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Tuesday, October 25, 2011

City Carmageddon, by Bike (Or: Downtown to West Seattle in 20 Minutes, no Viaduct Necessary)

Posted by Eli Sanders on Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 6:00 AM

What Viadoom looked like from the bike path to West Seattle yesterday evening.

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What Viadoom looked like from the bike path to West Seattle yesterday evening.

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Robin Randels, my guide.

Time yesterday evening from downtown to West Seattle: 20 minutes

Normal time from downtown to West Seattle: 20 minutes

I met Robin Randels, classes coordinator for the Cascade Bicycle Club, at about 5 p.m. on Capitol Hill yesterday evening, just in time to do the rush hour commute to West Seattle together—by bike.

Based on the headlines I figured a battle for road space with irate carmageddon drivers was ahead, so I strapped two furiously blinking lights to my bike, put on a bright yellow jacket, tightened my helmet, and off we went.

South on 12th Avenue in the bike lane, west on Jackson into Pioneer Square, and... nothing. I mean, there was a bit of evening commute traffic, but nothing at all unusual. Onward we pedaled, under the not-yet-being-torn-down part of the Viaduct, onto a smooth and brand new bikeway through the port freight hell that lies south of downtown, and then suddenly we were at Viadoom ground zero.

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Viadoom, ground zero.

Bike commuters pulled over to the side of the bikway, gawking like little kids at the giant orange machines that were jackhammering and sawing apart the big double-decker roadway, or else jawing about in its remains.

There were tons of them, the commuters, a steady stream out of downtown in the kind of gear that only serious, regular commuters wear—the highly reflective gear that looks basically like what the Viaduct destruction guys had on. If there was fury and gridlock on the roads around us, we were blissfully unaware down there on the sea-level bike path, which was too low to allow direct sightlines to the lanes of I-5 or the decks of the West Seattle Bridge.

We rode on. Around the place where the new bike path ended, we came to these weird scenes of concrete carnage:

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Then, onward again. Through some less-bike-friendly areas, over the low bridge to West Seattle, and there we were. Commuted. In what would have taken about 20 minutes if we hadn't stopped to gawk at the Viaduct destruction.

Aside from rain, which admittedly wasn't present yesterday evening, I don't know why anyone would ever do this trip in a car. Biking was easy, urban, beautiful, bracing—and I guess even a little historic given the demolition going on around us.

To get back, though, we treated ourselves to the water taxi, which only takes 10 minutes and costs $3.50 (with a bike). That was nice, too.

E.S.

Comments (13) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

As you know, that bicycle path is hazardous due to the danger of 500 pound marlins leaping from Elliot Bay and impaling riders on their long pointed snouts.

Hence, a new 6 Trillion dollar subluminal bike tunnel (SBT) will be constructed for the 500 ft length of the danger area.

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on October 25, 2011 at 7:24 AM

That new bike path is amazing. As is the extension of the southern Ship Canal Trail under the Ballard Bridge. We are winning.

Posted by DOUG.

on October 25, 2011 at 8:23 AM

I love the ride out to Alki.

But once you get there, stay off the mixed use path and just ride on the road. I was literally hip-checked off my bike by an extremely oblivious girl on rollerblades who suddenly decided to execute a spin move right into me. Fucked my bike up good, and nearly bashed my head on a landscaping rock.

Posted by seandr on October 25, 2011 at 8:29 AM

Aside from rain, which admittedly wasn't present yesterday evening,

Problem #1 is, admittedly, a VERY LARGE problem. Getting nice clear weather in both the morning and the evening is a rarity 7-9 months of the year (depending on the year).

Problem #2 is that you went to where in West Seattle? Just the edge of it? Or did you try to go into the very hilly neighborhoods where most of the people live?

Otherwise, I'd agree, it is probably a pretty nice bike ride.

Posted by TheMisanthrope on October 25, 2011 at 9:04 AM

Rain isn't a problem if you are prepared. I ride all year and end up riding in the rain a lot. Seattle rain is usually not too hard So a rain jacket and booties go a long way to keep you dry and warm.

Posted by garumph on October 25, 2011 at 9:14 AM

That new WS bike path isn't without problems.

Posted by Westlake, son! on October 25, 2011 at 10:10 AM

Sooo maybe I'm a dummy, but I've been bike-commuting from the Central District to West Seattle (Delridge) for the last year+, and I personally think that bike commute sucks. I'll admit, I haven't done it in like a week, but unless things have somehow drastically changed in that week....There's the nice new bike path for a little bit throughout some of downtown, but then eventually you either have to ride on the street with all the huge trucks going in and out of the port, or you have to ride on that super bumpy sidewalk. I've eaten shit more than once because I stopped paying attention for a second and then went flying over an unexpected rise in the sidewalk. Not to mention all the gravel, glass, etc that's in the road from all the construction. It's faster for me than the bus and I don't have a car, so it's what I usually choose, but it's a shitty-ass ride.

Posted by analemma on October 25, 2011 at 10:40 AM

The major impact of Viadoom has, naturally, not been where the Tunnel-obsessed DOT people thought, in the South End.

People there knew it would be a problem, and rerouted.

In fact, it's been North of the Ship Canal, along major East-West arterials as all the traffic that normally uses the Viaduct has gone East to I-5, resulting in major delays along 50th and other E-W roads.

There have been delays down near SLU, of course, but most people knew those would happen.

Expect a few fired people, since people North of the Ship Canal are used to getting their way, and are fairly active in certain circles.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on October 25, 2011 at 11:03 AM

Analemma @7 is totally right. It's a shitty horrible piece of turd of a ride; I've been doing it for years. Kudos to Tom Rasmussen (who otherwise is kind of a tool) for putting his ass where his mouth is (ew!) and being a regular W. Seattle bike commuter.

I've taken to recently be-sharrowed 1st Ave S. Straight, predictable, well lighted and paved. E. Marginal Way may be a major bike route but SDOT should be ashamed of themselves and anywone claiming the bike ride to and from W. Seattle is peaches and cream is a stupid polyanna.

My two cents, anyway.

Posted by JAT on October 25, 2011 at 11:05 AM

@6- I don't get it. The problem is that some drivers don't obey they law there? That doesn't make it especially dangerous, just regular dangerous.

Posted by dwightmoodyforgetsthings

on October 25, 2011 at 12:17 PM

Calling it "viadoom" only adds to the needless hype of this event. Cut it out.

Posted by Weekilter on October 25, 2011 at 1:32 PM

#6 That video is worthless. Why would you go in the road when there's a spot to the right for bikes where no cars are? If you make that mistake then you're an idiot. "Oh gee I can't make split second decision between 'ride with huge semi trucks' or 'go on bike path'."

Posted by Guy of Wiseness on October 26, 2011 at 5:26 PM

I bicycle to my home in West Seattle, any route to my home involves a hill. I'm over 50 years old and I am a woman. You just have to try it. yes, initially you'll have to walk up the big hills, but eventually you'l be able to ride all the way. you will need a bicycle that has gears.

Posted by Marge E. on October 27, 2011 at 9:45 AM