Olympic Drive Public Meeting July 30th

Olympic Drive

Hello Bikers who use the ferry,

Please come Wednesday July 30th, 2014 7:00 PM at Bainbridge Island City Hall.

The City will be presenting and taking input on alternatives for improving a portion of Olympic Drive for bicyclists and pedestrians. Olympic Drive is the road from the ferry dock up to Winslow Way that all of the ferry traffic uses.

Squeaky Wheels would like to remind you that we support the concept of:

• A 7-ft minimum (plus buffers) dedicated left turn bicycle lane between the main northbound and southbound lanes to serve the bulk of year-round offloading commuter traffic
• A 5-foot right side bicycle lane to serve the smaller number of riders that continue north on SR305,
  A separated shared use path near the southwest side for the casual, less experienced and very young riders that will serve as a part of the Sound to Olympics trail system (there may be alternative locations for this facility)
• A continued connection to the Waterfront Trail and Bridge to the Waterfront Park for the small number of riders that prefer this route.
• Pedestrian and aesthetic improvements to the corridor.
• Maximum 20 MPH speed limit

This is a feasible alternative that maintains and improves the efficiency of the offload for all users and accommodates all ages and abilities in addition to the large and increasing volume of daily bike commuters.  The attached link provides details of the Squeaky Wheels preferred concept:

olympic_drive_mobility_plan_8-10-12

While we have researched and considered many alternatives this is the alternative we currently firmly support.

The City Staff and Consultants have worked hard to develop a set of alternatives for what is a very challenging cutting edge situation and we very much appreciate their efforts.  Here is the Announcement:

Bainbridge Island City Website: http://www.bainbridgewa.gov/505/Olympic-Drive-Non-Motorized-Improvements

The following is some background that we have sent out previously reprinted here for your reference:

The primary motivations for people to ride a bicycle rather than drive a car generally fall into the following groups. These establish the criteria that must be met by the project if it is to be successful as a bicycle improvement:

1) Efficiency: improvements need to make biking to all destinations dependably faster (ideally faster and less expensive than any other mode.) This is by far the strongest motivator for most Bainbridge ferry bicycle commuters, and most commuters in general. To be acceptable the project must reduce (and in no way increase) delays, even minor and perceived delays, for bicycles.

2) Convenience: the project should make riding easier, more predictable and more socially acceptable (clear and simple signage and intent for all users, good parking, way-finding.)

3) Pleasure and health: the project should provide options that improve the experience of the bicyclist to make it more fun, pleasant and interesting . This is typically more important to recreational riders and tourists, but many commuter bicyclists seek routes with recreational, aesthetic and exercise benefits as part of their commute.

4) Safety: the project must improve both actual safety of individual riders and their perception of safety. Lower differential speeds, wider separation, fewer conflict points and less distracted driving are important considerations.

5) Social and Ethical Convictions: Although these are likely to be alternative-neutral it is important to maintain environmental sensitivity in the project design.

Although the level of bicycle commuters on the Bainbridge ferry is very unusual, perhaps even unique, it stands out as a good example of how a high a percentage of the general population will choose to commute by bicycle when motivated to do so, even with less than ideal conditions.

With improved conditions even more commuters will choose to ride. That said, if the project degrades the primary motivations for bicycling, what is the leading edge of Washington’s, if not the nation’s, move to multimodal transportation, will be undermined.

This is a critical juncture for the City of Bainbridge Island and the State of Washington. It is absolutely crucial we get this right. What we build must present a significant improvement towards optimizing the experience, for all ages and abilities, of riding a bicycle.

– Ross Hathaway,
President of The Board of Directors of Squeaky Wheels