Feedback Link: https://bikebellevue.konveio.com/
Project Link: https://bellevuewa.gov/city-government/departments/transportation/planning/pedestrian-and-bicycle-planning/pedestrian-bicycle-implementation-initiative/bike-bellevue
Best Side Cycling Links:
Discord – https://discord.gg/3szPxWWMCS
Strava – https://www.strava.com/athletes/24839572
Strava Club – https://www.strava.com/clubs/bestsidecycling
Time Stamps:
Introduction – 0:00
Interview Start – 0:58
What is Bike Bellevue – 2:45
How do we get Protected Bike Lanes – 5:52
Where are we in Process? – 8:43
Are we getting Bike Lanes? – 11:39
Has Bellevue seen a project like this? – 13:20
What feedback would be most helpful? – 15:26
Why should people be Excited? 16:52
6 Comments
What did you think of the format of the video? What did you learn about the project? Don't forget to go comment at https://bikebellevue.konveio.com/ before Nov 17!
I typically do rides through Bellevue that take me N-S/S-N from the 520 trail to the I-90 trail. It's challenging to go trail to trail without dealing with a lot of cars. This plan doesn't really change that.
That said, the improvements through BelRed and other parts of the city over the past couple of years have been welcome.
Thank you so much for this video! Bike Bellevue is such a big deal for the city and the region! Spreading the word among bike people is super important because the car-centric status quo here suuuuure does want this project to not happen at all, and they definitely are letting the city hear their thoughts.
I used to commute by bike through Bellevue in the 2000s, it was not a great experience. I'm very happy to see serious efforts made to improve this bike infrastructure, there's no good reason that Bellevue shouldn't be incredibly bike and pedestrian friendly.
Geez, it's Franz! He must be as old as I am!
When I was the chair of the Bicycle Pedestrian Citizen Advisory Group for the City of Bellevue, I found out that the Bicycle Plan for the city was used as a weapon against us. If it was in the plan, it didn't matter – enough neighborhood motorist naysayers, and that bike lane was OUT. Meanwhile, if new opportunities arose (thinking of NE 10th 405 overpass as an example), we couldn't have a facility there because it wasn't in the plan.
Anyway, the City disbanded the CAG because we were too uppity. I think the only thing we accomplished was better formed speed humps on 164th Ave NE north of Interlake HS, so it shows how little the City actually cared about our input.
Having bike lanes on Bel Red is way overdue. It is one of the easiest routes to cycle in terms of elevation – but being able to use it as a cyclist has been limited to times when traffic is nearly non-existent (very late at night, during the pandemic). I remember as a child when Bel-Red was made into its current format, and bicycles were not ever conceived of as a possible mode of transportation. I'm glad Bellevue is rethinking this important corridor.
I don't want to antagonize this guy, because I do think he's trying. But it's definitely a bit eye opening to see what their stated goals are versus their actual priorities. They can make whatever promise they want about desired mode share, but none of that matters if your top priority is minimizing impact to car traffic. The reality is that if the city actually wants to align with its goals, you have to start making driving less convenient than walking and biking. That means narrowing lanes, expanding sidewalks to add separated bike paths, taking away parking when necessary, and yes slowing down cars to make the streets safer. Not paint and plastic flexposts. The time for slow action was 60 years ago.
If Bellevue wants to make lasting change, it's not going to be through grandiose bike projects. They need to change their street design codes to ensure that proper bike infrastructure gets installed whenever a road or intersection gets replaced. No need for months of public engagement and deliberation. Traffic engineers can simply reference the code and upgrade the network as soon as a new section comes due.