We, the bicyclists, and lovers of the Burke-Gilman trail, know there's a problem with our beloved route. Last summer, the Seattle Department of Transportation poorly repainted the trail intersections, and the outcome has been disastrous. The excessive paint has transformed our smooth transitions into bumpy, noisy rumble strips. This new texture causes us to swerve dangerously to avoid them, or endure an uncomfortably bumpy ride. This situation is a distraction at a critical moment; right as we enter a potential conflict zone. A question must be asked: why weren't the updated painting guidelines adhered to when undertaking this job?

As someone who, along with my friends and family, regularly uses the trail, it's crucial to me personally that the quality of maintenance on the Burke-Gilman trail is improved. Multiple incidents have already occurred due to these makeshift rumble strips, increasing the risk for all users. The poor maintenance isn't just inconvenient - it's a public safety issue. 

The Burke-Gilman is the first rails to trails conversion in the USA and a Rails to Trails Conservancy Hall of Fame Trail.   It is one of the busiest if not the busiest multi-use trail in Seattle.     The people that use this trail deserve the same paint treatments that all the new trails in Seattle are getting and on the Burke-Gilman in King County.

We believe that this can be solved. By utilizing the updated painting guidelines and removing the excess paint, Seattle DOT can greatly improve conditions on the Burke-Gilman trail.

Join us in petitioning the Seattle Department of Transportation to review their maintenance process and utilize updated practices for more comfortable and safer outcomes. Together, we can make the beloved Burke-Gilman trail safer and better for all users. Sign the petition and express your concern today.

Here is a map showing the scope of the problem of bad intersections on the Burke-Gilman.  

There is a related but more narrowly focused letter writing campaign being sponsored by the Ballard-Fremont Seattle Neighborhood Greenways group.    Ballard Fremont Letter Writing Campaign

Seattle DOT recently repainted three intersections in Ballard without any of the pavement damage they were worried about.   It took them one day.   A week more and they could do the other 15.    

Here is the newly repainted intersection at the Univ of Washington in a Burke-Gilman intersection.     This is a very nice treatment.   It is smooth, highly visible and denotes that bicycles are crossing here.