Every weekend when the weather is halfway decent, scores of bicyclists come to ride on High Bridge Road and its King County extension, West Snoqualmie Valley Road. The reason is obvious – it’s very scenic. I do not question their right to do this, but I do question their judgment
High Bridge Road is not wide, it has no shoulders, and visibility is often severely limited by curves, banks and grade changes. Put simply, the road is not designed to handle both motor traffic and bicycles safely. Bicyclists ride in the traffic lane, sometimes two or three abreast, forcing motorists going in same direction to slow down drastically (and often suddenly) until they can see far enough ahead to pass safely. The situation is hazardous for both the cyclists and the drivers – the cyclists for being struck from behind or sideswiped, and the motorists for being hit by impatient drivers who veer into the oncoming lane to pass cyclists when they can’t see far enough ahead. My wife, for example, narrowly avoided a head-on collision with a truck that was halfway over into her lane, passing a cyclist on a blind curve. It’s only a matter of time before a serious, perhaps fatal, accident happens.
So what can be done so that bicyclists can ride and drivers drive in safety? The obvious solution is for the counties to install a bicycle lane (that could also be used by joggers, skaters and walkers). Until that happens, four things would help. First, bicyclists should choose a safer place to ride. Second, the counties should post these roads as unsafe for bicycles. Third, cyclists who still insist on riding there should have follower cars carrying signs that warn of cyclists ahead. And finally, the sheriffs’ offices should patrol these roads heavily on weekends and holidays, because much of the danger results from speeding motorists. With measures like these, a tragedy can hopefully be avoided.
Monroe
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