December 20, 2017 SDOT Director Scott Kubly Seattle Department of Transportation Seattle Municipal Tower 700 5th Ave PO Box 34996 Seattle, WA 98124 RE: Use of Bike Racks to Discourage Homeless Camping Dear Director Kubly, I am writing to express my concern over the installation of bicycle parking stands under the Alaskan Way Viaduct. As the media, neighbors and bike advocates have noted, there is no apparent need for bike stands in this corridor and their placement does not serve the purpose of advancing our transportation goals in Seattle. I am most troubled by the statement published on Dec 19, 2017 in the The Stranger from the SDOT Spokesperson confirming that the bike racks were part of a “strategy for lessening the hazards of unsheltered living by creating space for a different active public use.” The placement of these racks specifically to interfere with those who are unsheltered, in a location which serves no meaningful public transportation purpose and along a street without a bike lane, does not appear to be a responsible use of transportation funding. Seattle voters approved the Move Seattle levy with the promise of transit and transportation infrastructure improvements to move people and goods. With respect to bicycle infrastructure and parking, that meant having a place to park near destinations for work, medical appointments, volunteer opportunities, or enjoying restaurants, bars, arts or other aspects of our city’s culture, not so that SDOT could discourage camping. There is a need for bicycle infrastructure throughout our city to accommodate those who commute by bike and for those who enjoy the new bike-share rentals. As a public health advocate, I strongly support using our public places for active use, but it is unacceptable that bike infrastructure funding be expressly used for displacing those who are unsheltered. The city is undergoing a multifaceted process to help more folks secure shelter and housing options quickly, but I do not believe it is the role of SDOT to use bike racks as “part of the Homelessness Emergency Response effort” as noted in the article. Further, continuing to advance the notion that hostile architecture should be used to inconvenience those who are unsheltered is misguided. An equal opportunity employer 600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 2 PO Box 34025, Seattle Washington 98124-4025 Phone (206) 684-8806 Fax (206) 684-8587 TTY 711 Email teresa.mosqueda@seattle.gov I am requesting you provide the information that informed your decision to place these bike racks at this location. This should include any studies, reports, or data sources that suggest that this location is ideal for placement of bicycle parking, and also the expected location and expenditure for the next bike racks planned throughout the city. Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this request. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, Teresa C. Mosqueda City Council Member, Position 8 CC: Jenny Durkan, Mayor of the City of Seattle Michael Fong, Senior Deputy Mayor Shefali Ranganathan, Deputy Mayor Bruce Harrell, Seattle City Council President Lorena Gonzalez, Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, Seattle City Councilmember Rob Johnson, Seattle City Councilmember Debora Juarez, Seattle City Councilmember Mike O’Brien, Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, Seattle City Councilmember Anthony Auriemma, Legislative Affairs Mayor’s Office Kirstan Arestad, Central Staff ED, City Council An equal opportunity employer 600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 2 PO Box 34025, Seattle Washington 98124-4025 Phone (206) 684-8806 Fax (206) 684-8587 TTY (206) 233-0025 Email teresa.mosqueda@seattle.gov 2