This summer’s repair work on the Homer Hadley I-90 floating bridge is another reminder of the trade-offs made to support our automobile-dominated transportation system.
In the latest chapter of supporting our need for quick, safe and convenient travel, replacing those bridge expansion joints will cost state taxpayers $7.9 million. Seattle-bound drivers have also seen delays of up to half an hour on top of their normal travel times.
Meanwhile, commuters inching along in their Subarus, Toyotas and Fords watched as cyclists whizzed by in the sunshine. While the delay may only last for a few days longer, the case for a variety of transportation modes couldn’t be better illustrated.
Each system of moving people around has its pros and cons. But we’re increasingly familiar with the hidden and unexpected costs that using a car or truck has on the environment and on our wallets.
Planners in the 1980s didn’t test the joints for fatigue before installing them, but they did have the foresight to install the nearly two-mile bridge with a multi-use pedestrian and cyclist walkway. Apart from the obvious cost savings and health benefits, it also takes the average cyclist between five to 10 minutes to cross the bridge.
Admittedly, not every I-90 commuter can hop on a bicycle tomorrow and solve all of our transportation problems. Nor does every driver itching to break out his or her 10-speed have a shower facility at work for freshening up. But Islanders have fewer excuses than most — and from the looks of things last week, the number of local cycle commuters is on the increase.
Hosting an information and refueling stop at Lid Park this Friday, the Cascade Bicycle Club — the largest bicycle club in the United States — has become an important voice in our community. Over 800 residents have taken part in the club’s various activities this year, and about 200 Islanders are currently dues-paying members. Last month, Cascade even hosted a popular commuting class on the Island called “Bridging with Bikes,” demonstrating how practical it can be to get around on the pedal-powered, two-wheel variety of transportation.
You don’t have to be a member of a cycling club, however, to be part of a real alternative to owning a car. The City of Mercer Island has also been engaged with the community in improving non-motorized forms of transportation. On July 22, the city officials will present a draft plan to improve the Island’s roads and byways and solicit public comment at the Community Center at Mercer View. The hope is to make both pedestrian and bicycle travel safer and convenient. You, too, can lend your voice to promote this healthy, viable and practical alternative to getting around Mercer Island in the near future and for generations to come.
