Bicyclists sue Seattle for SLUT injuries

Six bicyclists injured a few years ago on the newly laid South Lake Union Trolley (S.L.U.T.) tracks are suing Seattle.

The Seattle Times reports that the lawsuit claims that the city was warned about the unsafe conditions before the December 2007 opening of the trolley line, but it went ahead with its plans anyway.

The tracks were installed in a groove in the pavement that can catch narrow road-bike tires and flip a bike. Dozens of cyclists fell victim to the tracks.

Improvements

Since the opening of the 1.3-mile trolley line, the city has installed warning signs for bicyclists and restriped 9th Avenue to encourage bicyclists to use that street instead of Westlake Avenue, which the trolley uses.

The city's next trolley line will run on tracks installed near the center of the street, instead of the edges used by bicyclists, the Times says.

Attorneys Stacie Bain and Robert Anderton are representing the bicyclists, who are suing because the city did not compensate them for the injuries or medical costs.

Some 50 bicyclists held a protest ride one night after the SLUT began operations, and the Seattle Likes Bikes group suggested changes. Several of those requests were followed.