Rain washes out 'car free' day in Seattle

KING 5 TV (Seattle) ^ | 8/24/08 | BERNARD CHOI

[llevrok]

06:29 PM PDT on Sunday, August 24, 2008

By / KING 5 News

SEATTLE - Only in Seattle could an event touted as a way to help the environment get washed out during what is supposed to be the driest time of the year.

Video: Rain washes out 'car free' day in Seattle Larger screen E-mail this clip

Car-free days is part of Mayor Greg Nickels' campaign to encourage people to walk, bike or take mass transit.

One neighborhood is closed off to car traffic during selected weekends this summer.

On Sunday it was the area around 14th and Republican on Capitol Hill, a residential area that's normally quiet anyway.

"I think it promotes awareness of whatever we're promoting awareness of," said resident Thomas Hubbard.

"A car passes by every once in a while, just people trying to get home. And they don't know how to get home," said resident Matt O'Connor.

"I think most people are scratching their heads. I've seen people move the signs and drive through anyway," said Hubbard.

With more police officers diverting traffic than actual people, the city decided to end the event two hours earlier.

O'Connor said the idea was good in theory, "but in practice, it needs a little bit of work."

Adding insult to injury, the cars owned by some residents in the neighborhood were towed because the city wanted to clear the streets.

Next weekend, car-free days moves to south Seattle. Rainier Avenue between Alaska and Orcas will be closed to car traffic during the afternoon.

[llevrok]

Of that darn old Global Warming !

[itsthejourney]

So, more gas was used towing neighborhood cars and folks were forced to drive further out of their way to get home.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

“A car passes by every once in a while, just people trying to get home. And they don’t know how to get home,” said resident Matt O’Connor. [Roads blocked off for pedestrians and bikes]

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

O’Connor said the idea was good in theory, “but in practice, it needs a little bit of work.”

Pretty much sums it up for any leftist “idea”.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Methinks environmentalism is losing ground there with each new rain storm. Talk about DUmmies.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Well said. I hope the Democrat Underground gets word of this.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Excellent find. It rains a LOT out there. This will help spread conservatism. Regards ....

[TexasNative2000]

Adding insult to injury, the cars owned by some residents in the neighborhood were towed because the city wanted to clear the streets.

That would be the Law of Unintended Consequences - a liberal specialty.

[AmericaUnited]

I would tell these stupid eco nuts to go over to China and see what life is like with only a bicycle and bowl of rice, but many Chinese now have cars due to their embrace of CAPITALISM!

[GreenAccord]

This pragmatic conservative would hope that the collection of gasoline taxes, which (in part) paid for the roads that were subsequently blocked to motor vehicles, was suspended for the duration of the blockage. </yeah, right>

[50sDad]

"I think it promotes awareness of whatever we're promoting awareness of," said resident Thomas Hubbard.

Best...Liberal...Quote...EVER!

[Robert DeLong]

On Sunday it was the area around 14th and Republican

Well there is the reason why!!! Damn Republicans, LOL

[pnh102]

God Bless Nelson Muntz.

[pnh102]

Well there is the reason why!!! Damn Republicans, LOL

Maybe they should try this in San Francisco on Bush street.

[IYAS9YAS]

supposed to be the driest time of the year.

Seattle? Dry? Never been there when it wasn't precipitatin' something. Seeing the sun in Seattle is more rare than spottin' a '63 split-window 'Vette in a widow-lady's barn.

[TigersEye]

"I think it promotes awareness of whatever we're promoting awareness of," said resident Thomas Hubbard.

"Uh, like, cool, dude. Uh, are you, like, aware that your fly is open?"

[TigersEye]

O’Connor said the idea was good in theory, “but in practice, it needs a little bit of work.”

Vladimir Lenin
Evanston Avenue North and North 36th Street in the Fremont district of Seattle

That's what they said when this guy was done.
Those that were still alive.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Have to agree - sounds like a quote from the Simpsons or South Park, but I assume it came from real life, which is sometimes much funnier.

[sionnsar]

Say WA? Evergreen State ping

FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.

Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.

[sionnsar]

Excellent find. It rains a LOT out there. This will help spread conservatism. Regards ....

Rain is relatively unusual in August.