You may remember back in October, when Madi alerted us that 45th Street in front of Dick’s held the dubious honor of being the most dangerous intersection for cyclists in the city. It looks like the city has taken some steps to address the problem:
The Seattle Bike Blog reports that “SDOT has installed a buffered bike lane in front of the popular burger joint. The lane replaces what previously was empty space on the roadway. The extra-wide lane on this segment of 45th, at the bottom of a fairly steep hill, made the behavior of all road users fairly unpredictable. And, as we know, wide lanes encourage speeding.”
The comment thread on SBB reveal some of the potential shortcomings of the move, though: if the danger is coming from cars entering and exiting Dick’s, creating a lane that separates the bikes from the main traffic is unlikely to have much of an impact; having a bike line that “swerves” out of the main traffic flow and then back into it is unlikely to help; and, of course, a bike line does nothing to address the fact that it is a fairly steep hill the cyclists are coming down.
All that said, short of closing the driveways that dump onto 45th and having drivers pass exit to 1st Ave NE or 2nd Ave NE, instead, it’s hard to imagine what all would help here.
Has it made you feel any safer? Let the bike nerds at SBB or comment below.
Photo by Adam Prairie, who, along with SBB, will perhaps forgive us for using it without asking permission first if we mention that his band The Hoot Hoots has a new album out. Thanks to Heidi for the tip!
It’s better than nothing, but still not great. Markings such as this one at least raise awareness that bikes may be in the vicinity, but it does nothing to alleviate the problem of drivers hurrying to beat oncoming traffic in order to enter or exit Dicks.
I’ve ridden this stretch since the new lane was installed, but I don’t use it. Instead I keep up with the flow of traffic in the auto lane. This makes me more visible to oncoming traffic, and creates a bit of buffer space between me and the cars exiting Dicks. I feel only slightly safer than I did before then bike lane was there.
I’d like to see something done with the design of the parking lot and sidewalk areas. Maybe installing plantings, so cars can’t just zip in and out, unaware of where the parking lot ends and the sidewalk and roadway begin. Or maybe stop signs for cars exiting the parking lot. Or a crosswalk on 45th at 2nd.
I drive past Dick’s often, usually turning right on Thackeray to go home. Often there’s plenty of room to travel right of the eastbound traffic queue, but I always wait in the left lane instead, at least until I get to Golden Oldies. Passing traffic on the right is always risky and usually stupid, not to mention illegal. It’s especially unwise to do it in front of Dick’s where lots of non-locals and youthful drivers tend to make unexpected moves.
Hard to imagine what motivated SDOT to mark a lane that encourages swift, silent and invisible bikes to place themselves at risk there (OK, maybe not THAT hard to imagine!). I think widening the sidewalk into the 1/2 lane between 1st and 2nd to block all traffic flow thru would’ve made much more sense if safety was indeed their main concern. Nothing’s going to make travel safe there anyway. Besides, maybe Dick’s would install more benches! Unfortunately, I don’t get the impression safety is SDOT’s primary concern right now.
What’s even harder to understand than SDOT installing that lane, is any biker’s motivation to use it. Wouldn’t it be smarter for cyclists to avoid accidents by following traffic laws like they’re supposed to. Or is that a just plain silly idea?
@iyqtoo: What possible traffic law could a cyclist be breaking in order to be hit at that intersection?
The fact is most car/cyclist accidents are NOT the result of a cyclist breaking a law, but of a motorist not seeing the bicyclist. The accidents that have happened on this stretch of 45th are no exception.
Doug is right on the money in all of his comments. Bikers could also make the situation better by slowing down when coming down the hill, wearing reflective/bright clothing, using lights….even during the day (new strobe type lights are GREAT for helping cars see a bike). I am afraid that bikers are now going to feel safer (read emboldened to ride faster) when in the bike lane. As a daily bike rider myself, if a car and bike collide, it really doesn’t matter who had the right of way….biker is always going to be the one who gets hurt. As a car driver also, it can be difficult to see a bike coming, especially if it is coming between lanes of traffic. It is much safer for the biker to take a position in the traffic lane where it can be seen.
Wish there was faster progress on the 44th street corridor which may help this issue, although there are always going to be some bikers who will want to scream down 45th with no detour and take their chances.
well, I drive there regularly and am often a bit alarmed at the number and ferocity of drivers who take extreme chances turning left to get into the parking lot of Dick’s.. some, umm turn ppretyt fast in frotn of a car. And by running in front of a car.. they may not see bikes speeding down the hill parallel to the cars.
I think Dick’s could take mroe responsibility wiht the design of the parking lot entrances and exits. How about having people enter the lot oNLY turning right from going south on 45th and either right or left from Thackeray???
much better than nothing. I bike here daily and its nice to do whatever we can to create the awareness. The best thing to do is slow things down.
let’s get the greenways going too.
I would worry this will give cyclists a false sense of security. The bike lane doesn’t really appear until after the parking lane opens up just to the west of there, so fast moving drivers with burgers on their mind aren’t expecting bikes there anyway. The bike lane will appear too late, I reckon.
I bike that way twice daily and laughed out loud when I first saw bike lane. It’s extremely silly to expect cyclists to swerve from the lane of traffic they are riding down the hill in to hug the curb in front of Dicks, only to merge back into the traffic lane 200 feet later.
The most the markings and signs can do is raise awareness that cyclists travel there.
I have not used the lane once since it was created. The safest thing as a cyclist to do is to take the lane, ride right down the center of the lane, make eye contact with as many drivers as possible, make yourself seen with lights/clothing, and SLOW DOWN. It’s easy to go 30 mph down the hill, but braking just a little to 20-22mph creates enough time for you or the driver to react to your presence.
Most people I know avoid 45th as a destination or thoroughfare at all cost, which I would assume has an effect on local business. I know I avoid 45th businesses unless I have time to waste, which is seldom. As a lifetime customer of Dick’s, I’ve actually been visiting Holman Rd and Lake City stores when I need to feed the workers or need my own fix mainly just to avoid 45th. Best thing to do as a bicyclist or a motorist is just stay away from 45th.
Steve
I might be headed over to that vicinity this morning, if so will let you know if it appears that anyone is using N 45th.
No one uses 45th anymore. It’s too crowded.
45th is now a paid parking lot
use 44th, 40th or 52nd
Hm, I cycle down that hill on N 45th once in a while, but on a bicycle I’d steer clear of N 40th.
On today’s visit to N 45th, I was treated again to a classic example of Wallingford misplaced kindness: the guy in the eastbound lane who cedes his right of way and signals frantically for the westbound car to take its left turn onto Meridian – where I’m crossing Meridian on the crosswalk on foot. Thanks, bud.
It’s a cluster. But cyclists should avoid “taking the lane” because it’s arrogant and creates road rage. If you have to use your bicycle, just stay to the right of the lane.