Monthly Archive for February, 2010

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Uptown Loop Discussion Brownbag

Great City has set up a lunch-time talk downtown next Thursday about the Uptown Loop:

Imagine a looping urban trail that includes a breath of sea air in Myrtle Edwards Park, art in the Sculpture Park, breakfast spots in Belltown, the Seattle Center, coffee spots in Lower Queen Anne, and tennis or picnic in lower Kinnear Park. An entire day of activities, highlighting Seattle’s finest, all in one easy stroll.

Come discuss ideas about how this Uptown Loop strengthens pedestrian accessibility and secures the relationship between urban forests, walkable city streets, community amenities, residential living, and waterfront vistas.

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Changes to 15th and Leary intersection

My Ballard reports changes are coming to the intersection of 15th Ave & Leary Way.


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These are vehicle-oriented improvements, mostly, but there are a few things that pedestrians will welcome. For example, the traffic signal heads will be replaced (presumably the walk/don’t walk signals will be replaced with graphical pedestrian signals that count down). Also, there will be new sidewalk ramps.

However, there’s another change that may not be universally welcome – the addition of pedestrian push buttons. Whereas the pedestrian signals currently change automatically, in the future you may have to push a button to get a walk signal. So, this means that if you don’t push the button before the light turns green for cars, you’ll have to cross when the pedestrian signal says don’t walk, or you’ll have to wait through the whole light cycle until the light turns green again. Work is expected to be complete on February 19.

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Pedestrian hit in West Seattle

Update below – there are two reports of a pedestrian hit last night at the same intersection but with different details. I’d be surprised if there were two accidents at this same intersection last night, but then again, it’d be surprising if so many details were wrong in one version of the story.

A driver hit a pedestrian in West Seattle last night.

A 24-year-old woman was hit by a vehicle Wednesday after 10 p.m. at California Ave. SW and Fauntleroy Way SW and police are searching for the driver.

The woman was taken to Harborview Medical Center with broken bones. Her condition was not immediately available.

Here’s the location on the map:

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It looks like there are crosswalks on all sides of the intersection, so we can only speculate as to what happened. Hopefully the victim makes a full recovery. This is a good reminder to be careful when walking (and when driving), even when you have the right of way.

Update: The PI’s Seattle 911 blog reports that a pedestrian was hit by a bus at the same intersection:

A 29-year-old woman was rushed to Harborview Medical Center with life-threatening injuries on Wednesday night after being hit by a Metro bus.

Police responded at 9:50 p.m. to the accident at California Avenue Southwest and Fauntleroy Way Southwest.

It’s likely the same incident, but some of the details are different. I’m not sure which one is more correct, but if I had to guess, I’d guess the PI.

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Pedestrians must use sidewalk when it’s available

The PI’s Seattle 911 blog answers a question about whether a jogger can jog in the road when a sidewalk is available:

“It is not legal for pedestrians to walk or jog in the street if a sidewalk is available,” Seattle Department of Transportation spokeswoman Peg Nelson said. “Any enforcement of this practice would have to come from the Seattle Police Department.”

Seattle pedestrians are hesitant to jaywalk, but I think the occasional uneven or overgrown sidewalks probably make breaking this law a little more tempting.

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Walking the Downtown Retail Core

This is a short and easy walk through the downtown retail core – a great way to see the shopping that downtown has to offer and end up at Pike Place Market.


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Start at 5th Ave and University St downtown near the 5th Avenue Theatre and head northwest. The theatre had a new sign installed on December 3, 2009. The new sign is similar to the sign that was originally on the theatre when it opened in 1926 except the current sign uses energy-efficient LED bulbs.

5th Avenue Theatre

5th Avenue Theatre, built in 1926

Feel free to walk along either side of the street, though if I had to pick, I’d opt for the right side to avoid the Red Lion parking garage entrance and an area in front of the hotel where tourists gather. Though 5th Avenue can be busy with vehicle traffic, it is lined with trees that help insulate you from the street, as well as glass windowed stores that draw you in. This initial section of 5th Avenue has an upscale feel to it, with Gucci and Louis Vitton. When you reach 5th Ave and Pike Street, you’ll see the Banana Republic on the north corner of the intersection.

Banana Republic (formerly Coliseum Theater)

Banan Republic, formerly the Coliseum Theater, built in 1916

Turn right on Pike St. You’ll see the Washington State Convention Center ahead. Turn left on 6th Avenue. There is more shopping on this block and some places to eat. Continue for a block to Pine Street.

At Pine Street, you’ll be in the middle of it all. This part of Seattle makes it feel like a big city. It seems there are always people walking here at any time of day. At this intersection you’ll see Pacific Place mall and the flagship Nordstrom.

Turn left on Pine St. You’ll pass by more retail stores, such as the GAP. There are also several entrances to the underground bus and light rail tunnel around this area. On your right will be Westlake Center. At Westlake Center you can take the Monorail to Seattle Center. The Westlake Center also has an outdoor plaza, which has the 2nd busiest Starbucks in North America. Up ahead you’ll see Macy’s (formerly the Bon Marché).

4th and Pine

Macy's, Starbucks, and Westlake Center

On the South side of the street is Westlake Park, which is often used by skateboarders and homeless. Cut through the park or turn left at 4th Avenue. On any weekend, you’ll likely find people at 4th and Pine holding signs protesting Israel or encouraging you to come to God. And you’ll be lucky to pass through this area without getting approached by someone with a clipboard representing a charity. You’ll also likely pass by a few buskers and shoeshiners,

Turn right on Pike St and you’ll be facing the “Public Market Center” sign of Pike Place Market. As you continue the few blocks to 1st Avenue, you’ll pass a few shops and cafes. Our walking tour ends here in front of the market, but there is plenty more walking you can do there.

Finish at 1st Ave and Pike

Highlights: shopping, things to look at, people, excitement, places to eat at the market, street performers, tree-lined 5th ave, ending at Pike Place Market

Lowlights: intimidating big city feel, loiterers, a few underused areas of the streetscape, can be crowded

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