Originally Posted by
kickstart
Wasn't the parking lot actually posted and marked as the bike route before they put in the walkway?
Yes, and the pathway is officially a walkway where bikes happen to be allowed, not a bicycle facility.
The existing pathway was built as part of the Chesiahud Lake Union Loop,
Seattle Parks and Recreation: Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop
The Chesiahud plan suggested that cyclists not ride Westlake or the parking lot, but detour a few blocks to the hilly Dexter route. Hundreds of cyclists per day disregard that plan and ride either the sidewalk or the parking lot along Westlake, according to the City's official bicycle traffic counts.
An unknown number of cyclists ride the traffic lanes of Westlake instead; they weren't counted as potential users of the new sidepath. I would agree with SDOT that the path doesn't need to be designed for high-speed cyclists, but if it's going to be built as a bicycle transportation route, it should at least support the average non-enthusiast adult on a bicycle, and 10 mph sight lines and stopping distances don't do that.