Michael Smith

Thanks to advocacy from @nondriver.bsky.social and many others, SDOT and WSDOT have implemented short term improvements to make Judkins Park station easier to access. Long term improvements are in the works, but still a few years away.

Imagine how many more people will choose to bike when SE Seattle has a network in which two streets with PBLs intersect. I don’t think there are any intersections in SE Seattle today that have bike lanes on both roads.

Four flexpost bases without the actual posts on Columbian Way facing Beacon Ave.

I get that flex posts are much cheaper than concrete, but sending a crew out to replace flex posts every year must add up.

University Way NE full of people walking and standing; image is facing south from NE 43rd St.

What if The Ave was pedestrianized permanently?

Real time arrival screen showing routes 8 and 33, both heading towards “Downtown”.

It looks like Metro’s solution for fixing the L8 is to run it via downtown instead of on Denny.

It is fitting that the bus lane is on Union St because everyone united against removing it.

Capitol Hill Updates to Support Route 2’s Return to E Union St - SDOT Blog Blog post providing information about updates to E Union St between 12th Ave and 11th Ave, in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood.

And we have a backpedal from SDOT.

"[W]e are updating our approach to meet the changes requested by Metro to support Route 2, while continuing conversations and evaluations with all stakeholders before advancing changes to bus lane uses."
sdotblog.seattle.gov/2025/10/02/c...

This is a bad precedent to set. Is this the first time SDOT has removed an already built bus-only lane in response to “community” feedback?

Bus only lane at 12th Ave

Confirmed: SDOT will be removing the bus only lane on E Union Street this weekend, ceding this part of the $130 million RapidRide G project back to general purpose traffic in response to requests from nearby property owners.

How Would You Get Around If You Couldn't Drive Yourself? - Disability Rights Washington Washington State, September 29 to October 5, 2025 -- Imagine your life without driving. Could you navigate your daily routines, reach your workplace, doctor's office, or connect with loved ones? This ...

First day of #WeekWithoutDriving 2025, are you ready? disabilityrightswa.org/how-would-yo...

In the past month, realtors, developer lobby groups, real estate investors, and other wealthy corporate donors have contributed more than half a million dollars to the PAC supporting Mayor Bruce Harrell's campaign to defeat labor organizer Katie Wilson. They've raised more than a million dollars!

improved seattle map

Every person interviewed in this article brought up speeding drivers and asked for traffic calming. When will @seattledot.bsky.social take Rainier Valley residents’ concerns about MLK’s highway speeds seriously?

Bike routes from Georgetown to downtown and South Park officially open + Dual celebration Sept. 28 Two major bike connections to Georgetown are opening at the same time, so SDOT is hosting one party for both of them 12–2 p.m. Sunday (September 28) at Mini Mart City Park. Two community bike rides will converge at the celebration. Cascade is hosting a ride from the International District that leaves Hing Hay Park at 11:45 a.m. Seattle Neighborhood Greenways is hosting a ride that leaves South Park Plaza at 10:30 a.m.

Bike routes from Georgetown to downtown and South Park officially open + Dual celebration Sept. 28

#SEAbikes #Seattle

Since there is a right turn arrow from Rainier to MLK in the signal phase before the green light, the turn lane and bus lane can be combined without delaying the bus. This would be similar to the recently updated signal at southbound Rainier and Alaska.

YouTube video by Best Side Cycling How Seattle is Filling the Gap with Protected Bike Lanes in North Beacon Hill

Seattle's bike network is finally headed south! Thanks to @sngreenways.bsky.social and @seattledot.bsky.social for the awesome work and am glad to finally be able to report on this update

youtu.be/IfaC-WTDQI0

Should We Let Public Transit Die? Urban-rural hostility is fueling a public transportation crisis in US cities. But demands to abandon bus and train riders ignore the economic and social costs of cutting service.

I have a major piece in Bloomberg Citylab today. Should the US let transit fail, as Pennsylvania is already doing? And if not, what are the arguments we need to let it succeed?

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Someone biking under a tree canopy on LWB.

Two groups of people walking along LWB.

Final Bicycle Weekend of 2025 on Lake Washington Blvd 🙁

Indeed. Seattle used to produce maps of which downtown streets had the most people walking on them to help accurately price real estate

About 30 people near three booths. A car is parked in front of the celebration.

Great turnout at the celebration!

The Beacon Hill bike lanes are officially open! The opening celebration is today from 4-6pm at Roberto Maestas Plaza near Beacon Hill station.

Op-Ed: Step Aside Waterfront, Long Neglected North Rainier Deserves Investment, Too » The Urbanist # A thriving Mount Baker Transit Center requires pedestrian upgrades, a revitalized commercial district, and plenty of housing nearby. As we prepare to step off the bus, my kid grips my hand tighter. ...

It's time for Seattle to build nice things for bus riders, not just cruise ship tourists.

The Beacon Hill bike lanes are great! I recently used them and the paint bike lanes on 12th Ave to bike from Columbia City to Capitol Hill in 20 minutes. Not only is that faster than the estimated driving time, I didn’t have to spend 10 minutes looking for parking.

Matthew Snyder on June 16, 2019 holding a sign that says “We want a mayor, not a delayer.” Photo by me.

WHAT IF WE HAD POLITICAL WILL? Transportation dollars are scarce, but a new progressive mayoral administration can make a big impact without breaking the bank. Here’s my list. 🧵

Seattle's long in-person public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan has officially kicked off.

First comments were from @ceceliablack.bsky.social: "As you're going through this Comp Plan, I would really hope you ask yourself what you would do if you were disabled tomorrow and you couldn't drive."

@seattle.carinbikelane.com Does a truck driving in a protected bike lane count? This was today around 12:15pm on 15th Ave S just north of S Atlantic St in Beacon Hill.

New Post: Sound Transit Completes Live Wire Test on Floating Bridge seattletransitblog.com/2025/09/09/s...

Link train crossing the I-90 floating bridge.

I spy a Link train on a floating bridge!!

BREAKING: Sound Transit expects to conduct its first LIVE WIRE test on the I-90 bridge TONIGHT, at around 11pm.

"A single light rail vehicle will travel at incremental speeds between 10 and 55 mph to test power systems between Mercer Island and Judkins Park stations, including the I-90 bridge."

Rivian driving down boulevard

Large photo drone over lake Washington

Cops closing the boulevard

I asked the cop who permitted this and he said "Bruce Harrell" @seattlebikeblog.com