Tag Archives: bikes

As micromobility rides and crashes soar, Seattle survey asks what’s working — and why nobody wears a helmet

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(Image: City of Seattle)

As it learns how to live and thrive with a continued surge in use — accompanied by surging injuries, infrastructure costs, and legal costs, Seattle is asking riders about its growing fleet of micromoblity options like scooters and e-bikes in a survey currently underway.

You can take the SDOT 2026 Bike & Scooter Share Survey through September 27th.

Rental bike and scooter usage in Seattle reached record levels, logging over 10.5 million trips in 2025, a 60% jump compared to the 6.3 million rides recorded in 2024, according to Seattle Department of Transportation program reporting. Fleet operations are overwhelmingly dominated by Lime, which captures more than 90% of the local market share, with trips primarily clustered in dense corridors such as Downtown, Belltown, the U District, and Capitol Hill. SDOT trip telemetry shows the service operates almost entirely as a short-hop, last-mile solution, averaging roughly 1.0 mile per ride, while standing and seated electric scooters have far outpaced standard pedal-assist e-bikes in popularity.

The survey gets into that with questions about the types of rides you choose — and why you choose them. Continue reading →

Police: 14-year-old killed in crash on stairs through I-5 Colonnade park was riding ‘E-Motorbike’

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The Seattle Police Department has released its preliminary report on the July death of a young rider who crashed on the stairs near the Colonnade bike area below I-5 between Capitol Hill and Eastlake.

Çınar Doğan, 14, died of multiple blunt force injuries in the July 7th crash

The SPD report provides new details on how the crash occurred. It also details the type of e-bike Doğan was riding when he fell. Continue reading →

Capitol Hill’s Tailwind Cafe is keeping the cycling culture as sibling bike shop Good Weather Bicycles pedals off for new start

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(Image: Tailwind Cafe)

(Image: Tailwind Cafe)

After seven years as a staple of Capitol Hill’s Chophouse Row, Tailwind Cafe is beginning a new ride under new ownership as its sibling bike shop Good Weather Bicycles makes its own way in a new location.

Originally moving into 11th Ave’s Chophouse Row development in 2017 as a hybrid bicycle shop and cafe, the business celebrated its five-year anniversary in 2022 by expanding its food menu and cocktail efforts. To allow both concepts room to grow, co-owners Brandon Waterman and Jason Marqusee moved the bicycle repair and shop operations a block away to 1423 10th Ave last October. The move separated the “dirty work” of bike maintenance from the community cafe space, paving the way for the cafe’s latest evolution.

This summer, Waterman and Marqusee finalized the sale of Tailwind Cafe to new family owners Tushar and Vivek Gupta. A central condition of the sale for the founders was preserving the existing team and culture. Waterman says the entire staff is being kept on as the new investors take over. Continue reading →

Young rider who died in I-5 Colonnade stairs crash identified

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(Image: CHS)

The King County Medical Examiner has identified the Seattle teenager who died Tuesday night in a crash on the stairs through the Colonnade bike park below I-5.

Çınar Doğan died of multiple blunt force injuries in the crash, according to the report.

Doğan was 14.

The teen died Tuesday in the just after 6 PM crash in the park just off Lakeview Blvd between Capitol Hill and Eastlake. Police say he was riding a “motorized electric bicycle” down stairs when he lost control. The young rider was wearing a bike helmet but suffered “severe head and body injuries,” police said. Other details of the crash have not been released. Continue reading →

SPD releases report on deadly 12th and Yesler collision

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The preliminary police report on the deadly collision with a recycling truck that took the life of a bicyclist at 12th and Yesler reveals new details about what led to the tragedy and raises new questions about the city’s street and safety design in the area.

The report released to CHS by the Seattle Police Department this week reflects only the preliminary investigation including details from three people who witnessed the Monday, June 1st crash that took the life of Christian Salyer.

A larger SPD Traffic Collision Investigation Squad investigation was being conducted to determine any fault in the incident.

The Recology recycling truck driver was evaluated for impairment at the scene. No citations were issued.

According to the just released report, the driver told police he was turning the large truck right onto Yesler from 12th Ave when he “heard people shouting.” Continue reading →

‘Ghost bike’ placed at 12th and Yesler as community awaits answers in deadly collision

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Riders, walkers, loved ones, and community members gathered at 12th and Yesler Saturday to remember Christian Salyer and mark the Seattle street where he died.

The crowd temporarily closed the intersection to traffic to place a white “Ghost Bike” and lay flowers in the young school teacher’s honor. Family members were in attendance for the ceremony and expressed their appreciation for the large turnout.

A community fundraiser has raised thousands to help his family and commemorate his life.

Salyer, 30, was killed when he was hit by a recycling truck driver during a late afternoon Monday bike commute on E Yesler. Continue reading →

A decade later, First Hill Streetcar tracks still dangerous for bicyclists

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(Image: CHS)

By Matt Dowell

For its 10th birthday, the First Hill Streetcar will get a suite of minor safety upgrades from the Seattle Department of Transportation. But a decade after a bicyclist died following a crash near the streetcar tracks, cyclists want more.

As part of this year’s portion of the eight-year $1.55 billion Transportation Levy that Seattle voters approved in 2024, SDOT has promised a number of spot improvements for the First Hill Streetcar:

  • New red paint on 14th Ave S just north of Rainier Ave S to make it clearer to people that they are not allowed to drive in the streetcar-only lane
  • Lighting added to eight streetcar shelters (to be completed before the FIFA World Cup)
  • New pavement markings at three private driveways that cross the streetcar tracks to improve visibility

In addition to those changes, as part of the Safe Routes to School Program, SDOT will make bike lane and crossing enhancements around E Yesler Way and Boren Ave to improve safety for families traveling to Bailey Gatzert Elementary. They will upgrade the eastbound bike lane on E Yesler Way between 10th Ave S and Boren Ave by: Continue reading →

While unclogging the 8 on Denny Way, Mayor Wilson is also opening Bicycle Weekends in full glory on Lake WA Blvd

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(Image: City of Seattle)

As Seattle transit and safe streets advocates are celebrating Mayor Katie Wilson’s $ 4 million plan for a new bus-only lane on Denny Way, the urbanist-leaning mayor is also scoring points with the city’s cyclists and those who love them.

Earlier this month, the mayor cleared away years of bureaucratic paralysis and restored Lake Washington Boulevard’s Bicycle Weekends to full glory: Continue reading →

Seattle Department of Transportation 2026 levy projects include E John bus improvements, a First Hill Streetcar safety project, E Union bike lane upgrades, and planning for a transit-only lane on 24th Ave

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E Union’s protect bike lane is getting a levy upgrade in 2026

SDOT’s 2026 levy projects

In 2024, Seattle voters approved the city’s latest transportation levy, a $1.55 billion plan focused on streets, transit, sidewalk, and bike lanes for the next eight years.

This week, officials are unveiling their plan for how the transportation levy funding will be spent in 2026 with sidewalk and repaving work, improved protected bike lanes, new “High-Collision Safety Projects,” a First Hill Streetcar safety project, and a new bus-only lane on 24th Ave among the projects slated for the neighborhoods around Capitol Hill and the Central District.

The Seattle Department of Transportation sums up the 2026 Seattle Transportation Levy Delivery Plan as an outline for how it plans to spend this year’s levy dollars, saying the plan “identifies projects for which the department plans to start building, designing, and planning in 2026.”

“Due to the complex nature of capital project delivery and unforeseen risks, adjustments to the workplan may be necessary to account for changes in project timelines,” SDOT notes.

Here is our report on SDOT’s 2025 levy plan.

While it doesn’t capture all the day to day work SDOT crews will be taking on this year, the levy delivery plan outlines the major planned work you can expect to see on Capitol Hill and Central District sidewalks, streets, bike lanes, and bus lanes this year.

TRANSIT
Some of the most significant projects planned for the Capitol Hill and CD area will be transit related. SDOT says it plans to tackle 160 projects citywide “to improve bus reliability, access, equity, and safety with a focus on performance pinch points affecting multiple routes” with some key investments here including planned “spot” construction to improve transit conditions at the busy area near Capitol Hill Station at E John and 10th. Continue reading →

After 10 years on E Jefferson, Peloton Cafe’s ride continues

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Earlier this month, CHS reported on the global cycling brand Rapha shutting down its Capitol Hill “clubhouse” as part of worldwide cutbacks for the London-based sportswear brand.

On E Jefferson, a much more local ride continues. January marks the 10-year anniversary for the Peloton Cafe Bike Shop. Continue reading →