The Ugly Ride

By Kit McGurn, Connect Seattle volunteer When it comes to getting around the city on a bike, Seattle is a city that has all the right aspirations, but too often falls short in the effort to make streets safe and accessible for cyclists of all ages and abilities. It’s true, more and better cycling infrastructure can’t happen overnight, and Seattle’s reputation as a cycle friendly city is not without merit. But many cyclists –whether young or old,  hardcore commuter or recreational pedaler –are left with daily reminders that Seattle still has a long way to go. On too many popular bike routes around the city, there’s a looming gap in safe bike infrastructure at a specific intersection, on a particular street, and around a certain turn that make safe and fully-connected routes hard to come by. So how do Seattle citizens work to address these issues? Well, as always, it starts from the ground up. In late July, Connect Seattle, a group of local Seattle citizens committed to getting the city to fully fund the Bicycle Master Plan, held its first “Ugly Ride,” a neighborhood bike tour of cycling infrastructure that serves cyclists well and other areas that leave much to be desired. Our first ride focused on the neighborhoods of Fremont, Wallingford and the University District. Nearly 50 neighbors turned out to join the tour and discussion that followed. During the ride, discussions ranged from the proposed bike bridge over I-5 [in Northgate] to how best to build proper infrastructure for going east-west under highway 99 between Fremont and Wallingford. Connect Seattle has plans to host additional rides in other parts of the city, and we’d love to hear from you about what parts you’d like to see featured on another ride. Come join the effort to make Seattle’s streets a truly safe and connected network for cyclists of all ages and abilities. In the process we just might also make Seattle an even better place to live.   Like Connect Seattle on Facebook and stay tuned for more ride events and opportunities to get involved. Contact Connect Seattle volunteer outreach coordinator, Victoria Kovacs, at kovacsv@uw.edu to be added to Connect Seattle’s volunteer list.