Yesler's New Green Bicycle Lane

Seattle will soon have a second streetcar line and I happily live very  near to the impending infrastructure. Last month I got excited when I saw the word "green" painted on the pavement--signaling that something green, like a bicycle box or lane, may soon be installed. On the evening of July 17th, I caught a glimpse of the construction work crew applying something green to the street

Installation in Progress ...

(07/17/2013 | Seattle, WA | Photo Credit: Cat Silva)

The next morning, I took a pause on my way to the bus stop and investigated the new part of my neighborhood. My first impression is: "woo-hoo! A green bike lane is down the street!!" After taking a close look, I'm still excited and am happy to see the bicycle infrastructure--but there are a few things I find a little odd about what has been installed.

Before I comment on the new facility, let me mention that I have nothing to do with this project--past being an exciting future rider--and this is merely my opinion. I haven't looked a the final design scheme for the intersection and look forward to seeing how this new piece of bicycle infrastructure fits into the developing transportation network.

One Green Lane, but Two Different Pavement Markings?  

(07/18/2013 | Seattle, WA | Photo Credit: Cat Silva)

When approaching at the intersection at Yesler and 14th, bicyclists are now greeted by a the green lane and two different markings, indicating it is for bicyclists. First you see a standard bicycle lane marking, on green bicycle lane, just before crossing the intersection. The placement of this marking makes the bicycle logo visible to the right turning streetcar and pedestrians crossing the street. But then, while in the intersection, the rider comes across a shared lane marking right tin the center of the green bicycle lane. I will reiterate for effect: A shared lane marking smack-dab in the middle of a space explicitly designated as a green bicycle lane. This causes me some pause.

Ok - let's review. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices provides standard uses of a shared lane marking--the "sharrow". Of the five main bullet points for when/why to use these pavement markings, three state that the marking can signal the intended lateral position --guiding riders where on the road to travel, creating a predictable path that makes the shared roadway safer.

This "sharrow" they have installed appears to say to cyclists: "as you go up this hill, you're going to be sharing the roadway." ...However, after a busstop ahead, a climbing lane is provided... OR, maybe it is for drivers heading north (left) who may not notice the bright green paint or do not know that the green paint means: "hey - there could be a bicycle here!"?

(07/18/2013 | Seattle, WA | Photo Credit: Cat Silva)

In my own internship I have pushed-back on following the MUTCD line for line, so I do respect that the designers did what they thought was right at that particular location. It is a difficult spot. You've got streetcars turning, drivers from all sides and accommodating bicyclists safely over the tracks and across the intersection is tricky. That said, I just wonder about the exact implementation of the facility.

The "sharrow" seems like the wrong pavement marking for this location--but maybe I'm just knit-picking a nice new facility fresh with bright green paint.

Beautiful Texture, Straight Lines, Vibrant Color!

(07/18/2013 | Seattle, WA | Photo Credit: Cat Silva)

And the paint really is neat. Not only is the green color vibrant, the construction crew applied a very cool textured treatment beneath the green paint. I have seen bicycle lanes with dull green colors that are easily overlooked by drivers--so I was thrilled to see such a commitment to the facility with the loud color. I note this in comparison with the green bicycle box that was installed on Pike Street at 12th Avenue in Capitol Hill a couple of years ago. This is a facility that I was very happy to see, and still am glad for it's presence when I need to take left turns on to 12th. But after time, the paint is wearing away and the color is a darker green than what the City just used.

(08/09/2013 | Seattle, WA | Photo Credit: Cat Silva)

I am also compelled to note how well installed the new facility is. The lines are straight. The texture even. And, there are no traces of green paint on the surrounding pavement. Those men who installed the new facility clearly put energy into precise implementation. This is very important, in my opinion, because now when my neighbors see this they will see a nice, crisp bicycle lane that is adding value to the street--instead of sloppy lines for a facility they "won't even use". So thank you to those who were part of that work crew!

ADA Treated Bicycle Facility

It was pointed out to me by my supervisor at work that using these yellow ADA strips is not quite right for a bicycle ramp. The lane does climb onto the sidewalk, so perhaps they treated it the same way a curb ramp is usually treated. It works, but I do think the yellow looks a little odd there and doesn't seem appropriate for the facility type. These type of ramps are also not the best to use for bicycle facilities. Lateral friction, instead of small bumps that could actually cause a thin, fast moving wheel to slip, may be more idea for a bicycle facility--but there is nothing specified in the MUTCD for these facilities.

(07/18/2013 | Seattle, WA | Photo Credit: Cat Silva)

Looking Forward...

But with all that said, am ultimately happy as heck to see this type of facility implemented in my neighborhood--be it exactly as I would have designed it or not. It's good to see an investment in bicycle riders and this type of facility adds safety to those crossing a soon complicated intersection. When I return from Aalborg, much will have changed at that corner and I will await any final opinion or thoughts until I see how it all fits together.

Joining the Mobilities Design Group at AAU!

This fall, I have the immense privilege of being involved in a research project with the Mobilities Design Group, housed within the Centre for Mobilities and Urban Studies at Aalborg University. During my time in Aalborg I will work with a masters student from Germany on a research publication for this newly formed research group. I am able to participate in this forthcoming research project thanks to the funding I received from the Valle Scholarship and the generous accommodation of faculty at C-MUS and Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology at AAU. My aim is to learn from and with researchers looking a new breed of research into "Mobilities Design" in Denmark and apply any knowledge I soak up to my professional project research.

The "Mobilities Design" portion of my blog is my space to document what I learn from working with others involved in C-MUS and this research group. As the research project is planned and gets underway, I will highlight interesting research findings, policy applications, or relevant design techniques.

What is this group about?

As is well described in the Mission Statement, the purpose of Mobilities Design Group is to engage in research, workshops, and seminar efforts focused on designing urban space to for mobility. How sidewalks, bicycle lanes, transportation nodes, corridors, or any type of transportation facility is designed can have a meaningful impact on how the facility functions. Can users easily understand where the safest and planned space for them is? Are pavement markings legible? Are there the right types of travel lanes in the right places? Do pedestrians have long wait times? Is the facility in a place where that facility ought to be? Are policies encouraging the types of facilities that are healthy for people? Do design guidelines provide adequate standards for "staging mobilities"?

Mobilities Design Research

The topic of the collaborative project I will engage in with the German masters student is undetermined at the moment, but it will approach some are of this field of research. She is looking at prioritization methodology for bicycle corridor planning and I am considering how to prioritize different modes of transportation along a downtown street that is both a bicycle priority and transit enhanced corridor. We are each interested in applying our work to our respective degree projects. There is certainly overlap in our topic areas, and I imagine we can find something to focus on, such as, how to prioritize different design techniques at nodes and along corridors, which would additionally beg the question of which corridors are deserving of which design techniques. We could likewise explore how policy implementation impacts the design and designation of bicycle infrastructure. As we correspond and after we meet in Aalborg, we will pin down exactly what we can best use our combined energy to research for the Mobilities Design Group.

Valle Scholar Heading to Aalborg University

In about a month, I will be getting on a plane and heading off to live in Aalborg, Denmark or six months. This will be my third time studying in this delightful country, but this will be my first time spending time in the northern peninsula. Currently, I am a masters student at the University of Washington, earning concurrent degrees in Urban Planning and Public Administration, with a specialization in Urban Design. I additionally am a Graduate Transportation Planning Intern for the City of Bellevue. To earn my degrees, I will be completing a professional project for Bellevue. My past experiences in Denmark have inspired my professional interests in transportation facilities design--specifically for non-motorized road users--led me to pursue this impending opportunity to return to Scandinavia to inspire my professional project's research in it's nascence.

Thanks to generous support from Valle Scholarship and Scandinavian Exchange Program, I have funding allowing me to move to Denmark and engage in research in Denmark. I will be studying and working as a research intern for the Centre for Mobilities and Urban Studies at Aalborg University, working specifically with the newly formed Mobilities Design Group.

(May 4, 2008 | Copenhagen, Denmark)

This is a trip I am immensely excited for and will be documenting as much as I can stand on this blog. I head out in September and until then will post about the preparations for my research--both for Bellevue and the Mobilities Design Group--and anything else I think may be interesting to share before leaving. After that, this blog will be where I store my running dialog of urban design and mobilities research and highlight my experiences with mobility in Denmark and anywhere else I may visit between there and the Northwest.

Thank you for following - please comment/critique/pester/pass on anything you read on here :)

Cat Silva
catmcsilva@gmail.com