For Wednesday’s story,
A Special Path for Those who Pedal, we boarded the
Bremerton-Seattle ferry, thinking we’d talk to some bike commuters
on their way home. We got lucky, however, and spoke to three on the
way there and three more on the way back.
The city is hoping to make things easier for bikers and walkers in Bremerton, through a non-motorized transportation planning process.
Phil Williams, public works director, said the goal of the process is looking at what’s already being planned, figuring out what’s missing, prioritizing the ultimate wish list and then finding a way to fund it.
The six we interviewed all agreed that it’s easier to ride a bike in Seattle. They said changes, from altering the crosswalk situation at the ferry terminal to wider and separate bike paths would go a long way to fixing things.
They also said, however, Bremerton and Kitsap County drivers in general are less accepting of bikers. It may not be true for the majority of people, but they said they encounter more people on this side of the Sound than the other side who drive too close to the bikes, or honk when inconvenienced by bikers. They acknowledged there are bad bikers as well as bad drivers.
One story I didn’t get into the print story was of Brad (Bell? I’m home as I write this and don’t have my notes.) who rides his bike from his Mercer Island home to the ferry for his job at the shipyard. He said a few years back the shipyard tried to eliminate biking to work, but was eventually convinced not to. Now, he said, PSNS has gone the other direction to making more concessions to bikers than in the past.
Steve,
Good story. I ride often and riding safely in Kitsap is nearly impossible. Was happy to see via the article that people are listening.
… and I take my life on wheels at risk every time I venture out onto Anderson Hill Road.
We NEED safe paths.
A fact is….the recumbent trike is treated with more passing respect by drivers than the two wheel upright bikes. I don’t know why. We’re lower but wider and carry safety flags easily seen in traffic.
If you want to test it for yourself, Steven, you’re welcome to ride one of my trikes… and take a friend to ride the other….
Sharon O’Hara
Why is there a constant flow of stories about how our city is behind the times?
Has anyone on the planning committee ever ridden the cryptic and maze-like “Bike Route” in Bremerton? That’s right, Bremerton does have a bike route and a non-cyclist apparently laid the thing out. No matter what the city does, they need some cyclists on their advisory committee. Reason and common sense are not out of style, yet.
Last winter I got an in door exercise bike since after I moved riding a bike on Ilahee would be suicidal.
About 8 years ago I was riding my bike in Seattle and was clipped by a driver who was driving with a cellphone. It ruined my bike and scraped me up.
It’s not just bikes that would be helped but other modes of transportation. I would love to get a Segway and to commute on Brownsville HW every day but I would be worried about getting clipped by someone in a car.
Great story, very important topic.
My girlfriend and I recently spent 2 days in Bremerton (from Port Angeles) and as bicyclists noted the scary conditions that Bremerton’s arterials create for those powering along on two wheels.
As different as the two places are, I would hope that Bremerton city staff would rely on the long experience of bicycle lane planners in Seattle. They have already invented the wheel in so many ways having to do with bicycle lanes and bicyclist education, signage, etc.
Good luck! It’s worth the effort.
The Segway brought a former athlete I know back into the world again by carrying his oxygen and him back out into the places he loved to go …the mountains, the beach, inside and outside.
Speaking on cell phones while driving doesn’t beat the danger to cyclists by the “Shave While Driving” guys and others distracted by the life around them.
Sharon O’Hara