posted 04/08/09 04:30 PM | updated 04/08/09 04:32 PM
Views: 326 | Comments : 6 | Community

Capitol Hill Streets For People: Project List and Bike Ride!

By JoshMahar
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So I meant to get to this earlier but I'm a little late. Sorry. Last week the Capitol Hill Streets For People had its kickoff meeting at Moe Bar. The setting was a bit loud but the turnout was great and the ideas were even better. Everyone had a different perspective and was able to point to the many different angles of each situation. With so much to talk about it was hard to narrow things down but we did manage to come up with a short list of projects that we think are the most critical.

Here are our larger priorities:

-  Make sure that the new streetcar is designed to enhance the pedestrian streetscape

- Encourage progressive and integrated construction in the Sound Transit TOD areas (Permanent Farmers Market Site)

- Revisit the Capitol Hill Neighborhood Plan and make sure that it is updated with the pedestrian as a priority

 

On a more individual basis we also have some goals:

Attend public forums and design review meetings and make sure that all development is pedestrian friendly. You can always find out about those meetings on this site or on the Capitol Hill Streets For People Page.

Talk to your favorite local businesses about adding on-street bike parking. Email the Capitol Hill parking director, Allison Schwartz if you find someone who's on board.

Create and participate in neighborhood block parties and other street events.

 

And on that note, I should add that the Greenwood Summer Streets Event is coming up on April 10th. Although its not on our turf I think Capitol Hill should still have a presence and to this aim I will be hosting a bike ride from the Hill up to Greenwood. Here's my planned route:

 


View Greenwood Summer Streets Ride in a larger map

No RSVP necessary but feel free to comment if you want to come along. Just meet me at the north end of Cal Anderson park at the 10th Ave. entrance. I'll be the curly-haired guy with a bike, looking around. I plan on leaving at 6:00, so come a few minutes before that. Should be fun! And wear something Capitol Hill-ish if you've got it.

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On-street bike parking
The on-street bike parking area was installed in front of the Broadway East QFC about 6 weeks ago. I walk by there all the time and have yet to see a bike "parked" there. Therefore, I have to question the use of taxpayer's money for these sites....wonder how much each one costs? (not insignificant, I'm sure). If additional such sites are contemplated for the future, I hope the City will do a better job at choosing ones that will actually be used.

What exactly is wrong with the bike racks that have been in place in many locations for a long time? (even these don't seem to get much use). What advantage do the on-street areas have over the bike racks? Or, just maybe, are the on-street sites currently in favor because the cycling community likes the idea of taking up valuable parking spots?
Comment by calhoun
7 months ago
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RE: On-street bike parking
I think a big part of it is mentality: taking up auto space instead of people space. I agree that the one in front of QFC was not particularly well planned or executed but if it encourages just one person to ride a bike regularly instead of drive it probably saves the tax payer money in the long run (saftey, air quality, road damage, etc.)

While you may think that there are tons of bike racks around the city, as an avid biker, I can tell you that there so many times and places where it is so frustrating to find somewhere, anywhere, to park my bike. Having something like this which is so visible makes it so much easier. The city needs to work out the kinks in how they do them and where they put them, although the rack in front of Presse on 12th has been a huge success. This is why if the community has a say of where these go, instead of the city just guessing, it will be a lot more efficient. Something that promotes cycling in such a cheap and easy way, to me just seems like common sense.
Comment by JoshMahar
7 months ago
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bike rack, joggers
yeah the QFC site does not seem like a great idea.... it is strangely constructed also -- there is a barrier which you have to step over... it would be easier if there were gaps so you could ride up to it. Maybe people avoid it because it feels dorky.

Also what is this jogger Critical Mass that runs through the neighorhood on Wednesday evenings? Yesterday I saw some kids run down the driveway to the sidewalk and a pack of joggers shouted to claim right of way. They were moving fast and too tightly packed to stop... about 100 joggers or so.
Comment by jonathan
7 months ago
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more information
To add to my initial comment, today I noticed that there are FIVE bike racks in the same block (400 block of Broadway E) as the on-street bike area that was recently installed...3 on the east side and 2 on the west side...and these are also little-used. Was the City even aware of these when they decided to construct the new area? Why waste money creating additional bike parking when more-than-adequate racks already exist? By the way, each of the on-street areas costs the taxpayer $4000-$5000.

I'm not opposed in general to this idea...but I do think the City needs to be alot more careful in choosing areas where they are truly needed.
Comment by calhoun
7 months ago
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RE: more information
I completely agree with you that in the future racks should be placed where they will get the most use. But I would like you to know that the first three on-street racks installed (two on Capitol Hill and one in Greenlake) were for a trial test and the city decided to only put them in front of businesses that liked and encouraged the idea. I would like to reiterate that anyone who bikes and believes they know a good place for an on-street rack, please talk to the businesses nearby and then email Allison Schwartz.

One rack costs $5000. True. But as I mentioned before, if the prominence and ease of the rack encourages a single person to bike regularly we, the community will have benefited. A recent study in England concluded that an investment of 10,000 pounds ($14,000) in bike infrastructure (bike lanes, racks, etc) took only one regular (three days a week) rider to pay for itself. Check it out here:
http://www.bikeforall.net/news.php?articleshow=613

And of course, this doesn't even take into account the environmental and social benefits as well.

How can people be so frustrated by a single parking spot replaced by a 8 bike spots when there are miles of empty asphalt lots reserved for cars that are rarely even half full and many times completely empty?
Comment by JoshMahar
7 months ago
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reply to Josh
I am not frustrated because a single parking space is deleted. I am frustrated because the City spent $5000 on this debacle that gets almost no use. It is a classic example of government waste.
Comment by calhoun
6 months ago
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