Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Bicycle Safety

Biking Way up in Seattle During Highway Closure

12:11 PM EST on January 17, 2019

Biking has almost doubled along major corridors in Seattle as the city enters the fourth day of "Viadoom" -- the highly publicized closure of State Route 99.

Viadoom -- or the "period of maximum constraint," as city officials have called it was billed as a potentially paralyzing traffic nightmare. Monday began the three week period when the Alaskan Way Viaduct (SR 99) is closed, but the city's replacement -- a $3 billion underground highway -- has not opened.

For months, local leaders have been warning residents -- especially drivers -- that the need to change their routines.

So far, people seem to be responding. The city's lead traffic engineer, Dongho Chang, reports many people are also availing themselves of other means -- including bikes.

Bike advocates like Gleason say what is happening this week with the surge in biking, is what it could be like everyday if the city hadn't delayed created a comprehensive protected bike network.

"Really much more could be done to encourage people to walk and bike in Seattle and that’s through needed improvements to the infrastructure," she said.

It's still too soon to say whether Viadoom will live up to some of the harrowing predictions. Many employers have let workers work from home this week or for the first few days. And many people believe that's the reason we haven't seen crushing gridlock yet.

But even when the three week time period is up, Seattle is still going to be dealing with traffic issue for many more years resulting from construction of a new convention center, which will force buses out of a transit tunnel and onto surface streets.

One thing the early experience of Viadoom shows is how malleable people's commuting behavior can be.

"I think that it’s an inspiring situation that’s having .. more people be interested in biking and walking and taking transit and seeing that as a viable and enjoyable option," said Gleason.

Correction: The original post incorrectly identified who said biking in January was "a pretty heavy lift." It was City Council Member Mike O’Brien. 

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Want a Better 15-Minute City? Ask Residents What They Really Want

A new study from Bogotá models how other cities can ask a deeper set of questions about how to put essential needs within walking, biking or transit distance.

March 19, 2024

Tuesday’s Headlines Win the Gold

Two articles detail efforts in Paris and Los Angeles to put on (relatively) climate-friendly Olympic games in 2024 and 2028.

March 19, 2024

Monday’s Headlines Drink Your Milkshake

How does a president end wasteful subsidies for the highly profitable fossil fuel industry? Many have tried, but none have succeeded, including Joe Biden.

March 18, 2024

How — and Why — To Start a Neighborhood E-Bike Library

American advocates are loaning out e-bikes to their neighbors — and creating flocks of new riders.

March 18, 2024

What Urbanists’ Doug Burgum Lovefest Reveals About the ‘Why’ Behind Our Advocacy

I am far less interested in talking about Gov. Doug Burgum's politics than talking about his values, and how those values shape his urbanism, and thus the actual lives of the people he governs.

March 15, 2024
See all posts