Avoiding Road Hazards -- Bicycle Commuters Should Use Dexter Avenue North

It was tragic that Nora Folkenflik lost her life while commuting by bicycle from downtown. I also commute by bicycle, and I am enthusiastic about doing so as a healthy alternative to the usual means of commuting.

Not all routes to and from the downtown area are safe, and I consider the road Nora Folkenflik was killed on, Westlake Avenue North, to be especially hazardous to bicyclists, and should always be avoided as a choice for bicycle commuters.

Westlake has neither bike lane nor shoulder, and its sidewalks are incomplete or blocked in places. A bicyclist therefore has no option but to ride in traffic. This road also has a blind curve, so there is potential for a driver to come up suddenly behind a bicyclist, which would be especially hazardous in impaired driving conditions.

This road, simply put, is a dangerous place to ride a bicycle.

Dexter Avenue North runs to the west of Westlake Avenue North, approximately parallel to it. This road is designated for bicycle commuters, including a bike lane on either side. Dexter has only two lanes (Westlake has four) and the pace of traffic is slower. It would be well to warn all bicyclists not to use Westlake. M. Heather McAuliffe

Seattle