Lake Washington Blvd Keep Moving Street 5 Day Pilot - Public Comments
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Lake Washington Blvd Keep Moving Street 5 Day Pilot - Public Comments Comment I noticed that a pilot for a Stay Healthy Street has started for Lake Washington Blvd, from Baker Beach to Seward Park. I'm a fan of the Bicycle Sunday program for that same stretch of street; I think my preference would be to extend that program to weekends (Sat/Sun), but am less in favor of the 24/7 Stay Healthy program. While I'm not affected by the closure of a commuting passage in the neighborhood, I do see the difficulty for other residents - both in terms of not having access to Lake Washington Blvd and the increased commuting traffic in the neighborhood. Weekend closures seem to make the most sense to me. Thanks for taking my input. CAUTION: External Email Please extend from Seward Park to mad park. Sent from my iPhone Hello, I read on the parks department website that Lake Washington Boulevard was going to be closed today through June 30 but I just went down there with my bike and there were lots of cars swerving around bikes dangerousLy (Even worse than usual for some reason). I’m just wondering now if the plan has changed and there’s not gonna be the five day pilot program or what’s happening. I’d also like to make an emphatic vote for removing cars from Lake Washington Boulevard, especially during the warmer months and the pandemic Thank you for your time and attention, _________ Sent from my iPhone My husband and I walk Along Lake Washington Blvd. S daily, even on rainy days. The closing of this Blvd. has been wonderful. As we walk daily we have seen cars speeding up to 60 mph, a car in the lake, motorcycles passing cars at high speed, motorists cussing at bike riders, close call accidents...We walked yesterday and saw families, walkers, joggers, cyclists and foot traffic all outside for some fresh air. All social distancing although not all masked. We say “keep the Blvd. closed !” Thank you for 5 days of no traffic. ____________________ Mt. Baker residents since 198X Please keep Lake Washington Blvd reserved for bikes and pedestrians as a Stay Healthy Street! It is a great use of the lakefront and a step in the right direction towards making the area a family-friendly recreational zone. My family will use it heavily over the summer. We spend a lot of summer time at Mt. Baker Beach and Seward Park. Now we can include the bike ride back and forth as part of our summer activities! Please add Lake Washington Boulevard to the safe streets program and make the closure to vehicles permanent. It is a dream biking, walking, and running street on which I never ride my bike, because I consider it far too dangerous. Two of my dear neighbors were recently hospitalized with severe injuries sustained in a hit and run on Lake Washington Boulevard. Thank you and kind regards, _____________________, Mt Baker resident and 20+ year bicycle commuter. Dear city council, My sister nearly died from a hit and run on lake Washington Blvd five months ago. It would allow families a much safer recreational experience and prevent accidents. Thank you, _____________________ Hello - I live in Columbia City. For the two years I've lived here I alway avoid biking on Lake Washington Blvd because of the amount of car traffic, the speeds people drive, and their dangerous attempts to pass cyclists. I went for a ride on Friday during the pilot closure and it was INCREDIBLE. I was able to relax and take in the fresh air and beautiful view without the stress or fear that the typical traffic along the road instills. It was also incredibly heartwarming to see so many families with young children able to ride in the road safely and comfortably, while easily meeting social distancing recommendations. I truly hope this pilot can be extended throughout the summer, if not made permanent. Thanks for making it happen, and for considering my feedback. - Zach Once again I must applaud the Stay Healthy Streets program; the bicycling along Lake Washington Boulevard was wonderful on Sunday, enjoyed by so many people and families yet the safe spacing was universal. I do hope the program is continued. The inconvenience to local property owners was minimal; very few cars going a short distance; only one annoying hot rod in two days. Keep it up! --- ___ (Issaquah) Thank you for (finally) closing Lake Washington Boulevard to cars so walkers, joggers, and cyclists (like my kids and me) have enough room to safely exercise. I have been biking, running and walking along the lake for the past few days and loving it. We live about half a mile from Mt. Baker boat house. I think some more news of the closure and at least some police enforcement would be good. On Friday and Saturday, I encountered several cars that drove around the barriers, and some drivers were pretty defiant when I tried to wave them off the Boulevard. After driving around two barriers, one driver finally gave up and knocked down a barrier while leaving the boulevard. (I put it back up.) With all the parking lots closed, there really isn't any reason to have this stretch of the boulevard open to cars (except residents, deliveries, etc.) anyway. As far as I can tell, most of the drivers on the boulevard are driving there just to avoid the "road diet" on Rainier Ave S or trying to find a pseudo-legal parking spot. For the past few months, nearly every time I have biked along the Boulevard, I've had at least one encounter with a frustrated driver who wanted to speed and not give cyclists adequate space. Most of the cars driving there have been going WAY too fast. When I have driven there, I feel like I'm the only one staying at the 25 mph speed limit, with cars frequently passing me going over 40 mph. And when the weather is good, there are so many people near the lake shore that it becomes almost impossible to safely distance while on foot or bike using only the sidewalks and paths. We need the road to be free of cars to allow people the space to spread out while walking and biking. thank you, _______________ We've loved the 5 day test closure so far. It's been like a busy but distant "Bike Sunday" there any time it's not raining. People have generally been great but a few cars have been bypassing the signs to use it like an arterial anyway. Latest example was several cars on this Monday morning. My wife and I would love to keep it this way forever, even if we do lose one of our normal routes to get places by car. I'm a big time cyclist and it's gotten me out on my bike even more for mundane trips like groceries and such. Cheers, _______ in Lakewood I’m a huge fan, please extend the closure through the summer and consider permanent closure to through traffic during the summer. It’s a great place to walk and enjoy the summer and the sidewalk isn’t nearly big enough for all the people nor smooth enough for running/biking in some places. As well with the number of bikes travelling up and down the road it’s also not wide enough to facilitate safe travel for both cycle and auto traffic. This waterfront is a gem of the city, please consider pulling it back more frequently for non-motorized uses! Sincerely, _________________________ Mt Baker Neighborhood It is nice to have a safe place to let my kids ride their bikes. With so many camps, gyms, parks and other closures it has been difficult to get outside safely. We live in the Seward Park neighborhood and agree with the closure for bikes and foot traffic. Thank you, _______________ Sent from my iPhone Thank you! What a fantastic atmosphere this weekend. Great to have a place for everyone to enjoy near the lake front. I often run and bike on lake wash blvd and there is too much car traffic for anyone but an experienced cyclist. Pedestrian paths are too narrow. Please make this permanent. Hello SDOT, The closure has had some positive impacts in the neighborhood. With the summer weather, there are a lot of people previously crowding the path. Now those runners, walkers and bikers can spread out. In particular, families that have kids that were able to bike safely together today from Mt. Baker all the way down to Seward Park. We were among the walkers out and able to do an extra long walk (8 mile loop) because of the closure, while sticking to our neighborhood and maintaining social distancing. The amount of dangerous speeding and music / cruising by cars using the waterfront as a personal pot pitstop dropped as well. Please continue this excellent change all summer! Thanks, ___________ Mt. Baker neighborhood. Please keep lake wa Blvd closed. It makes for safer walking and bike riding. Thank you for all you are doing to take care of us. I appreciate you and the difficult choices you are carefully making. Whatever you think is best, I’ll stand behind. I know you will carefully consider all sorts of options. Hello I have a four year old toddler who is learning how to ride her bike. When Seward park banned cyclists, this include my four year toddler and her tiny little bikes.