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Implementing Vision Zero Recommendations at Truck & Bike Safety Fair promotes safety with live demonstrations, activities, and family fun  

by on June 13, 2023
SDOT team members handed out Vision Zero bags and shared information on current safety projects. Photo Credit: SDOT

Blog Stats: 475 words | 4-minute read 

Seattleites of all ages had a great time this past weekend at the 2023 Truck & Bike Safety Fair in Georgetown! This event was paused during the pandemic but returned this year to provide people of every bike skill level the chance to experience firsthand how they and freight drivers can safely interact!  

Our Freight Program partnered with staff from Port of Seattle, Duwamish Valley Safe Streets, Bike Works, and The Northwest Seaport Alliance to coordinate live demonstrations, activities, and hands-on tours of trucks. People who attended the event were invited to experience what driving in a semi-trailer truck might be like and how to safely navigate around one when biking by identifying blind spots. They also had the option of joining Toros Cycling Club for a guided safety class.  

Holding a Truck & Bike Safety Fair is a recommendation (6.2.6) from the Vision Zero Top to Bottom Review requested by SDOT Director Greg Spotts. The fair is an opportunity to strengthen partnerships with regional transportation partners and raise awareness of the importance of everyone’s participation in reducing traffic deaths and serious fatalities.  

4 adults and one youth sit on bikes on the street between a Charlie's Produce semi truck and the curb. They are discussing the trucks blind spots.
Members of the Toros Cycling Club lead a class on sharing the road with freight vehicles using parked trucks near the event. Photo credit: Toros Cycling Club 
A Bike Works staff member sits behind their table at the event and smiles at the camera. The blue table has a selection of stickers, informational flyers and water bottles.
Bike Works staff handed out materials to encourage safe bike riding. Photo Credit: Toros Cycling Club 

At the SDOT table, we shared information about two active safety projects, the Georgetown to Downtown Safety Project (currently near 60% design) and the Georgetown to South Park Connection (now at 100% design and may begin construction as soon as end of this year). 

Both projects focus on creating safer options for people walking, rolling, and biking through SODO and between South Park, Georgetown, and Downtown. We had a map to show how the bike connections we’re currently designing in South Seattle will connect to the existing bike network. 

We also shared information on the recently announced free designated overnight truck parking that is now available on Harbor Island for drivers to leave trucks overnight. The parking was created to reduce the impacts of freight movement through Georgetown. 

Community members had the opportunity to connect with our staff, who shared important project information, learned about people’s experiences walking and biking in South Seattle, and handed out free safety equipment. Photo Credit: SDOT 
Two children wearing bike helmets stand with their mountain bikes at the SDOT booth, where they received free bike safety lights that attach to their handlebars.
Two members of the Toros Cycling Club stopped by to talk to us and pick up Vision Zero bike lights for their handlebars. Photo Credit: SDOT 

Thank you to our partners and the community for coming out to support a safer bike system in Seattle! 

Filed Under: Biking, Community Involvement, Safety, SDOT, Vision Zero Tagged With: , , , , ,