A draft law that essentially would have put a “Not Welcome” mat out for bicyclists at the bridges to Mercer Island has been struck down by the City Council.
The proposed ordinance addressed bicyclists riding in groups of two or more on the populous island in Lake Washington between Seattle and Bellevue. It was aimed at the scenic, winding, 15-mile training loop around the island that occasionally becomes a flashpoint between motorists and bicyclists.
The law would have required those groups to ride single file as far to the right as possible, and to actually pull off the road to allow a car to pass along stretches of road that are too tight for safe passing.
In other words, it would have made bicyclists second-class road users by law.
Staff writer Elizabeth Celms for the Mercer Island Reporter wrote that dozens of cyclists turned out for the meeting. One of the island's cyclists is quoted:
“[The current draft] does very little to encourage or support the use of bikes to commute to work. It will tell cyclists that they're the problem and motorists that they have the right to the road. It will incite more road rage.”
Other bicyclists echoed those comments, but it was probably a group of Boy Scouts that delivered the kicker. Celms wrote:
The boys reminded Councilmembers that they, too, ride along East and West Mercer Way and support a cycle-friendly community.
In rejecting the provision, the councilmembers noted that some aspects of the proposed ordinance were redundant to state law. They asked the city staff to take another stab at a new ordinance that requires bicyclists to ride single-file when another cyclist or motorist wants to pass. They asked any mention of bicyclists pulling off the road be omitted.
The bicycling restrictions were part of an overall Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities plan that is coming up for a vote on May 17.
More details at “City dismisses ordinance regulating pelotons on East, West Mercer.”
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