Colorful rideshare bikes have become a part of the Seattle landscape and soon city leaders will vote on a plan that could double the number of bikes on city streets. The proposal has upset some who say the bikes can be dangerous to those who are blind or have other disabilities.
“They're everywhere!” Marci Carpenter explained. “I've had many bruises from running into them with various parts of my body.”
Carpenter is blind and said her cane doesn’t always detect the bikes. She said she’s heard complaints about the bikes blocking doorways, sidewalks, bus stops and crosswalks.
“I'm a proponent of alternative modes of transportation but it just feels like the bikes are littered everywhere,” said Carpenter.
The city is considering expanding the number of bikes in the program, something that upsets those who can barely dodge the ones already on the streets. Cory Joseph says his guide dog, Vine, sometimes pays the price.
"The dog has tried to get around the bike and we've ended up with the dog being tangled up in the bike," Joseph explained. "It's really unconscionable they're looking at expanding this program without putting in real investment for curbside parking.”
Seattle is considering a plan that would add dedicated parking areas but many believe they don’t go far enough and want to make sure those parking areas utilize street space and not sidewalks.
The group has asked for a meeting with the city and want their voice to be part of this process. Until then, they're hoping those who ride the bikes will be careful of where they leave them.
"Put them somewhere where someone isn't going to trip on them," Mike Mello said. "Please, just be courteous that would go a long way to make the program more palatable."
KING 5 reached out to the city and the bike share companies for comment. LimeBike replied with this statement from Isaac Gross, general manager at Lime for Seattle:
"At Lime, our goal has always been to make it easier for people to get around, which means safety and accessibility are top priorities. In fact, since we rolled out LimeBikes on day one, we've been proactively educating Seattleites on how to use and park bikes responsibly through both online and offline activations, and as a company strive for continual improvement. We believe the City's new regulations regarding designated bike share parking spaces will provide additional incentive for consumers to properly park their LimeBikes when a ride is finished. We're committed to this community and excited to continue offering smart mobility choices to people here in the Emerald City."
