Cyclist Safety

As a newcomer to the Key Peninsula, I have been captivated by its breathtaking natural beauty and the warmth of its community. Getting out on a bicycle is the best way to soak it all in. However, the current state of our main roadways, particularly State Route 302 and the Key Peninsula Highway, has made the parts of my rides that utilize them range from mildly tense to genuinely scary.

These segments are inherently difficult and dangerous for cyclists due to significant hazards: narrow roads with limited shoulders, loose gravel along the roadside, deep ditches on the sides of roads, blind curves without shoulders, and a complete lack of signage warning drivers to look out for cyclists.

I am aware that long-term improvements are being planned, though cannot address the immediate safety gap on our necessary community connectors.

I respectfully wonder if there are more immediate means we could employ to improve cyclist safety and save lives now, while waiting for long-term construction:

Low-cost Signage Campaigns: Could Pierce County and WSDOT install high-visibility signs along hazardous stretches and blind curves, reminding drivers that this is a shared space?

Scheduled Shoulder Sweeping: Could the county commit to a more frequent and rigorous schedule for clearing loose gravel and debris from the shoulders of the KP Highway, effectively widening the safe riding area for cyclists?

Community Advocacy: Can our local organizations partner with the county to identify and prioritize the most dangerous segments for basic maintenance or temporary striping that designates a safe cycling zone?

I am thrilled to have moved to such a beautiful area, one that is clearly conducive to active living. I sincerely hope that by raising these safety concerns, we can encourage action. Ensuring that enjoying the beauty of the Key Peninsula on two wheels doesn’t require risking our safety would benefit all residents, old and new.

Fletcher Bonds, Wauna