Bicycling community and City of Seattle team up to improve facilities
By Dave Janis, from Earth Share organization Bicycle Alliance of Washington
One of the outcomes of BikeSummer 2004 held in Seattle is the Bicycle Facilities Collaborative, an effort launched by City Councilmember Richard Conlin and the Bicycle Alliance of Washington. Its purpose is to identify and prioritize additions and improvements to the city’s bicycling facilities.
The first step in the process was dividing up the city into six geographic areas (NW, NE, W, E, SW, and SE), based on the neighborhood planning sectors. Then through a variety of networks, individuals were asked to be team leaders. Their responsibilities included forming a team, visiting their sector with team members, and overall team coordination. Teams were provided with informational packets prior to the first session that was held on September 14th.
At the first session, participants were provided an opportunity to learn more about current projects, plans, the budget, opportunities, and other important issues. Conlin provided a vision of what he would like to see happen with bicycling facilities. Barbara Culp of the Bicycle Alliance facilitated the event. Pete Lagerwey of the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) gave a comprehensive overview of bike facilities and how we got to where we are and what is planned in the future. Mark Keller, also of SDOT, gave a presentation on the current transportation planning process and bike parking. There was time for questions and discussion, then participants broke down into teams to coordinate and schedule field visits.
Between the September 14 and October 12 sessions, teams surveyed their areas and prepared recommendations for additions and improvements. Participants, including several that were not on teams, came from many different neighborhoods and affiliations. They included leaders, staff, and volunteers of the Cascade Bicycle Club, the Bicycle Alliance of Washington, the Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board, a bike shop owner, commuters, recreational cyclists, and City Attorney Tom Carr.
At the October 12th session, teams reported and discussed their findings and recommendations. Conlin who chairs the City Council Transportation Committee, assembled a panel with two other committee members, Jean Godden and Tom Rasmussen, and Tom Carr to also hear the recommendations. The session was taped for the Seattle Channel. Teams gave excellent presentations that covered a wide range of issues including better signage, naming trails, improved bridge access, and more marked bike lanes on arterials.
Teams are continuing to prepare their reports, including prioritizing their recommendations. The results will be incorporated into a report to Conlin as recommendations that he and SDOT can use to guide future bicycle oriented legislation and priorities made by the City.
This continues to be a big undertaking that would not be possible without the excellent leadership and support of Conlin, his staff, and other city staff. The six team leaders, 30 plus team members and other volunteers provided hundreds of ideas to improve our bicycle facilities. On behalf of myself and the bicycling community, thank you very much!
Look for updates here at www.bicyclealliance.org and ways you can provide input. In the mean time, if you would like to learn more or have ideas, please contact me at davej@bicyclealliance.org.