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Stay Healthy Streets continue this week and will add 3 new neighborhoods this weekend

Photo by Jeanne Clark

We’re opening 6 more miles of Stay Healthy Streets to allow for safe social distancing while walking, rolling, running, skating, and biking this Friday!  

Greenwood, Othello and Rainier Beach, and Beacon Hill communities will be able to access essential services, recreate, and walk their dogs near their homes while protecting their neighbors by keeping 6 feet apart 24/7.

We’re also extending the Central District route to include E Columbia St, creating a total of 9 miles of Stay Healthy Streets. Stay Healthy Streets builds off the 196 miles of Seattle’s bike facilities and trails. 

Last weekend streets in the Central District and West Seattle and High Point were closed to through traffic to help people #KeepItMoving. In partnership with the Parks and Recreation Department, a portion of W Green Lake Way N is temporarily closed to create room for people biking who are not allowed on the Loop Trail at this time and for walking should the trail become overcrowded.

People riding bikes on Stay Healthy Streets
Photo of Central District Stay Health Street by Jeanne Clark

Keep it Moving Guidance: 

  • Stay Home. If you need to leave the house, visit your neighborhood park. 
  • Keep it Moving. Keep walking, running, or biking. That means no picnics, no BBQs, no sports, no gatherings at our parks. 
  • Visit parks, greenways and farmers markets at off peak hours 
  • If you see a crowd, go somewhere else 

Initial observations from last Sunday indicate driving along Stay Healthy Streets in the Central District was down about 91% from 2017 data and bike travel was up 299%. 

Feedback was positive the first weekend and we hope to bring clarity to the effort by installing yard signs along the selected streets next week. The signs remind people to stay alert no matter how they are using the street and to watch out for each other. 

Streets were selected to amplify outdoor exercise opportunities for areas with limited open space options, low car ownership and routes connecting people to essential services and food take out.

We also ensured street closures did not impact newly opened food pick up loading zones, parking around hospitals for residents and health care professionals, and bus routes. 

We’re aiming to convert approximately 15 miles to Stay Healthy Streets in the coming weeks. We will continue to evaluate the effort and work with community and stakeholders on recommendations for improvement. Additional closures will be subject to change based on new orders, construction, and availability of our crews and signs. 

We’re also seeking volunteers to confirm road closure signs remain in place, to conduct pedestrian and bicycling counts, take photos and share vignettes. Those interested in volunteering can email NorthSeattleGreenway@Seattle.gov. The counts will be used to monitor the success of Stay Healthy Streets, along with resident feedback, and any traffic impacts where vehicles are detoured.