right there.

Comment by Cleve

Cleve — Wed, 23 May 2007 11:09:56 -0800

Let's have a Seattle Cycling Century -- run a route of up to 100 miles, going north and south and north and south, etc., using the Viaduct and I 5, their bridges over the Ship Canal (great views!), plus the waterfront paths along Lake Washington and routes along Puget Sound (Golden Gardens, Magnolia Boulevard, Myrtle Smith, Alki, Lincoln Park).
Make it a charity benefit for cancer research and support. And a dmeonstration of the possibilities of cycling.

Let folks ride 10 or 20 or 50 or 100 mile routes. Add it on to the SeaFair weekend stuff. We close down freeways for the Blue Angels, why not for ourselves, on cycles, at least for one day. We have a beautiful City, this would be one of the prettiest 100 mile bike rides in the world, it would promote tourism plus local community and neighborhood involvement, and it would say we want Seattle to move in this Century toward healthy, non-polluting transportation.

Comment by boydmain

boydmain — Wed, 23 May 2007 11:15:41 -0800

Every second weekend of the sumemr Lake Washington Blvd, between Mt Baker Beach and Seward Park is closed to motorized traffic.

Comment by Gomez

Gomez — Wed, 23 May 2007 11:16:33 -0800

They already do some sort of charity walk on the viaduct every year.

Comment by Harris

Harris — Wed, 23 May 2007 11:53:45 -0800

The charity run/walk is the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure; held this June 16. Viaduct shuts down for a few hours but everyone drives down to the Quest field to run on it.

Comment by chas

chas — Wed, 23 May 2007 21:49:58 -0800

let's just move to portland instead.

Comment by Angry Andrew

Angry Andrew — Thu, 24 May 2007 01:17:21 -0800

" In less than a month, the plan was complete and approved."

HAHAHAHA. No government plan has ever taken only a month in Seattle, unless it has been to shut something down. People here only get excited when it comes to preserving the status quo.

Comment by Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 25 May 2007 07:20:33 -0800

I had a dream a few weeks ago that I worked on The Office and Michael Scott took us all to Seattle to go rollerblading on the Viaduct, which was free of cars. It was pretty cool.