BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash. — Some speed limits on Bainbridge Island are being lowered in an effort to improve pedestrian safety while encouraging people to get out of their vehicles and choose alternative modes of transportation.
Based on the recommendations of the Sustainable Transportation Plan, most local access streets will change from a 25 mph speed limit to a 20 mph speed limit. Ordinance 2023-03 was passed on Jan. 24, and the reductions will be rolled out in phases.
Unmarked local access streets already reduced their limits effective Feb. 8, while marked local access streets will change from 25 to 20 mph beginning this summer. Some secondary arterials and collector roads will reduce by 5 mph beginning in March.
The City of Bainbridge Island held a neighborhood traffic calming open house in the summer of 2021 to get residential feedback about how conditions on the roads could be improved for people walking, biking or rolling.
In late 2021, Transpo Group was engaged by the city to evaluate options for island-wide speed limits. Speed limit revisions were ultimately recommended, and adopted by the City Council in March 2022.
Tacoma adopted a similar reduction that went into effect on Jan. 1, which lowers the speed limit on residential streets to 20 miles per hour. The ordinance also lowers the speed limit in four neighborhood business districts from 30 mph to 25 mph.
It's about more than safety
Bainbridge Mayor Brenda Fantroy-Johnson said the island does not have a problem with speeding or pedestrians getting hit, but the goal is to make streets as safe and comfortable as possible for cyclists and pedestrians.
Data from the Washington State Department of Transportation shows that, over the past three years, there have been eight crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists on Bainbridge Island.
“It's just a matter of slowing down and being aware that there are other modes of transportation on the road besides the cars,” said Mayor Fantroy-Johnson.
The city wants more people to choose these options over driving in order to reduce emissions as a part of its Sustainable Transportation Plan.
“We have a very walkable city and we want people to walk it,” said Fantroy-Johnson. “It's a way to reduce the emissions, and you get to see the beauty of the whole island.”
“I do see a lot of people walking and biking, especially on the weekdays -- more than I would see car traffic,” said Thea Hanner, who works on Bainbridge and lives in Seattle.
Hanner said the lower speed limits could be effective on some roads that are on hills.
“Coming downhill, they go a little bit faster,” said Hanner. “So, I can imagine that if people actually abide by this new speed limit, it would probably feel a lot safer.”
Hanner said she thinks there may be some other changes the city can make in order to encourage people to walk and bike.
“There aren't a lot of bike lanes, so I think maybe focusing on that a little more might help,” said Hanner.
Mayor Fantroy-Johnson said they are looking to add more bike lanes and better marked bike lanes, but she hopes the changes made this week will help as well.
“We only got one earth and we have to try to protect it as best we can,” said Mayor Fantroy-Johnson.
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