This child, now 8, was conceived at the first Pike People Street community meeting (Image: CHS)
Hey Pike/Pine kids, make sure to take a disco nap Friday and get your scooters ready. 11 PM brings the first of three test events for the Pike People Street project. Test 1 is the late night edition:
FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 11 PM – 3 AM Full closure of E Pike St between 10th Ave and 11th Ave. This expanded pedestrian space will relieve pressure on the limited sidewalk space during nightlife hours.
CHS reported here on the series of three October test dates the Seattle Department of Transportation came up with to find a compromise solution for a program popular with late night businesses and police but with critics who felt the pedestrian-oriented street closures were too nightlife oriented.
The first test will be similar to the summer 2015 tests as a portion of E Pike will be closed to vehicle traffic from 11 PM to 3 AM. The footprint for Friday night’s trial, however, will be limited to only a stretch of E Pike between 10th and 11th and event that will include a corridor for vehicle traffic exiting and entering the parking lot next to Poquitos. By the way, don’t blame the CHS advertiser for the parking lot plan. Co-owner Rich Fox tells CHS it wasn’t his restaurant that requested the strange access plan for Friday night’s first test event:
We’re big supporters of the street closure and would rather it be closed so that the entire block could be free of traffic for the Friday & Sunday closures (and I say that being someone that has a parking spot in the lot)
SDOT says the tests will be evaluated by seven factors as the department looks at extending the program beyond the pilot period.
He was conceived at a community meeting? Doesn’t sound like a particularly romantic setting.
Why even bother? And how much is it costing to close half a block for four hours on one night? I think Pike should be closed between Broadway and 12th, all day, every day.
+1
but I would say go all the way to Madison.
I agree with you both. How fun would it be to create a promenade in that area. It could really be something special.
All great ideas! The City occasionally seeks input…you missed the window for this season but here is the link for future reference:
http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/pikeped.htm
One of the takeaways from the meeting I attended was that businesses’ input is weighted. For example: daytime closures could impact shops so needs to be considered under that lens. That said, there was enough interest by community members that this will get a trial run. Some ideas floated: taking away some parking, mini-parks, etc. I encourage all those who have ideas to get on the mailing list and attend future brainstorming meetings. The more voices stating they want ped-friendliness at a forum with SDOT present, the more likely to get increased closures.
Yeah, I did answer the city survey with a bunch of ideas. Essentially, what it came down to is that it should be a lifestyle, not just a feel-good novelty. Drop the in-the-street yoga and selfie parties, and add some seating. There are so many delightful pedestrian areas all over Europe, even in the bigger cities. I think it would work really well on Pike.