How can Seattle improve its Complete Streets policy?

What does “Complete Streets” mean to you? If you’re a transportation geek or road design lawyer (guilty as charged to both of these), a city engineer, city planner, transportation advocate, or just a concerned citizen, you’ve probably heard of Complete Streets. But most people are not well informed about the origin of Complete Streets, its…

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The City of Seattle & King County shouldn’t blame the pedestrian.

In the previous post, we provided a glimpse of what the Seattle City Attorney argues to deflect responsibility about its design of the pedestrian crosswalk of the protected bike lane (PBL)at the University District transit island. This island is directly in front of the UW Roosevelt Medical building, where countless patients, employees, and visitors use…

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Confidential pedestrian v. driver – $490,000

Picture of Fremont Bridge where Fleming Law pedestrian injury client suffered after car hit

Seattle software developer was walking to his job, when a driver hit him with their car near the Fremont Bridge. He lost weeks of work and time to enjoy with his family for the entire summer and fall of 2019. After the injured pedestrian was taken to the hospital, his family contacted Catherine Fleming to…

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Who needs AOC? WA senator for safer roads and rails

Senator photo

Did you hear about the $13.8 million for Western WA to improve rail infrastructure and to prevent landslides? How about her discussion yesterday at the Spokane National Weather Service about improving fire forecasting tools?  In her mild mannered way, she’s successfully pushed for safer roads, rail and communities. Sure, AOC has a flashier way that grabs people’s attention. Maybe…

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Part 1: Seattle street cars and bicyclists

Accident photo at 14th & Jackson

If you ride your bike anywhere in Seattle, you know about road hazards. Potholes, major elevation changes, and streetcar tracks are all bad news. These road hazards cause bicyclists to fall before they can do anything to stop it. Aside from a stream of buses that often share bike paths, Seattle bicyclists must contend with drivers…

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Seattle’s latest transportation plan, “STP3”

Seattle latest transportation plan graphic

For years, the folks who aren’t crazy about bike commuters have complained about Seattle spending too much money, space and resources to its Bicycle Master Plan (BMP). The BMP has served as the main reference for SDOT to plan and design bike projects in the City. The goals were great and lofty. Let’s reduce greenhouse…

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Dear SDOT: Please walk the walk! Don’t just talk about your commitment to safety!

Rapid Ride problem areas image

Only a year ago, SDOT’s head transportation engineer, Dongho Chang, cited City’s designs as harmful to people. While still at SDOT, Chang provided his perspective about the spike in pedestrian injuries on our roads. The explanation wasn’t just about the increase in population and heavier vehicles. He understood that Seattle’s road design issues were leading…

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Dangerous crosswalk for pedestrians: Roosevelt protected bike lane

Traffic Fatality Trends 2004-2017 graph

Seattle recently reported its new and improved proactive approach to pedestrian safety (to use FHWA’s language.  Below are excerpts of a 2020 City of Seattle Dept. of Transportation (SDOT) report: …the number of overall traffic-related fatalities continues to trend downward. However, pedestrian and cyclist crashes have remained relatively steady. To meetthe growing demand while improving safety, the City…

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