Torvanger and Sunrise: The past, present and future for biking and walking
Peter Harris Island Bike Stories –
The Torvanger I know is one long block between North Madison and Sunrise, beginning at Port Madison Church on the west and connecting to Sunrise a mile south of Fay Bainbridge Park. Torvanger dips a bit at the eastern end, but otherwise is a straight and open stretch of road. It is a popular walking route because of the openness, the wonderful southern view across the farm in the middle of this stretch, lower auto traffic than the adjoining Madison and Sunrise, and decent narrow grassy (and muddy) shoulders in most places if you need them.
Sunrise south of Torvanger is an up-and-down drive to Rolling Bay. There are few if any walkers, even in a short dash to Rolling Bay. There is basically no place to walk other than the auto lanes, and autos have short views going over hills at 30+. Sunrise north of Torvanger is less hilly and has grass alongside the auto lanes most of the way, and walkers are attracted by Fay Bainbridge. Most cyclists on Sunrise come north on a route through Rolling Bay to Port Madison and beyond.
The Past
Twenty-five years ago, I occasionally took my kids on a bike ride around the large block. Traffic was low enough that I thought nothing of it. Now when I see my neighbors’ kids ride out the lane to Torvanger I worry.
Fifteen years ago, when commuting home on a bike I rode north on Sunrise rather than Madison because of the rush hour auto traffic on Madison. Then the City created the northbound shoulder on Madison. Quicker, safer, no worries about hilly Sunrise in the dark. Fantastic! Why not more?
Two years ago, I walked our dog to Fay Bainbridge on most days. The mile along Sunrise took us a half hour. About two dozen autos would pass us on middays during the week. Each auto would cross the double-yellow line, most in a careful and friendly way, sometimes having to wait for another auto to pass us in the opposite direction. I asked the Police Chief if crossing the double-yellow was technically a traffic violation. He said yes, and not only that, I committed obstruction of traffic as a pedestrian on the road. So: on a slow day, on a street with no shoulders, one hour of walking by one pedestrian leads to 48 traffic violations.
About a year ago, the City installed signs on Sunrise saying there are roadway pedestrians and cyclists. This acknowledges the road safety problem – or, one could say, waves at it.
The Present
“Stay at home” has boosted the walkers and cyclists on Torvanger. Now, on almost every walk we take, we see one or two or three or more others going back and forth on this stretch, often from homes on Madison or Sunrise or otherwise close by. There are fewer autos. Autos seldom must wait for others coming from the other direction before passing the walkers and their frequent dogs and occasional children. A little slower speed and a courteous wave are common.
Walking and cycling have also picked up on Sunrise, especially north of Torvanger. People can walk or ride into Fay Bainbridge from Point Madison Drive, all to themselves and totally legit. Sometimes autos must weave between walkers and bikers on both sides Sunrise, all at the same time.
How many traffic violations are there today on Sunrise by autos crossing the double-yellow and pedestrians obstructing traffic? Hard to say. On one hand there are many fewer autos. On the other hand, there are more walkers to pass.
I see no new road safety crisis here and now. When I talk with walkers on these streets, they are happy, enjoying the company to wave at six feet away. Watching for autos is normal. The problem will be in the future, when auto traffic resumes and COBI decides whether to do anything about road safety.
The Future
The most likely future will combine some amount of development on or near Torvanger and Sunrise with little or no infrastructure improvements for safer streets here.
I’m not making a case for limiting auto traffic by limiting development. Development is its own question, and these streets are short of safety now – this according to the Comp Plan and City traffic laws if not otherwise. The point is that any development, whether fast or slow, will make this gap bigger.
Will the City close this gap? On one hand, the Comp Plan and its accompanying Island Wide Transportation Plan, updated and adopted by the City three years ago, say that non-moto road improvements are needed for safety now. Roads are a major City responsibility, and safety is part of this. One would assume this means COBI will close the gap.
If current and recent City behavior is any clue, one would be wrong. We frequently hear Councilmembers declare their support for non-moto safety, but City investment is very low and very slow. Sunrise is far from the center of the island and, for good reason, would be one of the later roads to see such improvements. At minimum it is decades away. Torvanger is not even on the list.
Safe streets here? Marginal at best, if only because auto traffic is low in the middle of most days. What direction will safety on these streets take in the near future? Worse. Will the leaders of Bainbridge Island change this? TBD.
