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You can just hear everything on a bike rattling,” said Kevin Troutt, a cyclist who regularly uses the trail. “It’s really bad.”
Troutt said he began noticing worsening bumps in April after SDOT re-striped intersections along the trail. He said new striping applied over old layers created ridges and grooves that are difficult for bikes with narrow tires to navigate safely.
“You can see there are multiple layers put on top of each other,” he said, pointing to one example.
Beverly Neubauer said she crashed in May while trying to avoid the bumps after a rainy night.
“There’s a gap, and my little narrow tire got caught,” she said. “My body went and my bike stayed. I have a little scar from it.”
Troutt said at least nine cyclists have reported crashes along this stretch of trail. He has mapped the locations and launched a campaign urging the city to make repairs.
In an email to SDOT, Troutt listed intersections where cyclists have reported problems: 8th Avenue NW, NW 43rd Street, 7th Avenue NW, NW 42nd Street, NW 41st Street, NW 40th Street, NW Bowdoin Place, NW 39th Street and 3rd Avenue NW. He also noted issues at NE 77th Street and several other locations on the northeast side of the trail.
Many of the intersections also feature nearby railroad tracks, which Troutt said increase the risk of injury.
In response to concerns, SDOT told KING 5 the intersections meet safety standards but acknowledged the complaints. A spokesperson said the department will soon re-do three intersections: where the trail crosses Northwest Boudin Place, Northwest 39th Street and 3rd Avenue Northwest.
Troutt said that response falls short.
“If ‘within standards’ means nine people getting hospitalized, then those standards suck,” he said.
Cyclists say they want all the intersections addressed before more people get hurt.
“Is this really the best we can do?” Neubauer asked. “Let’s fix it.”
In a detailed statement provided on June 12, SDOT said it will remove and repaint the crosswalk markings with the "thickest layers" of reflective material to better the visibility and make a more comfortable ride for all.
"While these crossings already met our standards for safety and visibility, we recognize that providing a smooth and comfortable surface for people biking and rolling is important too," the statement reads.
Typically, new layers of reflective material are added every four years. The agency called the feedback on the Burke-Gilman Trail a "learning opportunity for us," as SDOT said other repaintings in the past had not generated this level of concern.
SDOT said members of staff visited the crosswalk sites and joined a cyclist on a bike ride through the areas of concern to experience the reported issues.
"We found that while the crosswalk markings met all our engineering standards, some people were choosing to ride in the street to avoid riding over the markings," the statement read. "We want getting around Seattle to be an enjoyable experience and recognize the benefits of creating a more comfortable riding surface. We also considered that a smoother surface would be especially meaningful for people using a wheelchair or other mobility assistance device."
Moving forward, SDOT said it will update its crosswalk maintenance practices by measuring the markings' height before adding another layer.