Think we can all agree that sharrows barely qualify as news any more. The debate can meander on about their symbolic value vs. actual value of making space for bicyclists on our roads. But we felt the painting of sharrows on Aloha between 15th Ave and 19th Ave deserved notice. It's where this bike 'accident' turned into this controversy.

We also missed this little stretch of Aloha when we wrote about the new sharrow plans for Capitol Hill last spring. So let it be noted. Aloha hill between 19th Ave and 15th -- and beyond to 10th -- is to be shared.

Here is the complete bicycle master plan recommendation map from SDOT. Download the attached PDF to see the whole Hill and zoom in, etc.

Friday, the near infamous Dead Baby Bike club downhill challenge took over the intersection of Pike and 10th in preparation for their annual  beer fueled high speed bike race.  This years competition began at the Comet Tavern, where contestants and spectators steadied their nerves for the customary no-holds barred race to the death.  

A gleeful crowd swelled, nearly filling the intersection outside the Comet Tavern, occasionally blocking traffic but without serious incident.  Bicycles were heaped on every rack and signpost around the corner as participants visited local watering holes.  Custom built tallbikes, costumed riders and a bike mounted sound system turned 10th ave. into a street party until roughly 6:45 when the starting pistols fired and the crowds emptied from the tavern, found their wheels and headed South to Georgetown.

The evening ended at the Dead Baby Bike club Headquarters with multiple bands and performances, including bike-driven amusement park rides by Cyclecide, bike...

Say what you will about the efficacy of sharrows, they, if nothing else, symbolize that we care enough about alternative modes of transportation to paint lanes on our beloved gasoline soaked roads. Over the next weeks, Capitol Hill is getting two more stretches of the lane-sharing markings:

• 12th Ave between Denny and Aloha
• 15th Ave/Boston between Pine and 10th Ave

SDOT Project Map

With more of the lanes now crossing the Hill, you might want to refresh yourself with how the sharrow areas are supposed to function. Here's a handy graphic from Seattle Department of Transportation.

More sharrow info from SDOT

What do sharrows mean for motorists and bicyclists?

Motorists:
• Expect to see bicyclists on the street
• Remember to give bicyclists three feet of space when passing
• Follow the rules of the road as if there were no sharrows

Bicyclists
• Use the sharrow to guide where you ride within the lane
• Remember not to ride too close to parked cars
• Follow the rules of the road as if there were...

So a few weeks back, I explained why a streetcar would function better on 12th Ave compared to the Broadway alignment. Most people seemed to agree that this would be a much better route due to the opportunities it would provide for a healthy, lively community. But one worry I have heard repeatedly is that a streetcar down 12th would interfere with an integral bike corridor, connecting South Downtown to Capitol Hill. Its a legitimate worry. As anyone who bikes regularly knows, the SLUT tracks wreak havoc for those on two wheels. 12th Ave, with its well-marked bike lane and gradual slope, would be an irreplaceable route to lose.

But it is very important to understand that the problem with Westlake is a design flaw, not some inherent problem with sychronizing streetcars and cycling. In fact, many of the world's most bike-friendly cities use streetcars as an essential part of their transportation infrastructure. Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and even Portland...

Saw the 911 call out around 8:44p for 15th Ave E at Madison. Thanks to Norma for providing the picture and her account of the scene:
It appears that a cyclist was heading down Madison at 15th and hit by a car making a left turn off Madison onto 15th in front of the Men's room and the Pearl Apts. I did not see the accident... only the aftermath. The cyclist was put in the ambulance at about 8:53. The ambulance is still sitting at Madison. 

911 log indicates a serious injury response. The automobile was reported to be a Lexus by responding police units. We'll check with Seattle Fire to find out what we can about the accident and the condition of the rider.

UPDATE 3/31/09 8:31AM: I was able to confirm that the rider was a 20-year-old man. He was transported to Harborview with serious injuries but SFD was not able to provide the extent of the injuries at this time.

Also last night, I noted another 'bike' accident:
And yet another. Bike accident, no car at 10th Ave E and Roanoke. Dispatcher said 'hit a bump'...

Since the weather is starting to improve and its time we all woke up from our long winter's naps and start getting active again I thought I would share a few of my favorite bike rides from the hill.

First the Chesiahud Loop. Its about 10 miles from Cal Anderson and the hill isn't too bad if you go Lakeview Blvd to Eastlake:

View Larger Map

And the Lake Washington Blvd. Trail. This one is about 13 miles and I like to go through Interlaken because its really beautiful and has lots of fun curves:

View Larger Map

Anyone else got some favorite routes for biking around the hill?

Here is a look at the last week in police activity across Capitol Hill and the East Precinct. Most of the below are relatively minor incidents this week though the terrible beating involved with the reported Feb 13th robbery attempt is disturbing. Nearby, however, the murder of Tyrone Love should not go without note here.

Reports are compiled from Central District News scanner reports and CHS examination of Seattle Police department incident reports.

Recent Capitol Hill Police Activity - CDN Scanner Reports

Monday Feb 9
5:48PM - 1800 12th Ave - Suspicious Circumstance - Man is on the rooftop of a building with binoculars and a four foot "case". Update: the man is an engineer

Tuesday Feb 10
1:10PM - 1700 11th Ave - Disturbance - Parking enforcement are attempting to impound a vehicle, but the owner refuses to get out

Wednesday Feb 11
1:18PM - Broadway E and E Miller St - Accident - Two car accident with injuries
5:20PM - E Seneca St and E Madison St - ...

Thus far, you've survived the worst snow and ice Seattle has seen in the dot com era. Sure, you've slipped and fallen a few times but, you, Capitol Hill, have survived. Time to double down!

In the wee hours of Monday morning, this entry was added to the CHS event calendar -- Extreme Snow Bike Race Smackdown Cal Anderson Extravaganza 2008.

We don't know exactly what it all means but we're certain it will be a good show if even one biker shows. If at least two cyclists heed the call, it will be epic and there will be ballads marking the day.

Scanner tidbits from the Capitol Hill streets are below. Make sure to check out the outstanding coverage of last night's Garfield Community Center shooting over at CDNews.

Central District News East Precinct Scanner - Capitol Hill - Tuesday 12/16/2008 - Full Report

Seattle PI's map of reported bike-car collisions in the city of Seattle shows the most dangerous stretch of Capitol Hill street to be E. Pine between Summit and Melrose. The red dots on the map below represent areas where there were 3 or more accidents reported for the four year period in the study, 2001-2005.

Map: Seattle PI

PI notes that many bike accidents go unreported. And near misses, of course, aren't in the dataset. But surely you have your freak-you-out intersections and corners. Where are your near-miss hotspots on the Hill?

Yesterday's, um, highlights from the Capitol Hill police scanner reports, courtesy our pals at Central District News. Glad the little biker is OK.

Central District News East Precinct Scanner - Capitol Hill - Mon. 11/17/2008 - Full Report

11:38AM - 909 E. Newton St. - 911 Hang-Up - At an unit in a condo

11:56AM - 900 18th Ave E - Suspicious Circumstance - There's a man wandering around the caller's yard. Black male, 20s, orange vest.

12:44PM - 1500 E. Olin - Alarm - On the front entry of a residence

3:08PM - Harvard Ave E & E. Olive Way - Accident - Vehicle vs. "little child on a bike". eeek. Medics on the way. Update: Turns out there were no injuries

5:12PM - 10th Ave and E Seneca St - Disturbance - A woman with a blanket is sitting in a parking lot refusing to leave.

We had a few reports of car accidents on the Hill last night -- sounds like there was another accident late last night involving a car and a bicyclist between Pike and Pine on Broadway.

UPDATE -- SPD confirms this was car and pedestrian accident. Report:

On October 24th , at approximately 11:42 P.M., a  Ford, Mustang, driven by a 25-yoa male was traveling northbound on Broadway Ave in the center lane approaching Pike St.   At the same time a 24-yoa male was crossing Pike St eastbound in the north crosswalk at Pike St.  The Mustang struck the 24-yoa pedestrian, who when up onto the hood; striking his head on the windshield and continued over the top of the vehicle and landed on the street.  Seattle Fire Department responded to the scene and transported the 24-yoa male pedestrian to HMC, who had a broken right leg and serious head injures, which were thought to be life threatening.  

Witness statements indicated that the Mustang had a green light and the pedestrian apparently entered the crosswalk against the “Don’...

Here's the rundown from yesterday's scanner activity around the Hill. For the latest, visit CDN.

Central District News East Precinct Scanner Report - Capitol Hill - Wed. 10/15/2008 - Full Report

3:12PM - 300 Broadway E - Shoplifting - Shoplifter in custody at Red Light

3:15PM - 500 14th Ave E - Burglary - Caller thinks the suspect from a previous burglary is in his building. The suspect is the apartment building's maintenance man. - Cop comes on radio saying the caller is a "chronic 220 caller"

4:31PM - 300 Belmont Ave E - Theft - Bike stolen. The suspect is a white male, 20-30, plaid blue or brown shirt. The bike is a BMX.

4:52PM - 1700 13th Ave - Disturbance - Caller's elderly father with dementia is running away from her. He is a white male, 94, tan coat

Not much north of Madison from yesterday's CDN East Precinct Police Scanner report. Careful bikers.

Central District News East Precinct Scanner Report - Capitol Hill - 10/13/2008 - Full Report

5:27PM - 1419 12th Ave - Accident - Car vs bike accident.

I see cruiser bikes all over Capitol Hill.  The problem is that they're never actually moving.  Instead they are locked up (and usually rusting away) or clogging up apartment building bike rooms.  Unless your entire life is isolated to a few north-south streets, our hilly 'hood is less-than-ideal for cruising around in a steel tank with limited gearing.  So why are there so many cruisers clogging up prime bike parking real estate?  Do all of those California transplants drag their beach bikes with them when they move?  Or are cruisers one of those impulse buys that "seemed like a good idea at the time"? 

p.s. J, just a thought, but how about adding some questions to the census to empirically test this.  e.g., "What kind of bike do you own?" and "How often do you ride your bike?"

From the Seattle Times today:

• Sunday, Aug. 24, noon to 6 p.m. on Capitol Hill. 14th Avenue East from Volunteer Park to East Republican Street will close to car traffic during the Peace Concert in the Park.

• Volunteer Park Western Loop on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. between Aug. 4 and Sept. 29. On weekends the loop will be closed to cars from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 9, 17, 24, 31 and Sept. 7, 13, 21 and 27.

The Aloha bike vs. car incident has blown into a big ugly thing. Reminds me, sadly, of how I felt about the coverage of the the Kyle Huff massacre. Amid all the questions about human beings, violence and hope, you also need to ask this:

Why did it happen on Capitol Hill?

The reductionist answer is because this neighborhood was on the way. Coincidence. Critical Mass was just passing through the core of the city.

You could also blame the neighborhood's affluence -- people so rich and entitled that they can't be bothered by a cyclist on their bumper. Sure, the driver was from the University District, but he was the kind of person you see on this part of the Hill all the time, no?

Or, perhaps, blame the liberal politics of the area for creating a warped environment where people believe their cause justifies civil disobedience without consequences. Easier to stand in front of cars when you believe the drivers are really on your side.

So, why Capitol Hill? The answer is probably parts of all of the above. And what that...

We stopped by the park for weekend fun in the sun, and got to see the start of the Seattle Alleycats "Posse on Broadway" race.    From the racers I asked, the race is blind, you only know the next stop in the race when you get to the destination given to you from your last stop.   Some estimated the race could be around 25 miles, with all the stops being listed in mix-a-lots rap.   For those there (or within earshot) that didn't know the lyrics, there was a racer with a loudspeaker strapped to him playing the track.   There were some 40 people signed up, and the race starts and ends in Cal Anderson over by the playground.     Looking over the other race results at the Alleycats Myspace, it looks like there will be a pretty kicking afterparty, prizes for winners, and a big pile of fun for everyone involved.

Probably the best bit of knowing this was all happening was when I walked home and saw the POSSE UP tear sheet in front of the hole that used to be Taco Bell.  That sort of thing really twists my brain up.

 ...