Published July 24 2018
The first bike lanes running the length of downtown Bellevue are up and accommodating riders. Now it’s time to celebrate (video).
The Downtown Demonstration Bikeway on 108th Avenue is intended to make riding safer and more comfortable. It separates bicycles from vehicles using lane dividers, temporary curbs, planter boxes, green pavement markings and other safety devices.
Residents, downtown workers and others are invited to mark the opening of the bikeway. The event takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, in the parking lot of Bellevue Corporate Plaza, 600 108th Ave. NE, across the street from the Bellevue Transit Center.
Attendees can take free rides on an electric bike (18 and older, or 16 with parental consent), get a free helmet (while supplies last; 50 available) and enjoy food and drinks courtesy of several local eateries. There will also be booths sponsored by businesses and non-profits, brief remarks by distinguished supporters and a ribbon-cutting at noon.
“As a bike rider who lives near downtown, I am looking forward to how this bikeway will make it easier for anyone to bike downtown,” said Mayor John Chelminiak. “Through this demonstration bikeway project, we can determine what works well and how to adapt this model to expand bike lanes, that are safe and comfortable, elsewhere in the city.”
In addition to safety, the bikeway helps fill a gap in the bicycle network, providing a connection between the regional Interstate 90 Trail south of downtown and the SR 520 Trail to the north.
Last year, the city hosted an open house, held pop-up events and met three times with the Bellevue Downtown Association to collect feedback on the proposed bikeway. An online survey generated approximately 1,200 responses and indicted a clear preference for a bikeway on 108th Avenue.
The concept for the bikeway stems from the city’s 2009 Pedestrian-Bicycle Plan, which identified the need for a priority bicycle corridor downtown. Early this year the City Council and Transportation Commission agreed to move forward with the bikeway on 108th Avenue.
The demonstration status of the project provides flexibility. It uses relatively low-cost materials, allows for rapid installation and offers a real-world opportunity to test its design and durability. Transportation staff will observe the project closely, make changes as needed and collect data for use in future projects.
The bikeway’s construction contract of $365,933 plus taxes is fully funded by the 2016 Neighborhood Safety, Connectivity and Congestion Levy. It’s one of several bicycle facility projects backed by the levy that are being built this year across the city.
The City of Bellevue organized the celebration in partnership with the Bellevue Downtown Association, TransManage, Bellevue Corporate Plaza, King County Metro and Sound Transit. Event sponsors include: Caffe Ladro, Cascade Bicycle Club, Choose Your Way Bellevue, Evergreens Salad, Gregg’s Bellevue Cycle, Jimmy John’s, KidsQuest Children’s Museum, Kind, LimeBike, The Melting Pot, Nuun Hydration, Rad Power Bikes, REI Co-op and Wheel Lab.