File photo
More sharrows, like this one installed on Beach Drive in 2007, are coming to Seattle streets.

City to add more bike dots, green lanes, sharrows

Bike dots, green bike lanes and sharrows are appearing on city streets in growing numbers. The Seattle Department of Transportation is adding improvements to ensure its transportation infrastructure meets the needs of Seattle’s growing cycling community, according to a news release from the department.

The new elements will be found in neighborhoods citywide (see attached sheet) and build on other upgrades already well underway, such as adding bike lanes and multi-user trail segments. These improvements stem from the Bicycle Master Plan and its ten-year goal of tripling the number of people cycling in Seattle.

“Guided by the Bicycle Master Plan, we are making extensive improvements to support bicycling in Seattle,” said Grace Crunican, director of the Seattle Department of Transportation. “Simple roadway elements like bike dots, green bike lanes and sharrows will help transform attitudes about bikes’ rightful place on city streets.”

Sharrows are designed to remind motorists to share the lane with bikes, while also guiding bicyclists to the best place to ride. Green bike lanes highlight where bicycles and cars cross paths, and warn motorists to yield. Bike dots and accompanying route signs guide riders to destinations like shopping areas, parks and transit centers.

The dots show where to turn on the route, while the signs tell you where the route is going and how far it is to the destination.

In 2009, the city will add 35 lane-miles of bike lanes/sharrows, 20 miles of signed bike routes, two to three trail segments and 300 bike racks.

To learn more about the work to enhance bicycling, please visit the city's Web site.

Guest wrote 1 year 19 weeks ago

The photo also shows the bad

The photo also shows the bad shape our roadways are in. Not so bad in a car but on a bike it can rattle your teeth.

Guest wrote 1 year 19 weeks ago

It's hard not to notice that

It's hard not to notice that horrible road condition. From what I've read, bad road conditions especially pot holes don't just cause discomfort but can also be dangerous (life-threatening, etc). It's difficult to be a bike friendly city.

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <b><a> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <img> <br><p>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.

More information about formatting options

Image Verification
This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Our Stories Around West Seattle

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

Receive updates on news and events in the West Seattle neighborhood via Twitter or Facebook!