Monday, December 1, 2008
City A Death on the Ballard Bridge
Posted by Eli Sanders on Mon, Dec 1, 2008 at 3:45 PM
This got lost in the pre-Thanksgiving shuffle, but it's important to note, even belatedly:
Terry McMacken, who was seriously injured while biking across the Ballard Bridge in 2007, died earlier this month as a result of the crash. He was 51.
He and his family blamed his injuries on the poor design of the Ballard Bridge's bike lanes and sued the City of Seattle for negligence. His wife will continue to press the case in the hopes that it will force a solution to a problem that was well known (and reported on here) long before the events that led to McMacken's death.
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1
I sure hope that in my mourning of a loved one I don't go sue the shit out of somebody or the city for my emotions and +10 more minutes of "fame."
2
The Ballard Bridge is awful to cross by bike. I thought about writing the city on this awhile ago. Actually it sucks even to just walk across it--there are big ass puddles everywhere that you can't step around.
3
@1: Go ride the Ballard Bridge. The thing is a danger to cyclists and pedestrians, and the city is being negligent. Asshole. I'm sure this family would rather have their loved one than this "fame." Asshole.
5
Fame? I know Lisa McMacken, and met her husband before his accident. Fame is the last thing she's interested in. What she wants is her life back, and she's not going to get it. This accident was devastating.
6
It's not just bicyclists, a local TV personality (the name escapes me right now) was killed some years back while walking across the bridge when a truck mirror or something like that clipped her.
It'll be expensive as all hell to solve, but there is a bona fide problem there for sure....
It'll be expensive as all hell to solve, but there is a bona fide problem there for sure....
7
I don't think it would be expensive. Heck, even chain-link would do it, though it would be ugly as sin.
9
I had some wild, drunken fun times with Terry. I am so glad we didn't die when we decided to take a tiny boat out to Agate Pass with a few bottles of tequila (this was in the days when drunken boating was PC) and so glad we didn't get busted for running into those nets and lifting a few salmon while we got untangled. We did some beer gardens proud. He partied with me, platonically, because his wife was a real bitch and he needed to get away from her. I'm not surprised that she's stepping over his dead body to sue. RIP, Terry, I'll always remember you.
11
It's so frustrating when the city and SDOT refuse to do anything about obvious safety risks. Why do people have to be seriously injured or killed before they take action? And why does it seem like they're waiting for the bodies to pile up before they do anything about this specific problem?
And, yeah, even just walking across the bridge is horrible. The sidewalk is too narrow for pedestrians let alone pedestrians and bikes.
And, yeah, even just walking across the bridge is horrible. The sidewalk is too narrow for pedestrians let alone pedestrians and bikes.
12
i can't decide if this makes that joke column about jumping from the fremont bridge worse or better
13
Sign the petition to our president-elect and congressional leaders, encouraging them to provide explicit funding for biking and walking in the economic recovery package.
http://support.railstotrails.org/recover…
http://support.railstotrails.org/recover…
14
So cause bikers are too fucking stupid to stay on their bike, the city has to pay?!
Jesus, you people really think your shit doesn't stink don't ya.
I hope more bikers die. It makes for fewer assholes in line at the bank.
Jesus, you people really think your shit doesn't stink don't ya.
I hope more bikers die. It makes for fewer assholes in line at the bank.
16
Oh shit--somebody who WANTED to live got killed on a bridge? Fuck--if only we had like, $10M to fix that bridge up to keep people who WANT TO LIVE from getting killed. Fuck it--it won't stop them, they'll just go get killed on some other bit of road in town.
17
Sure, the city is being negligent re: the Ballard Bridge, but any cyclist who doesn't recognize the danger is either delusional or retarded. Walk your bikes, people! (Or choose another route, i.e., the Locks or the Fremont Bridge.)
20
The Ballard Bridge sucks for bike, pedestrians, *and* cars. Don't believe me? Try merging onto it from Nickerson during rush hour. It's like those Aurora Ave merges from 5mph to 50, except you have less room and you're about to enter a slippery metal bridge deck.
Maybe it's good for boats, but from the point of view of this landlubber, they should just start over.
Maybe it's good for boats, but from the point of view of this landlubber, they should just start over.
21
SEE FNARF!! Looks like you don't know ANYTHING about PEOPLE. What you don't know about people could jump off a bridge. Za!
22
Hey - "Jasper's Bitch". I guess the "Bitch" says it all.
I have known Both Terry & Lisa McMacken longer than you....they were not asking for money---Terry was contacted by the attorney and the attorney set the cost for his continued medical needs, care, surgeries, medications for the rest of his life.
Hey, I guess the last time someone died on the Ballard Bridge.... the City of Seattle will have a 20 year (political) plan to correct it then too?
aka QA girl
I have known Both Terry & Lisa McMacken longer than you....they were not asking for money---Terry was contacted by the attorney and the attorney set the cost for his continued medical needs, care, surgeries, medications for the rest of his life.
Hey, I guess the last time someone died on the Ballard Bridge.... the City of Seattle will have a 20 year (political) plan to correct it then too?
aka QA girl
23
Hey jaspers bitch. You stupid bitch. You have no idea what you are talking about. I dare you to post such a hurtful blog. I have been his friend for 42 years and the pain he endured was heartbreaking. Lets get together and I will set your stupid ass straight. Low life bitch. Come on you dumb as bitch
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