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Ryan Packer

@typewriteralley.bsky.social

10K followers 420 following 6.4K posts

Pedestrian Reporting at The Urbanist as Contributing Editor Transportation advocate Probably covering a random public meeting (they-them) 📍Puget Sound https://www.patreon.com/typewriteralley

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · Nov 24

Hi new followers-
Several years ago I decided to start documenting how regularly people in my city of Seattle were getting hurt while trying to get around via walking or biking, in as close to real-time as possible.

In response to consistent feedback I'm going to continue on this platform.

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 1h

Too many of our city's steps forward have an event like this at their inception.

Gordon Padelford @gordonofseattle.bsky.social · 1h

It has been 12 years since Lance David died biking to work here. I'll be thinking about him when I ride this safer route later today.

His tragic death spurred local West Seattle advocates to demand change, and to his credit Mayor Mike McGinn started this project — 3 mayors later it's finally done.

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 3h

They let MassTransitNow.com expire btw, big fumble.

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 3h

Something I absolutely did not remember was Rick Steves co-authoring the pro statement in the voter's guide for Sound Transit 3.

Statement in favor
Yes on Proposition 1: Rail Connecting
Our Region
Growth is a fact: Our region adds 230 people every day. Proposition 1
gives you the choice to get out of daily gridlock. One light rail line can
carry 16,000 people per hour; a general-purpose freeway lane moves
just 2,000 cars. Fast, frequent rail gets you where you need to be, on
time, every time.
Submitted by: Dow Constantine,
Christine Gregoire, Rick Steves
www.MassTransitNow.com

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 3h

This is the design for the unfunded next segment.

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 3h

No connecting projects funded right now.

Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 3h

This project has been moving forward since 2022. The appellant, Dawn Janow, says the process has been "rushed." Janow came in third place this past August in a race for an open council seat on a platform of "limiting upzoning."

When the city’s policy governing the development of 625 Winslow Way, ordinance No. 2025-21, was first reviewed through SEPA, it received a “Determination of Nonsignificance” from the city planning department. That meant the project was unlikely to have adverse environmental impacts, and that the city was not required to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement for the site.

But that process felt “rushed,” Janow said, and many community members felt their concerns were going unheard, particularly regarding groundwater management. It’s unclear how long the appeal process will take; it’s up to the Bainbridge Island Hearing Examiner to establish a schedule.

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 3h

That doesn't mean you can't file an appeal.

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 3h

Background: www.theurbanist.org/2025/08/18/s...

‘Save the Corner’ Campaign Targets 92 Affordable Homes on Bainbridge Island » The Urbanist

# Despite the fact that LIHI's proposed affordable housing project has been advancing for nearly three years, public opposition has kicked up in recent weeks. The new campaign contends that such a pri...

www.theurbanist.org

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 3h

Update on Bainbridge Island's beleaguered affordable housing project: the city was set to hold a public hearing on a zoning ordinance that would allow it to move forward, but a SEPA challenge has been filed by a former council candidate.

This is going to add weeks if not months of added process.

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Reposted by Ryan Packer

West Seattle Bike Blog @westseattlebikeblg.bsky.social · 5h

I tried to be first, alas. But the lights are on!

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 15h

People say the darnest things on this website.

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 17h

If Harrell wants to make a motion at the Sound Transit board before the election, he'll have to wait until October 23.

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 17h

Harrell seemed to suggest that he wanted staff to look at jettisoning the Avalon Way light rail station, which Sound Transit says would have a minimal impact on ridership.

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 17h

Bruce Harrell apparently didn't get the email that tomorrow's Sound Transit board committee meeting is cancelled, suggesting in a mayoral debate just now that he had been planning to "advance some discussion on looking at West Seattle" light rail.

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 18h

I see residents of Bellevue's Newport Hills have decided to go with the talking point that their streets have a "1960s design" as the reason that they can't handle additional housing density.

To me, a "1960s design" would be building another highway through the area, demolishing hundreds of homes.

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 18h

The lengths to which incumbent homeowners will go to negate the input of the next generation, even the people living in their community now, knows no bounds.

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 18h

Tuned into the Bellevue Planning Commission meeting tonight where a resident of Eastgate is complaining that high school students who attended an open house on a neighborhood plan in Eastgate were "bribed" with extra credit to be there, pushing for youth to not be given "equal weight" with others.

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 18h

Ban cars

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 20h

Turns out they even say this in Brooklyn.

Doug Gordon @brooklynspoke.bsky.social · 20h

Next commenter: someone against more density on Fourth Avenue. “We are not Manhattan.”

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 20h

October in Seattle.

Downtown waterfront looking north from Colman Dock with a fireboat at the dock and wispy clouds over the water

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 21h

I just can't get over the differences in scale between Ballard Link's Westlake Station as proposed and the original Westlake Station, off to the left.

Ballard Link's Westlake has two separate entrances underneath separate buildings, with one showing a long tunnel to get to the train guideway. They are at least five stories deeper than the original Westlake, which is tiny and only around 10-15% of the size

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 21h

SDOT is officially opening the E Marginal Way bike lanes tomorrow - everything north of S Horton Street.

The street won't open to two-way vehicle traffic until next week, so enjoy this weekend.

Diagram showing the full E Marginal project, which extends from Atlantic Street to Spokane

Diagram showing how people on bikes will need to use the bike signal at Horton Street to cross

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Reposted by Ryan Packer

Complete Streets Bellevue @completestreetsbellevue.org · 1d

All 10 candidates for Bellevue's 5 open positions have RSVPed. This is a unique opportunity to hear from candidates, in their own words, why their vision for our transportation system is the best for Bellevue.

There's still time to RSVP! Saturday from 3-5 pm.

www.eventbrite.com/e/bellevue-c...

Bellevue City Council Candidate Transportation, Mobility, and Equity Panel

Come see Bellevue city council candidates answer questions focused around transportation, mobility, and equity on October 11th!

www.eventbrite.com

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 1d

Don't forget that the G Line was completely a City of Seattle-prompted creation that Metro was initially pretty resistant to. But that was a different time.

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 1d

Sending a tourist into Capitol Hill isn't exactly "downtown activation", is it?

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