By many measures, transportation on King County’s Eastside is changing. By 2024 EastLink Light rail will be open, with stations that will make connecting to Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond easier than ever. Also by 2024, Eastrail, the Eastside’s north/south trail corridor and “bike network spine” will be completed between Woodinville and Renton, connecting Redmond, Kirkland, and Bellevue by bike. How well people on foot and travelling by bike can access transit and trail on opening day is down to funding, vision and political will. Thanks to advocates and elected leaders, some progress has been made in recent years. But there’s more to do, especially considering the disturbing trend in some Eastside cities of increasing death and serious injury crashes involving people walking and biking on our streets. Along with potential for connectivity, Eastside cities must do more to address this transportation-related public health crisis within their jurisdictions.
During Washington Bikes’ endorsement process, we asked candidates for office in each of the below races how they would champion solutions to make their community safer and more accessible for people who bike – or want to. Read on for Washington Bikes endorsements, and a deeper dive into issues in key Eastside cities.
