If you have ever ridden down Eastlake onto Fairview you may know this spot. Going with traffic and choosing the street-side option it is of little danger, but an experienced cyclist was recently killed there. He was traveling in the "against traffic" side, but that is the side where there is a bike lane, of sorts. The trouble happens when part of the path abruptly turns into a staircase. From the approach, it looks like a path, maybe with a dip or a ramp. I haven't experienced it as I stay on the street.
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The link to the article (worst MSPaint captions ever but you'll get the general idea):
http://thesunbreak.com/2011/09/08/di...attle-cyclist/
What do you think? Is it the City of Seattle's responsibility to improve the safety by posting visible warnings about the upcoming change in terrain? Or is the cyclist at fault (not that it matters, he is dead) for riding on the "wrong" side of the road? For that matter, do you think the recent barrage of headlines about cyclists being killed is working for or against getting people out there on bikes?
RIP Brian Fairbrother.