Bikes on Sidewalks

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I’m always kind of surprised when I see a perfectly capable adult riding their bike on a  sidewalk when they could be on Beach Drive.  Come on folks, we have sharrows!

Beach Drive is loaded with hidden driveways and plenty of pedestrians too.   If a sidewalk-biker believes they are safer than being on the road, I beg to differ. 

The nice lady pictured here apologized as she blew past me and my dog last weekend.    I can totally understand being on the sidewalk with your bicycle…if you have training wheels.

The Tale of Two Sunsets

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Tonight…

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Ahoy Out There!

Who would you recommend to install a buoy for mooring a boat around here?  Inquiring minds want to know….

Car Wash Fundraiser for Rainiers Baseball

bBring your filthy dirty grungy cars to Complete Automotive Repair on Saturday, March 15th from 11:00 – 4:00 pm to have it washed by our local West Seattle 14 year olds playing for Rainers Baseball.   

Complete Automotive Repair is located at 7617 35th Avenue SW in West Seattle.  Donations from the car wash will help fund their tournaments this year.

The Satterlee House Saga

Just published over at West Seattle Blog: First round in "Painted Lady" front lawn development fight.   

Southwest Precinct Public Newsletter – March Issue

Read it by clicking here (this will open as a pdf)

Download southwest_precinct_public_safety_newsletter_march_4_2008.pdf

Seagull Diving for Crab at Rocky Beach

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Thanks to BDB reader, Chuck, for sharing these amazing photos.

Yesterday’s Sunset

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The “Mean Stairs” – Preparing for The Big Climb

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My husband has been in training for "The Big Climb" which takes place in just over 10 days (he’s the handsome devil who’s jogging along Beach Drive). 

He will be with a group of his co-workers (and many others) climbing flights of stairs at the Columbia Tower.  His group is raising funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of their co-worker, Dawn, who was diagnosed with leukemia last year.   Their "troop" is called Dawn’s Army and my husband is fundraising under the alias of "Gomer".

To prepare for climbing 69 flights of stairs, he’s been tackling some of the stairs in the neighborhood.   Suky calls this set "the mean stairs".   

My husband is too shy to ask for sponsors or donations…but I’m not!  If you would like to make a tax deductible donation (benefiting the Leukemia Lymphoma Society), please click here.   All donations count…no matter how big or small.

I will be keeping a link up on Beach Drive Blog for "The Big Climb" (upper right corner) until the event is over on March 16, 2008.

Please Don’t Pass

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I’ve been noticing more and more passing with anxious drivers along Beach Drive.   Last weekend, I witnessed a small red car (a Rabbit?) pass a driver who was going around 30 mph (which happens to be the speed limit).   The car went into the other lane and nearly missed a bicyclist that was approaching in the oncoming lane.   I’ve seen all kinds of cars from exotics to clunkers pass other vehicles with drivers of all ages.

This is Beach DRIVE.  Not Beach Freeway or Beach Highway.  This neighborhood is full of families and pets.  With all the parks and Puget Sound, Beach Drive attracts bicyclist, runners, walkers…just people out for a stroll.  It’s a small strip of road that is dense with population.   And with the swerves, bumps and side streets, it’s not accommodating to high speeds.    

The passing I’ve seen lately is dangerous and it’s only time before an accident happens and someone is hurt.   Slow it down to 30 mph, folks.  Please reconsider passing the driver in front of you…most times, if someone is driving too slow, taking in the view, they’ll pull over and let you by when there’s room to do so.