Seattle Pedestrian and Biking Thread - Page 3

Ruffhauser · December 19th, 2011, 06:43 PM

Some shots of the new Thomas Street bicycle overpass.

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

benleis · December 19th, 2011, 08:37 PM

Its for pedestrians too not just for bicycles.

Here's some more info below from the SDOT blog.
Ben

http://sdotblog.seattle.gov/2011/12/...s-st-overpass/

mhays · December 20th, 2011, 03:10 AM

Can't freaking wait. I walk home when I visit Magnolia friends usually, and this will be WAY better than wondering if there won't be a train at Broad, since the OSP closes at night. It's also a good general second options vs. Broad. And, thinking of others, it'll give thousands of people access to the waterfront.

benleis · December 20th, 2011, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhays

Can't freaking wait. I walk home when I visit Magnolia friends usually, and this will be WAY better than wondering if there won't be a train at Broad, since the OSP closes at night. It's also a good general second options vs. Broad. And, thinking of others, it'll give thousands of people access to the waterfront.

I remember trying to exit the park after fireworks and how claustrophobic that could be. More egress is definitely a step forward. Its a pity the BNSF mainline hugs so much of the shoreline from here northwards cutting off access in general.

Ben

Vashon118 · February 27th, 2012, 02:05 AM

Thomas St. overpass (02/13):

Seasun · June 7th, 2012, 05:35 PM

This should be a nice improvement for peds and bikers in North Seattle who want a better Interurban Trail.

http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/linden.htm

alexjonlin · June 9th, 2012, 11:45 PM

Good to hear, that project has been on the docket for a long time and will really help make that emerging urban village more liveable. I really think this could have a large effect on attracting more high-density development to the area.

Seasun · June 18th, 2012, 08:06 PM

Cool to see London is almost ready to open their cross Thames aerial tram.
http://www.komonews.com/news/nationa...159428845.html

I'd support the Denny Way route if it's really quiet when the cabs roll onto the support wheels as the towers.

mhays · June 18th, 2012, 09:12 PM

On the Myrtle Edwards connector, are they planning to connect the segments or will be required to jump? (Sometimes designers like to "challenge our concept of ___," which in this case might be "challenge our concept that a skybridge should be continuous" or along those lines.)

Might hafta do that London thing. It's also cool to walk the tunnel under the river. Or was I just dreaming that I did that?

cameronrex · June 18th, 2012, 09:23 PM

There is a tunnel too.

Seasun · June 18th, 2012, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhays

On the Myrtle Edwards connector, are they planning to connect the segments or will be required to jump? (Sometimes designers like to "challenge our concept of ___," which in this case might be "challenge our concept that a skybridge should be continuous" or along those lines.)

I don't understand the question. Can you re-phrase or is this a joke I'm not getting?

mhays · June 18th, 2012, 10:28 PM

I'm asking whether it will be a continuous ramp, or more like separate platforms connected by a trapeeze for example.

shotsy · June 18th, 2012, 10:58 PM

Didn't you hear, that's actually the new Amazon.com High Ropes Course for team building exercises.

Seasun · June 22nd, 2012, 11:04 PM

Word of caution for bikers and drivers (I'm bi in this respect). Last night while driving northbound on Eastlake Ave E. at the Le Fournil Bakery (map) under the I-5 ship canal bridge I almost saw a biker get smashed.

Biker was cruising along northbound along in bike lane right next to me. Traffic was stopped and just getting going after signal changed to green. Southbound driver wanted to turn left into the bakery garage. Both the driver in the other lane and I stayed stopped to let the left turner turn. Left turner quickly crossed in front of us and missed the full speed biker by maybe a couple feet (biker crossed in front of him just barely).

Driver and bikers be careful! I'm not trying to blame one more than the other. Bikers - be ready to stop especially when cruising past stopped cars. Don't max out your speed even if you look hot in the spandex. Drivers - consider going out of your way to access a garage like this (of course SDOT and DPD - minimize garage entrances in this kind of layout, they have an alley). You're slowing down cars behind you and visibility sucks in general. This is sometimes the reason that sometimes I find it safer not to be "nice" as a driver and go out of one's way to do certain things like slow down/stop for a jay walker. The driver in the next lane will take you out after they swerve around me in some crazy hurry!

I remember a few years ago a biker got run over by a concrete truck just a short distance further north when the driver turned right on to Fuhrman. Ride like you're probably not visible to the extent practical.

earthtoandy · June 23rd, 2012, 12:23 AM

You should never 'be nice' and stop the flow of traffic to let someone in... it just causes danger for everyone. If the flow of traffic is stopped in your direction and you and simply allowing a space and not blocking an entrance then you are doing exactly what you should. But the first situation is way to dangerous for all sorts of people involved because when you depart from the rules the whole situation becomes unpredictable. Also why I hate when drivers stop for me as a pedestrian or cyclist when they should not. It just creates a situation where I can no longer have any assumption about what will happen next...

mhays · June 23rd, 2012, 12:44 AM

Unless you're jaywalking against the light or between intersections, they're required to stop.

alexjonlin · June 24th, 2012, 06:51 AM

In terms of pedestrians, I absolutely hate it that perhaps 5% of drivers at most stop for me when I try to cross at an intersection without a marked crosswalk, despite the fact that they are required by law to stop for pedestrians at any intersection (yeah I know, getting that statistic the same way Seattle Times commenters get their statistics on how many bicyclists run red lights but I guess this is my payback). But I also get really nervous as a bicyclist when cars stop for me when they shouldn't, or when they seem to think I would like it better if they followed behind me for a few blocks rather than passing me, even when I pull into the parking lane and give them plenty of room to pass.

mhays · June 24th, 2012, 07:18 AM

That's why I usually start walking to make them stop. (The trick is to not be in front of them until they see you...)

Matt the Engineer · June 24th, 2012, 07:23 AM

A trip to an Asian city will make you an expert at this. No eye contact, and pretend you don't even see the car, yet be sure they can see you. If they see that you see them, they know they can intimidate you into yielding your own right of way.

cameronrex · June 24th, 2012, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt the Engineer

A trip to an Asian city will make you an expert at this. No eye contact, and pretend you don't even see the car, yet be sure they can see you. If they see that you see them, they know they can intimidate you into yielding your own right of way.

Exactly.

December 19th, 2011, 06:43 PM	#41
Ruffhauser Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Belltown Posts: 1,341 Likes (Received): 211	Some shots of the new Thomas Street bicycle overpass. image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr

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December 19th, 2011, 08:37 PM	#42
benleis Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 58 Likes (Received): 0	Its for pedestrians too not just for bicycles. Here's some more info below from the SDOT blog. Ben http://sdotblog.seattle.gov/2011/12/...s-st-overpass/

December 20th, 2011, 03:10 AM	#43
mhays Journeyman Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 8,373 Likes (Received): 118	Can't freaking wait. I walk home when I visit Magnolia friends usually, and this will be WAY better than wondering if there won't be a train at Broad, since the OSP closes at night. It's also a good general second options vs. Broad. And, thinking of others, it'll give thousands of people access to the waterfront.

February 27th, 2012, 02:05 AM	#45
Vashon118 Bus & ferry dude Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Vashon Island Posts: 707 Likes (Received): 104	Thomas St. overpass (02/13):

June 7th, 2012, 05:35 PM	#46
Seasun Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,557 Likes (Received): 43	This should be a nice improvement for peds and bikers in North Seattle who want a better Interurban Trail. http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/linden.htm

June 9th, 2012, 11:45 PM	#47
alexjonlin Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,260 Likes (Received): 84	Good to hear, that project has been on the docket for a long time and will really help make that emerging urban village more liveable. I really think this could have a large effect on attracting more high-density development to the area.

June 18th, 2012, 08:06 PM	#48
Seasun Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,557 Likes (Received): 43	Cool to see London is almost ready to open their cross Thames aerial tram. http://www.komonews.com/news/nationa...159428845.html I'd support the Denny Way route if it's really quiet when the cabs roll onto the support wheels as the towers.

June 18th, 2012, 09:12 PM	#49
mhays Journeyman Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 8,373 Likes (Received): 118	On the Myrtle Edwards connector, are they planning to connect the segments or will be required to jump? (Sometimes designers like to "challenge our concept of ___," which in this case might be "challenge our concept that a skybridge should be continuous" or along those lines.) Might hafta do that London thing. It's also cool to walk the tunnel under the river. Or was I just dreaming that I did that?

June 18th, 2012, 09:23 PM	#50
cameronrex Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 476 Likes (Received): 31	There is a tunnel too.

June 18th, 2012, 10:28 PM	#52
mhays Journeyman Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 8,373 Likes (Received): 118	I'm asking whether it will be a continuous ramp, or more like separate platforms connected by a trapeeze for example.

June 18th, 2012, 10:58 PM	#53
shotsy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 263 Likes (Received): 22	Didn't you hear, that's actually the new Amazon.com High Ropes Course for team building exercises.

June 22nd, 2012, 11:04 PM	#54
Seasun Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,557 Likes (Received): 43	Word of caution for bikers and drivers (I'm bi in this respect). Last night while driving northbound on Eastlake Ave E. at the Le Fournil Bakery (map) under the I-5 ship canal bridge I almost saw a biker get smashed. Biker was cruising along northbound along in bike lane right next to me. Traffic was stopped and just getting going after signal changed to green. Southbound driver wanted to turn left into the bakery garage. Both the driver in the other lane and I stayed stopped to let the left turner turn. Left turner quickly crossed in front of us and missed the full speed biker by maybe a couple feet (biker crossed in front of him just barely). Driver and bikers be careful! I'm not trying to blame one more than the other. Bikers - be ready to stop especially when cruising past stopped cars. Don't max out your speed even if you look hot in the spandex. Drivers - consider going out of your way to access a garage like this (of course SDOT and DPD - minimize garage entrances in this kind of layout, they have an alley). You're slowing down cars behind you and visibility sucks in general. This is sometimes the reason that sometimes I find it safer not to be "nice" as a driver and go out of one's way to do certain things like slow down/stop for a jay walker. The driver in the next lane will take you out after they swerve around me in some crazy hurry! I remember a few years ago a biker got run over by a concrete truck just a short distance further north when the driver turned right on to Fuhrman. Ride like you're probably not visible to the extent practical.

June 23rd, 2012, 12:23 AM	#55
earthtoandy Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 33 Likes (Received): 0	You should never 'be nice' and stop the flow of traffic to let someone in... it just causes danger for everyone. If the flow of traffic is stopped in your direction and you and simply allowing a space and not blocking an entrance then you are doing exactly what you should. But the first situation is way to dangerous for all sorts of people involved because when you depart from the rules the whole situation becomes unpredictable. Also why I hate when drivers stop for me as a pedestrian or cyclist when they should not. It just creates a situation where I can no longer have any assumption about what will happen next...

June 23rd, 2012, 12:44 AM	#56
mhays Journeyman Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 8,373 Likes (Received): 118	Unless you're jaywalking against the light or between intersections, they're required to stop.

June 24th, 2012, 06:51 AM	#57
alexjonlin Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,260 Likes (Received): 84	In terms of pedestrians, I absolutely hate it that perhaps 5% of drivers at most stop for me when I try to cross at an intersection without a marked crosswalk, despite the fact that they are required by law to stop for pedestrians at any intersection (yeah I know, getting that statistic the same way Seattle Times commenters get their statistics on how many bicyclists run red lights but I guess this is my payback). But I also get really nervous as a bicyclist when cars stop for me when they shouldn't, or when they seem to think I would like it better if they followed behind me for a few blocks rather than passing me, even when I pull into the parking lane and give them plenty of room to pass.

June 24th, 2012, 07:18 AM	#58
mhays Journeyman Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 8,373 Likes (Received): 118	That's why I usually start walking to make them stop. (The trick is to not be in front of them until they see you...)

June 24th, 2012, 07:23 AM	#59
Matt the Engineer Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 1,080 Likes (Received): 88	A trip to an Asian city will make you an expert at this. No eye contact, and pretend you don't even see the car, yet be sure they can see you. If they see that you see them, they know they can intimidate you into yielding your own right of way.