The 'Road Diet' is no failure; It works

View from the Saddle

So, how’s that Fauntleroy road diet thingee workin’ for ya? You’d think that it was a complete failure if you attended a recent Seattle City Council Transportation Committee public hearing with me. At least that’s what several of those who offered input at the hearing implied.

I knew that we all wouldn’t be getting along shortly after I arrived on my bicycle and in my colorful riding kit. I chose to sit among people who were dressed in business attire, so I sat in front of a man in a fairly conservative suit with tasteful tie. I didn’t notice if he’d shined his shoes for the occasion. With him was a woman about my age or a bit younger who was dressed in such a way that I thought she might be considering a bike ride later. It was that bright. I settled into my seat and began my usual practice of listening to conversations around me. The couple quickly gave themselves away as being from the camp not representing my interests. They began by stopping a man and asking if he was going to speak and the points he might make, all anti-bicycle..

The purpose of the hearing was to get public input on a plan to restripe Nickerson St. in a diet configuration. This is the same configuration that Fauntleroy underwent a while back. It allows for one lane of traffic in either direction, a turn lane in the center, bike lanes in both directions and parking on both sides. It also riles up a lot of emotion whenever it’s proposed.

The hearing was called to order by the chair, Councilman Rasmussen who happens to live in West Seattle and also rides a bicycle. In deference to their elected status, the chair first called three officials from the area surrounding Nickerson. Two were opposed to the plan and one was tentatively supportive (Her husband commutes on a bike.) but wanted to wait for further study. All three were questioned by one or more of the committee members. At one point Councilperson Godden asked a question that implied approval of the plan. The woman in the brightly patterned dress told her partner in a soft voice that Councilperson Godden “gets more senile every time she opens her mouth.” I thought this was a bit over the top, but it did come from a person who was using emotion to make her points. Did I mention that the couple in question also said that all bicyclists run red lights? They did. This has become the fallback complaint about bicyclists. They haven’t been following me around.

The lone male among the three elected officials raised a concern that fish were going to have a tough time being transported from Fishermen’s Terminal to where ever they are shipped if the diet was approved. I guess he thought that a single lane with center turn lane would lead to premature decomposition. I guess he comes from an era before refrigeration.

The simple fact is that the road diet configuration does not slow traffic. Cars turning left don’t stop those behind, and there is plenty of room to get by stopped buses. Emergency vehicles can use the center lane as well. And those pesky bicyclists can ride in marked lanes, thus increasing their chances of not being run down by trucks speeding fish to market.

Back to Fauntleroy. Before the restriping of Fauntleroy, Seattle DOT held a public input event which I attended. While there I had a discussion with a man from Vashon Island who was dead set against the idea. He was certain that he wouldn’t be able to get around buses stopped for passengers. I told him that even if the bus was blocking a lane he could drive around the bus by using the turn lane. He assured me that he could be ticketed for doing so. He was also concerned about emergency vehicles being able to negotiate a single lane. Again, I pointed out the turn lane. He was not convinced. I was shocked that a person from Vashon- laid back central- was so opposed to a plan that would increase car, pedestrian and bicycle safety on Fauntleroy.

The only conclusion I can draw from the rabid opposition to road diets whenever they are proposed is that anything that might improve the lot of the bicycling community will be opposed by a segment of society. I guess we won’t be getting along any time soon.

Did I mention that following the hearing the Transportation Committee approved the Nickerson road restriping?

Ride safe.