Let's build a safe Bell Street Park
Bell Street Park is a crucial connection in the downtown Bike network. It connects the Westlake Trail, the third busiest bike commuter trail in the United States1, to downtown Seattle and the Waterfront.
Right now, dozens of car and truck drivers illegally enter Bell Street Park each day. These drivers could hit pedestrians or bikers, as the street was not designed for this behavior. Watch as this biker almost runs into a car after the driver illegally turns in front of them at Bell and 4th:
This biker had a green bike light at the traffic signal. They should not have to look out for drivers turning their cars into them in order to be safe at this intersection. Yet drivers make illegal turns and crossings at this intersection about every 5 minutes.2
This crossing and others in Bell Street Park need physical barriers added to strongly discourage car drivers from using it as a shortcut. Join us to hear about opportunities for email campaigns, public comment, and direct action to call on city leadership and SDOT to make this park safe for its most vulnerable users.
1 Westlake Trail is the third busiest bike commuter trail in the United States according to a study by Strava
2 Based on observing the intersection for an hour after the morning rush on a summer weekday