Pacific Northwest - Ballard Oil president/bike hater?

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008621043_viaduct13m.html

"I don't think it's in the best long-term interests of the community," he said, likening it to other city decisions, such as the extension of the Burke-Gilman Trail near his business, that he said are making it harder for traditional industrial businesses to survive.

"As this city becomes more of a bedroom, pedestrian, bicycle community, they give no thought to industry," Aakervik said.





It's not enough we have to dodge concrete trucks on the BG, now we have oil trucks gunning for us.

"traditional businesses"

Oy, that's a loaded phrase.

"As this city becomes more of a bedroom, pedestrian, bicycle community, they give no thought to industry," Aakervik said.

yeah, we really need to flip the equation around... you know, less bedrooms and more industry!! right... let me cry a crocodile tear for him real quick.

personally i'm trying to ignore the tunnel-battle, as what we think about it means little in the matter (especially for me, being car free).

The fact that the burke-gillman runs by his property probebly has less impact on his ability to maintain his buisness then the decline of the fishing industry here do to poorly managed fisheries and over harvesting (Seeing as how he supplies the fishing industry.) But it's easy to blame those <sarcasm> damned-dirty-vegan-tree-hugging-progressive-bike-riding-hippies and their traditional-buisness-strangling bike trail </sarcasm> then it is to adapt your buisness in a changing climate. Just because something's "traditional" doesn't make it immune to changes in the economy. Maybe he should start producing bike grease or chain lube to bolster sales while the fishing industry recovers.

The BGT/SRT has long been a point of contention, not just with businesses, but even with the bedroom and pedestrian communities through which it extends. Just look at the history of litigation and legislation surrounding the trail in Lake Forest Park (persistant conflict over right-of-way directionality, stop signs, bollards) and along the east bank of Lake Sammamish (homeowners attempting to stop trail extension from Marymoor south to Issaquah.)

Our business is right on the BG trail directly across from Gas Works. The trail has pretty much been going through our parking lot for at least 20 years. In that time our business has more than doubled (we are in the fishing/marine industry) and it has not hampered our ability to get freight in and out. Of course seeing he is part of the oil industry could explain his lame strawman argument about more people on foot or bicycle is going to ruin industry.

What he misses, as do most of his ilk, what has had the biggest impact on industry in this area is probably the terrible traffic we deal with. Being in the transportation end of this company I realized a long time ago the fewer personal vehicles we have out there the better for the transportation industry. That’s why I have been commuting now for 20 years and have been car free for about 5 years.

I came across some other qoutes from this guy and it seems that he is bent about his trucks not being able to access Ballard under the new tunnel design, or carry his product in the tunnel itself (hazardous material). I don't know how the BG could affect his business.

At a recent Seattle Bike Advisory Board meeting, a representative from the SODO business was discussing the fact that the businesses are "ok" with the proposed bike routes as they are currently in existence and proposed. But they 'don't want to see bikes anywhere else.' This had the effect of creating a moment of stunned silence and thoughts as to why the heck not - we spend money too! And the kicker was when he was discussing the fear that truckers have; they don't want to kill anyone, but they are really scared of their insurance rates increasing if an accident does happen.

Response from an SBAB member, "I think we know who has more at stake in an accident here."

^^^

<<shaking head in disgust>>

Man, I just don't get these guys.

Michael's Sausages at SE 7th and Ankeny said essentially the same thing about 10 years ago when Portland made local street improvements for cyclists including installing bike lanes in front of their business. They are still going strong, and I'm sure cyclists are among their customers. IMO they are full of Chicken Little sky-is-falling BS.