No Bike Lanes For 35th Ave Northeast, SDOT Says

SEATTLE, WA — A plan to add bike lanes along one of North Seattle's busiest north-south corridors is dead. The Seattle Department of Transportation said Tuesday that 35th Avenue NE will include room primarily for cars.

The proposal to add bike lanes along 35th has pitted safety advocates against locals who say the lanes would take away parking, harming local businesses. Mayor Jenny Durkan arranged for the two sides to meet in mediation last September to work out differences, but the talks never panned out.

According to SDOT, 35th will get parking on the east side of the street between 47th and 85th streets, plus a lane of travel in either direction. From 85th to 89th, there will be parking on both sides, a center turn lane, and two lanes of travel.

"While there would be no protected bike lanes on 35th, people riding in the street would still benefit from slower vehicle speeds and clearly defined travel lanes. We will also be making enhancements to the parallel neighborhood greenway on 39th Ave NE that provides a route for people that prefer to bike on a quieter street," SDOT wrote in a blog post published Tuesday.

This is the second major corridor makeover to exclude bike lanes recently. An upcoming Rainier Avenue South makeover calls for dedicated bus lanes, car lanes, and a center turn lane — but proposed bike lanes were scrapped because they would slow buses, SDOT has said.