Hundreds gather at ‘Missing Link’ in Ballard

Geeky Swedes Ballard

With red lights blinking, arms waving and horns honking, more than 250 people stretched down Shilshole Avenue Tuesday evening to show support for the completion of the “Missing Link” of the Burke-Gilman Trail.

Bicyclist Jenny Heins has fallen along the Missing Link, and she believes safety is a big concern. “I think it’s going to make things safer for the businesses as well as the users of the trail. The whole community,” she says. “It’s been a priority for the community for 11 or 12 years so I’d like to see it move forward.”

Mayoral candidate Mike McGinn showed up with his bike. “I’m a big bike supporter,” he tells us. “I’ve been a supporter of finishing the Missing Link for a long time.” Michael Snyder of SeattleLikesBikes.org rides the missing link from Ballard to Fremont every day on his commute. “I hope that the elected officials will take notice and the Ballard community will take notice and say ‘hey, this is a priority.'”

(Photo above from Silver.) The Missing Link is a 1.5 mile stretch of the Burke-Gilman Trail without an actual trail. Bicyclists currently ride along Shilshole Ave., sharing the road with cars and large trucks while maneuvering over railroad tracks. The city’s plan to bridge the link sparked a lawsuit from a coalition of Ballard industrial businesses worried about the impact on safety, traffic and parking.

“As businesses who work with heavy equipment, safety is our number one priority,” Eugene Wasserman of the North Seattle Industrial Association said this week, adding that he welcomes Tuesday’s event. “It should give people the opportunity to look at our growing businesses, which provide family wage jobs and are represented by many unions. It should be clear to everyone visiting our area how hard it is to mix trucks, cars, pedestrian, and bicycles safely.”

More photos:
-Silver took these photos here, and this video clip here.
-Michael Snyder took these pictures.
-LMcGuff added this photo link in comments.

Last week: Mayoral candidates address the Missing Link controversy

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Stupid Hippie
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Stupid Hippie

Nothing more important than the demands of middle class, college educated, white professionals!

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12 years ago
fuzzbeans
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fuzzbeans

Fantastic showing! Let's get the thing built!

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12 years ago
fuzzbeans
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fuzzbeans

So nice to see your very nuanced view of the world.

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12 years ago
Stupid Hippie
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Stupid Hippie

I see everything through my white, liberal, middle class, professional, college educated glasses. It's why I live in Ballard, all the diversity!

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12 years ago
RailfanReaper40
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RailfanReaper40

And what’s wrong with a white, liberal, middle class, professional, college educated view?

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3 years ago
NoraBell
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NoraBell

Stupid Hippie is nothing more than an occasionally entertaining troll. Best to just avoid him if at all possible.

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12 years ago
NoraBell
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NoraBell

Fantastic! I'm sorry I couldn't be there.

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12 years ago
Stupid Hippie
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Stupid Hippie

Excuse me? A white, liberal, middle class, professional, college educated troll if you please; one who's biggest concerns are shared by all my fellow white, liberal, middle class, professional, college educated trolls.

You can see my tribe at places like the Ballard Farmer's market, or Sustainable Ballard festivals. You can tell we are white, middle class, professional, college educated liberals because we all claim we moved to Ballard for the 'diversity'.

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12 years ago
kim
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kim

maybe they will build a tunnel (sarcasm everyone!)

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12 years ago
kim
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kim

yes, a great showing. now if they can just get past the cement truck politics.

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12 years ago
Stupid Hippie
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Stupid Hippie

“cement truck politics”

I agree, who needs cement, we should use hemp for all our construction needs.

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12 years ago
NoraBell
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NoraBell

So far your best comment, hippie.

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12 years ago
Mondoman
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Mondoman

Kudos to all who attended and made it a successful event!

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12 years ago
Herring
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Herring

At the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, one of the largest ports in the world, thousands of port workers pedal to work daily amongst the huge engine of industry.
It's been done successfully all over the world. Bikes and industry have gone hand in hand for a long time.
Some car companies were initially bicycle manufactures, things change. Some things are changing back.

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12 years ago
jerty
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jerty

McGinn then pointed out that he has a beard and is dumpy, so he looks like everyone in Ballard, so they should vote for him. And he is a Democrat. And Mallahan brushed up against a Republican one time and therefore cannot be trusted. He then backed off his stance about having a beard but added this, “long-time non-profit, bicycle, green, environment, not-a-lawyer-anymore, viaduct, Obama”

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12 years ago
9999999999
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9999999999

I've had a friend get real hurt falling there. We could definitely get inventive and find a way to make this work.

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12 years ago
cdpenne
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cdpenne

I like the Hippie's comments, they are perceptive and generally very amusing, and in this case I think he is spot on.

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12 years ago
Gurple
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Gurple

I was only there for half an hour, but it was a good vibe. I got there a bit early and there were already several dozen people in orange shirts. The drivers passing by were mostly supportive, with only a few raised middle fingers.

I was really impressed by the turnout. King 5 was there with cameras; here's what they got:
http://www.king5.com/news/Burke-Gilman-Trail-Us…

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12 years ago
RailfanReaper40
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RailfanReaper40

Why are you guys so hellbent over destroying a railroad?

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3 years ago
cdpenne
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cdpenne

I wish I had been down there just a little later in the day so I could see the owner/managers from the boatyard (that big green building in the background) pulling out their hair and cursing all the cyclists. Yep I'd of paid to see that. Ah well, maybe next time.

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12 years ago
ktown69
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ktown69

Who claimed it was diverse?? I moved here 15 years ago because it was quiet.

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12 years ago
JulianDavies
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JulianDavies

Unless the sight of orange or beards is that vexing to them, I'm not sure what their beef would have been. We weren't blocking their driveway. And when my toddler had to pee, we were polite enough to leave their big green building alone. But those parked railcars sure do come in handy.

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12 years ago
JulianDavies
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JulianDavies

As a card-carrying member of your stereotype, I can assure you none of us think Ballard is “diverse”. We have just awful guilt about that, didn't you know? Especially with the new school boundaries.

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12 years ago
cdpenne
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cdpenne

LOL. Careful where you let your kids go along that stretch. Many a late night wanderer has releived him/herself along there, as well as other things. I doubt it's the orange or the beards, but it is no doubt the bike path all together. The “Beaver” was rebuilt and painted inside the yard and the managment has some interest in keeping the parking outside the yard. There was even a thread about their sign warning of forklifts moving cars parked inside the yard earlier this summer.

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12 years ago
JulianDavies
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JulianDavies

Ah so. It's the parking. Well color me totally unsympathetic to their perceived “right” to have free employee parking on the public right of way.

Free parking isn't.

I like the forklift tow truck concept though.

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12 years ago
Silver
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Silver

Thanks for the link, gurple!

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12 years ago
Silver
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Silver

Did you notice that the video link goes to the wrong video? Unless sea lions are interfering with the bicycle traffic…

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12 years ago