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• David
  That stupid barrier was ridiculous. I myself had a few close calls trying to bike onto the bridge. I had no idea that someone was involved in an accident there. Pisses me off.
• Ben
  Why don't people just walk their bikes across the bridge? Or perhaps ride in traffic if the grating on the bridge is small enough.
• kim
  riding in traffic will only make drivers irate. there needs to be an alternative since there are so many bikers from ballard.
• Evan
  They've removed the similar barrier at the Mike's chili corner which is great. The bridge bike issues really do need to be addressed. I was biking home tonight and almost wrecked my bike when a bus came rocketing by in the RH lane.
• Brian
  Addressing Ben's questions above:
  (1) Walking across the bridge would work if the distance involved were, say, the width of an Amsterdam canal. Instead, Googlemaps shows the distance as ~2,500 feet, which is just under a half mile. Even if you're walking and encounter someone approaching from the opposite directions, you rely on an unusual degree of cooperation to pass. It's -that- narrow, particular with the protruding railing supports.
  (2) Riding metal bridge decking poses a separate set of risks. Having tried it on the Fremont, University, and Montlake Bridges (Ballard's is a wider span I would never try), one risk is the somewhat narrower lanes themselves. Also, it rains here, you'll observe. This means these thin, polished surfaces become treacherously slippery; a while back, a cyclist nearly tore off a thumb after slipping. The third risk I'll mention is for wimpy acrophobics like me. Biking bridge gratings is a bit like flying; looking downward, the grating is nearly invisible owing to the thin grid and large openings. That combined with the close proximity of autos that might easily skid just scares the bejesus out of me.
• Andy
  I've ridden across the Ballard grating several times when there's been construction on the sidewalk and I was feeling too lazy or in a hurry to walk my bike through the underpass to the other sidewalk. But this was only at night when there was little to no traffic; doing it with full traffic is something I'd avoid just as I avoid riding on any road with absolutely no shoulder--I can just imagine getting squeezed to death between a truck and the giant I-beams along the draw span. And, yeah, riding on that grating in any sort of rain would be a deathwish.
  
  As for that concrete bump-out, it's a pain in the ass, but on the first ride across you realize you need to take that section very slowly and carefully. I definitely think the city should remove the bump-out, but I also don't think they should be held liable for this guy's death. I've not heard anything about how fast McMacken was going, but I suspect it was faster than he should have.
• nwcitizen
  I'd like to see the City at least put a higher railing on the traffic side of the path and rework the end points so a cyclist can smoothly enter and exit the path. At lease then people would not run the risk of falling into traffic.
  
  I hope the law suit brings some action from the City. This problem has been ignored too long.
  
  Best, of course, would be if the pedestrian walkway could be widened so that it becomes a true bike/pedestrian path such as is on the Fremont Bridge. As it is the path is only adequate for pedestrians and some brave cyclists with the skill to navigate the narrow pathway.
• ballard_res
  everything from the horrible maintenance, unsafe entrance (seen in picture) and exit--which consists of a slit in the small wall where you are expected to merge with traffic going 40+ miles an hour, all need to be addressed. I feel very unsafe on this bridge at night and when it's raining even though I used it on a daily basis. The fremont, montlake, and university bridge are far superior to this one. I agree nwcitizen that I hope this law suit addresses some of the issued.
• MonkeyPilot
  It seems like yet another example of misplaced priorites when it comes to cycling. The city makes meaningless bicycle "improvements" with sharrows, street signs, and crosswalk putting greens that can now be found all over town. Meanwhile, actual hazards like the Ballard Bridge, and disappearing bike lanes (e.g. Dexter & 8th Ave) go unchanged.
• Cyclocrossmechanic
  It's a crappy bridge to be sure. Dangerous? Not so sure. I've ridden it a few hundred times without incident but I also slow down when riding across it. Riding over the grate is foolish. Ideally, it should be improved. However, widening bridges seems like something that would be REALLY expensive to do. Much as I'd like to see it improved, I'm not sure it would be worth the money. The bridge looks pretty old so a better move might be to simply replace it entirely and make sure the new bridge has proper bike/pedestrian facilities.
• JDrive
  I wish people would stop trying to ride a bike drunk. Hmmm, maybe it's the driver, not the bridge.
• Grubby Ballard
  What idiot rides across that bridge? unless they lost their license in a DUI, I don't see the point.
• Mary McMacken
  Terry McMacken, was a happy and positive person. He worked in construction from the time he was a kid. He did not become good at his trade taking dangerous chances. He was not a kid. He was a grown man, a good husband, a devoted father and friend. And he was not a drunk who lost his license. He was on his way to pick up his car keys at his wife's work. This was a terrible accident that could have happened to any of us.
  
  The McMacken family would like to see the city of Seattle make the Ballard bridge safer so no other family has to deal with this kind of loss. Terry didn't just loose an arm, he lost his future, and we all lost him. Even with the physical and mental damage he was still able to joke and reach out for life and give a damn about the rest of us. You who are so quick to judge, could you live up to his example and are you ready for insensitive, unfeeling people like your self to judge you? Probably not.
  
  How expensive can it be to raise a barrier another three feet to protect any one using this access across the Ballard bridge before there is another tragedy? There have only been two deaths in twenty years? So tell me how two lives are not worth the cost of improvements to make the bridge as it is, safe for pedestrians? How many deaths does it take to make it financially "worth" the cost?
  
  There are people in your community who were a part of my nephews life, I am betting, who would step forward and donate their time and expertise to fixing this potentially dangerous condition.
  
  Why is doing the right thing, the humane and intelligent thing so difficult and fraught with angry, harsh, nasty accusations. Why can't we all step forward and work to fix this bridge, to make is safe so no other family looses a loved one.
  
  Everyone who has had a near miss on this bridge, come forward and make the city of Seattle aware. Join hands! Work together! Fix the problem!
  
  Thank all of you who care and want a resolution.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Mary McMacken
  Terry's Aunt
  Tucson Arizona
• Lisa McMacken
  My husband was the most intelligent, caring gentleman I have ever met. And after 32 years together I can still say I still love him very much. After the accident he would still open doors for me. Even with disabilities he continued to help care for anything my mother needed done. He was the best family man and I will miss him every much.
  
  I
• Lisa McMacken
  My husband was an intelligent and a caring gentleman. After 32 years together I can still say I love him very much & will miss him. After the accident he would still demand to open doors for me. Even with disabilities he continued to help care for anyone needing help. He worked at the Fisherman's Terminal and regularly helped unemployed fishermen knowing he may never see his money again or get them to work off the loans.
  
  Do not assume you know someone unless you have met them. He always have a good heart and a fish story for anyone that would listen and he cannot be replaced.
  
  My wish is no family ever has to endure what my family has seen in the past 1 1/2 years. And that the city understand just a metal post and sign making it mandatory that bikes must be walked across the bridge could have saved my husband and any future accidents like this.
  
  My heart breaks when I think back and watched 23 year old daughter rocking and holding my husband on the couch both crying because of his pain, or day he stopped breathing and my 17
  year old son found me screaming 'BREATH' to Terry. He told me - I know CPR and started chest compressions while I started mouth to mouth. And I would never had made it through the many surgeries or decipher the doctor's continuous, daily mass of information without the help of my daughter, which is a nurse in Denver.
  
  these will not be the things I remember about Terry-I will remember all the wonderful things he did for his family and the generous heart he had.
  
  His loving wife.......... Lisa
• Jeff Anderson
  I moved here in 1977 and met Terry on the job, we become very good friends and were roomates just about up until He married Lisa, Who I know he loved with all his heart.
  
  Think people, this is not a Man that had a balance problem HE WAS A IRONWORKER -I met Terry working on Highrise buildings!
  
  My kids grew up with his and over the about twirty years I knew him he was Responsible, VERY in Love with his Wife, Cared the world for his kids. Truly one of the Good Guys.
  
  
  He will definatly be missed!
  
  A Freind that "Allways" adimired Terry and loved him and his Family very much - Jeff A