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Input needed! Bike and truck improvements for south end Ballard Bridge
We’re trying to make it easier to move around the south end of the Ballard Bridge and want to hear from you. SDOT held a small working session with bicycle, freight and pedestrian advocates and is recommending the following changes.
If you bike or drive this corridor, we hope you’ll take some time to read the project web site and use your experience to give us input. Submit comments right here on our blog by Wednesday, August 12.
Update from SDOT: Hi there. It’s exciting to see how many people are commenting and we thought you’d like to know how we are going to respond to input. By close of business Friday, August 14 we’ll add a blog entry that summarizes how comments are being incorporated and why. Be sure to check back!
Also, thanks for the heads-up about branches obscuring some of the signs at the south end of the bridge. We’ll have Urban Forestry crews out there in the next week to evaluate and trim. If you come across greenery blocking traffic signs in the future you can call (206)684-TREE and we’ll have someone take care of it.
Thanks.
Posted: July 30th, 2009 under Bikes, Freight, General, Peds.
I am pleased that this location is being address by SDOT, as someone who frequently rides from Ballard to downtown on my commute. I have taken to going through the locks rather than the Ballard Bridge, mainly for this very location being addressed (yuck).
I think that the proposed changes are reasonable, given cost factors. I understand some of the comments on this site- a concern that cyclists and pedestrians will see this as an opportunity to blaze through, but as in any high traffic area and intersections, it is ALWAYS up to the biker/ped to be more cautious than drivers: look to make sure the way is clear and cross safely. No light, markings on the road, or person holding a sign can change that fact. There will always be drivers that will cut off cyclists and peds- it is a fact, but that does not reduce the need for a fix to this intersection.
Also, I prefer that something is done low-cost now, than wait until, somewhere in the future, there is enough money to spend on creating a seamless bicycle/ped underpass. That will take years if ever.
Thanks for addressing this issue.
The planned re-design seems well-intentioned, but likely to lead to a fatality.
The person who noted that traffic backs up across the Bridge as drivers slow to make the turn to Emerson and noted the rear-end risk are right on target. If the median is made smaller (to help trucks make the turn), that may speed up the turn a little bit for cars/trucks and reducing the backup/rear end concerns, but increased speed at this point will only increase hazards to cyclists.
Keep the design as is until there is sufficient funding to provide a separate fix that routes the cyclists under the bridge, or route the cyclists across the bridge to cross at the stop signs as suggested by another, and/or enhance directions to cyclists to use the Ballard Locks/Port trail/Myrtle Edwards route separated from vehicle traffic.
I like the proposal personally. I sometimes use the existing “hole” to stay southbound on 15th and I have waited several minutes for a gap in traffic or for a polite vehicle to wave me in. I’m sure with the new markings it will be easier. I am afraid that some bikers will take things for granted and be in danger…
I understand cost-restrictions on improving the safety of bicyclists and maintaining vehicle traffic flow in this high-traffic location, however I believe the solution to the vehicle backup and bicyclists safety,
Would be to invest more money and build a underpass that drops down where the proposed “curb opening for bike access” is located, the bicycle underpass would nearly parallel the pedestrian underpass currently implemented and would connect onto W. Nickerson headed south, finally connecting onto 15 ave NW.
This underpass would illuminate all possible accidents and traffic flow would not be interrupted.
A yield sign for vehicles in the right lane will slow what is already often becomes a significant backup of vehicles crossing the Ballard bridge and turning right to Magnolia or the flyover to Nickerson.
I like the idea of building a sloping path from the Ballard bridge to an existing underpath for pedestrians and cyclists to W. Emerson Street. Not only is it safer for cyclists, but it will not impede the flow of traffic.
Often it seems, it is the flow of traffic that is negated in the city’s effort to appease to cyclists. Unfortunately, our streets and bridges are handling increasingly heavier traffic volume as the density of our city increases. We need to encourage solutions that will allow the flow of traffic to continue easily, while allowing cyclists to coincide in a safe manner on Seattle’s streets and bridges.
I would like to eventually take my kids out on city-wide bike rides, but I currently don’t do this as there are too many areas that are not safe for my children to navigate on bikes. The stretch of the Birk Gilman Trail through lower Ballard is an example. I could go on, but I won’t. I just don’t want to see the increase in injured cyclists continue as harried drivers try to navigate our increasingly busy streets.
When I bike the Ballard Bridge, I almost always dismount and use the pedestrian underpass. A ramp leading from the bridge and taking bikes under Emerson is certainly the safest route here. Other comments have mentioned that cars will not slow down and look for bikers, since they are accustomed to turning right on Emerson without hindrance. I agree wholeheartedly.
During off-peak and weekends, I have been known to stop precisely at the point where the proposed bike lane would start, pick up my bike, step over the tiny barrier and either bike or walk across Emerson to continue on 15th. The removal of the barrier at this location would be nice, but would only work if cyclists stop completely and wait for a definite break in car traffic before crossing Emerson. Without the barrier to hold us back, I know some cyclists will not stop here, but continue to ride through the intersection.
With that said, I’d recommend the ramp under Emerson.
The comments about how dangerous this intersection is are spot on! I drive it everyday and it is by far the most stressful intersection on my commute. The suggestions to eliminate bikers from the intersection and route them underneath Emerson are by far the best solutions. If you choose not to eliminate bikers from the intersection then at a minimum you need better street lighting and more signs alerting bikers and drivers of the dangerous intersection.
This location is a natural for a sloping path or ramp from the Ballard Bridge to the existing pedestrian underpass and roadway located under W. Emerson St. This arrangement allows bicycles grade separation from existing car and truck traffic on 15th Ave. W.
I commute daily across the bridge by bicycle (most summer days) and by auto. I’m in favor of this plan and think it’s a good, low-cost improvement to the existing condition. My only suggestion is, if possible, to add more protected paving at the bridge-side of the intersection for peds/bikes to wait (and pass each other) and for better traffic observation before crossing.
I agree with other comments that pedestrians will likely use the improved crossing, but that is not a reason to reject the intersection improvements. The existing conditions are difficult to navigate.
Also, I notice that there’s a box on the diagram “No pedestrian crossing use underpass.”
That’s not gonna happen.
If a bike lane is painted onto the crossing, pedestrians will take the path of least resistance and walk right across. Since this is Seattle, they’ll likely even assume that it’s a proper crosswalk and that they have right-of-way. I’ve seen walkers almost get hit by cars while strolling across a *real* crosswalk, falsely secure in the belief that right-of-way = anti-car forcefield.
So, this plan will result in not only the deaths of bikers, but pedestrians as well. Terrible plan.
That plan looks extremely dangerous. Bikers will be wiped out by cars making right hand turns.
Currently, with high-speed traffic stacked up behind, cars take that turn at 20-30 MPH. If you slow down to 5-10 MPH you risk being rear-ended.
A better solution would be to have bikes make the turn, continue a few feet on the sidewalk down Emerson, and safely cross the street where the stop sign is located–at the intersection with the overpass. They can then curve back along Emerson and rejoin 15th.
Making the bike path a straight shot across the curve to Emerson will result in people getting killed. All it will take is a biker to assume that the car he’s pacing will continue down 15th, and that car–who, reasonably, is not paying attention to what’s going on on the *sidewalk*–makes a full-speed turn onto Emerson without signaling. Boom. Fatal collision.
I’m glad something is being done about this intersection. I commute through this area every day (by bike) on my way to Mercer Island, and it is the worst part of my ride.
I’m not sure how to better inform cars that there might be bikes going through that intersection though. The current signage isn’t intrusive enough to catch the attention of most drivers.
I’d like to echo a few points that have already been made but should be emphasized.
Making the exit from the bridge more of a straight shot for cyclists will increase the chance that they continue onto 15th without slowing, stopping, or even looking. That, coupled with the fact that the entrance is now around the corner from the main bridge deck, cars will have less time to anticipate the cyclist entering traffic. I currently stop every time I need to enter 15th in the present configuration but not everyone does. I think the new design, while appealing at first glance will actually lead to more accidents.
The best option, in my opinion, is to eliminate bikes from this intersection altogether. Funds always being a limiting factor, I’d like to see a ramp from the bike/pedestrian lane on the bridge start north of Emerson that takes cyclists under Emerson to merge with the traffic entering from Nickerson.
I also think more signage will confuse the situation more that solve it. The new yield signs have produced very little change in my experience. And the last thing cyclists, or cars, need to be doing when negotiating the narrow bridge is reading.
I do appreciate that SDOT is putting forth some thought and energy to redesigning this intersection. I think drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians will all benefit from a thoughful, effective design that results in safe and inuitive routes that don’t rely on signs, blinking lights, or other technology. I’ve commuted this route 3 days a week for 10 years and this intersection is the most dangerous location along my route. Thank you for the opportunity to weigh in.
I generally avoid the 15th Ave bridge and use the Ballard Locks and Myrtle Edwards trail instead. However, I think any of the gradient options that route cyclists underneath Emerson would be preferable to the green lane. When I need to cross on 15th, I currently dismount and portage my bike down and up the stairs as this is definitely safer. Thanks for all your efforts and this opportunity to add my opinion.