It’s true that alot of cyclists don’t respect the law, but way more people are killed by cars. Let’s take care of the big issue first.

This is very helpful if I’m riding outside of my regular route so I can be aware of bike-specific issues I may encounter.

A solid red light means you have to stay stopped until you get a green light (right turns generally being the exception, but again you have to come to a full stop first. ditto for lefts on to a one-way). And to quote the WA Driver Guide, “A flashing red traffic light means the same as a stop sign. You must come to a full stop and then may proceed when it is safe to do so.”

But the police have limited time and money for enforcement, and their priorities have to reflect somewhat the relative threat to public safety. It’s not cyclists who kill more Americans than 9/11 every single month.

SMC 11.44.120 Riding on sidewalk or public path.

Every person operating a bicycle upon any sidewalk or public path
shall operate the same in a careful and prudent manner and at a rate
of speed no greater than is reasonable and proper under the conditions
existing at the point of operation, taking into account the amount and
character of pedestrian traffic, grade and width of sidewalk or public
path, and condition of surface, and shall obey all traffic-control
devices. Every person operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk or public
path shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian thereon, and shall
give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian.

In general, bikes are safer in the street, operating like vehicles; when it’s necessary to ride sidewalks or mixed-use paths, go slow and yield to pedestrians.

Not everything in the city is their department, but they know where to forward everything else, and they’re very good about following up and getting back to me. I can snap a cell phone picture of a hazard, send it to them on my way to work, and often find it fixed on my way home the same day. They’ve gotten broken grates fixed, had a non-responsive signal sensor retuned, etc.

I, for one, would like it if everyone driving a motor vehicle would drive at or below the speed limit.

http://www.seattle.gov/Transportation/potholereport.htm

And you’re right, it is a two-way street. When peds walk around aimlessly, they should also pay attention before entering an area that is known to have cyclists and other recreational activities happening. I’m not suggesting that they buy turn signals, but when a ped just turns randomly without even looking over their shoulder causes just as unsafe situation as a cyclist blowing through an intersection.

Route 3 … it’s been whittled down to a shuttle between Beacon Hill and Mt. Baker stations

And if they’d saved the expense of the tunnel and underground station by continuing north to the I-90 East Link ROW wouldn’t Beacon Hill have better service if the savings were put into transit connections to Mt. Baker, SODO, Ranier, etc.

It’s a two-way street.

The University bridge at both the north and south ends has dangerous merges. The climb up Harvard to Capitol Hill is positively scary! Bikewise in just one tool that will help bike commuting become safer. It will also take more money, more commitment from elected leaders, more innovation (that is often in short supply in Seattle) and more cooperation (between cyclists and drivers). I hope the growing commitment we have seen toward Link in the last year, can translate to expanding bike safety and numbers of bike commuters. Biking is a transportation mode of equal import and deserves lots of attention on this blog alongside buses and trains.