Less than a month after Mayor Nichols released Seattle’s Bike Master Plan to the city, it seems political pressure is already derailing some of the key components. Released this week in Cascade’s Braking News:
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has backed down from a project to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety because of what appears to be political pressure from a minority of business owners on Seattle’s Stone Way North.
While the City seems to be doing its best to mitigate tensions between us huggas and the business community, the proposed changes to the original plan for Stone Way North is far from a compromise. Stone Way serves as a vital artery between Seattle’s popular Burke-Gilman trail and the city’s north end. Without the completed “Road Diet” implemented, the changes not only fail to serve the needs of many cyclists, the increased interactions between cyclists and motorists have the potential to cause more accidents.
Cascade is working hard as a prominent voice of Seattle cyclists and is reviewing the City’s decision. We’ll be keeping on top of this and other Cascade news as we move into the very busy Seattle cycling season. Let there be sun!