U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen was in Edmonds Monday to join with local officials and community leaders in what was billed as a “bicycle town hall,” to experience some of the new bikeways and bicycle routes that have been added to the community.
He was joined by an estimated 40 bicycle riders including Edmonds City Councilmember Will Chen, Planning and Development Director Susan McLaughlin, Port Commissioner Jay Grant, City Transportation Engineer Bertrand Hauss, and representatives from the Edmonds Bicycle Advocacy Group.
The 5.5-mile route began and ended at Five Corners, and traveled along 84th Avenue West, 220th Street Southwest, 76th Avenue West and 212th Street Southwest.
“If we did this route five or six years ago, you’d find no bike lane except for a short section on 220th Street,” Hauss said. “Today we’ll be showing off several new routes, ones that are currently in progress and the locations where future ones are planned. Because of these, this route is much safer than it was before, and when the new projects come online it will be even safer.”
“This is my fifth bicycle town hall since I’ve been in Congress, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Edmonds has done,” Larsen said. “Much of this has been helped along with money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and we’ve recently doubled the funding for alternative set-asides transportation in this law, which is targeted to projects like those we’ll be seeing today.”
— Story and photos by Larry Vogel
Thank you for the coverage and photos of this event. It really was appropriate for Independence Day because it demonstrated our democracy in action: citizens showing our elected leaders what we need.
I believe bicycles should be licensed. When I was growing up my Cousins lived in Columbus, Ohio and the had to pay $1.50 a year for a ‘license sticker’ that was put on the bike. The city got revenue and this also provided a means of identification if a bike was stolen. That was in the ‘60s. I have no issue with bicycle lanes in a few locations but the bicyclists should be bearing some of the cost of constructing these lanes. I know I’m going to get blowback, but fair is fair. These lanes are expensive to build. Why shouldn’t the people who use them pay their fair share? I also think there should be some type of counting/recording device like what is used to count vehicles (rubber tubes across the roadway) used on bike lanes to ensure there really is enough bicycle traffic to justify the expense of creating the lanes. There should be a minimum amount of bicycle traffic and if tgere isn’t, the lanes should be removed.
By that logic, we should really start charging for street parking. It will increase revenue, and be paid for by people who are using it – rather than subsidized by folks who choose other means to get around town.
But to your point at hand – you’re overlooking that many people who ride bikes are also people who drive cars, while having less of an impact on the wear and tear on the roads. Resurfacing roads is expensive, and has to occur every few years due to the sheer volume of traffic – largely due to heavier vehicles (big pickups, suvs, and electric vehicles), and not helped by the folks who drive with studded tires when it’s so rarely needed. Bike lanes are most efficient to add in during these resurfacing projects.
You want me to pay $1.50 a year, fine! I’ll do that. What are you willing to pay for parking?