Another Day of Car Free 5 Mile Drive
Sunday mornings just got a wee bit sweeter. Starting on July 6th, Point Defiance’s 5 Mile Drive will be closed to cars until 1:00 pm. The drive has already been closed to cars on Saturday mornings. This was our favorite time to pedal or run through the park. Now, we have Sundays to consider too.
It’ll be a two month pilot project while the park receives input on the change. So … provide input and let Metro Parks know what you think. We like it.
Link to The News Tribune
Filed under: Events
29 comments
M Mofo from the Hood June 26, 2008
Pleasant. It’s a great place to ride a bicycle anytime.
Although, the plan to add speed bumps really diminishes the pleasantness of an outing, and especially one by car.
E Erik B. June 26, 2008
It’ll be a two month pilot project while the park receives input on the change. So … provide input and let Metro Parks know what you think. We like it.
Its nice to close it once in a while for a variety of uses.
But eliminating cars from 5 mile drive altogether and building a huge parking garage with transfer buses would cost needless millions and place the park in a worse environmental condition not a better one and greatly reduce the public access to the park.
W Whitney staff June 26, 2008
@ Erik B.
Say What?
E Erik B. June 27, 2008
Say What?
That was my reaction as well.
M Mofo from the Hood June 27, 2008
E.B. @2:
I go to Point Defiance probably more than most people. Usually the only day that access is slow is Sunday, and that’s due to all the private cars, sometimes creating a traffic jam from 46th & Pearl to the park entrance.
But it would be an extreme policy to rule out cars from the park just because access is slow on Sundays and sometimes Saturdays. As for environmental damage, I’ve seen far more park destruction caused by windstorms than by cars.
Just the same I think adding speed bumps along the park roadways is an extreme measure. That policy won’t deter unusual behavior; it just annoys the majority of self-disciplined people.
There’s a park out in Eatonville, a free-range zoo, called Northwest Trek. Once you get inside the gate, and mandatorily park your car, the area of free movement for people is defined by fences and restricted throughout by design for safety reasons. Travel inside the free-range zoo is provided by tour bus including a narrator to direct attention towards a duck or a doe or an imported buffalo. Anyway, the concept has its merits but the collective experience of the tour can also make one aware of the restriction of the private experience.
I recommend visiting Northwest Trek to anyone. Then afterwards, go to Point Defiance. The collective experience first and then the private experience. The controlled experience and then the free experience.
S shingst June 27, 2008
I hate the idea of closing it on Sundays till 1pm, or any day for that matter… Might as well stop calling it “5 Mile DRIVE”.
M michael g. June 27, 2008
Two-mile drive (with a permanent closure of the road to cars past Owen Beach) sounds pretty good to me.
S Squid June 27, 2008
Mofo: Even with the drive closed to traffic, you’ll still be able to get on your bike or on your feet and have an even BETTER free experience. Free from speeding cars, free from morons throwing beer cans at you …
I’ll settle for a few more hours Sunday morning, but am not averse to closing the outer drive (past Owen Beach) down until 10:30 am every morning. Give me an evening closure as well and I’m happier still. That leaves plenty of time for those prefering to enjoy from inside the windshield.
M michael g. June 27, 2008
I might actually settle for some “don’t feed the raccoons” signs. I drove around the loop yesterday evening (a privilege I’d gladly give up), and there was a raccoon with extended hands/paws out (literally) every 3/4 of a mile. Kind of unnerving. Several cars were cruising while throwing out potato chips and other not-so-healthy snacks for the not-so-wildlife.
T Tacoma (A)roma June 27, 2008
I never understood the point of driving through the park anyway. Its on par with that drive-through xmas light thing in Spanaway every year.
But as an avid cyclist I would love even more time devoted to car-free activities.
S Squid June 27, 2008
michaelg@9: most wildlife is indeed very sensitive to “human” food. My neighbors accidentally killed 2 of 4 screech owls I raised/released as a kid by feeding them bologna – sodium intolerant.
Raccoons though can and will eat anything. I also raised a raccoon – he once got out of his cage, pulled a sleeping bag off the neighbors line and ate half of it under their deck before I was able to corral him in a fishing net.
You have reason to be unnerved by the raccoons. They are out to get us. Feed them at your peril.
M Mofo from the Hood June 28, 2008
Here’s one good reason to keep the 5 Mile Drive open for private cars. I know this is going to be hard to grasp for a lot of people. This personal anecdote is just going to sound strange to so-called progressive contemporary minds. Here we go: When I got my driver’s license I was thrilled because I could take a girl on a slow drive date through the 5 Mile Drive. Then park at one of the lookout points. And so on.
S Squid June 28, 2008
Just think of what coulda happened if you had taken her on a bike ride instead. Think Lycra.
M Mofo from the Hood June 28, 2008
Here’s one for the Tacoma progressives (regressives):
Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do. I’m half crazy all for the love of you.
It won’t be a stylish marriage, I can’t afford a carriage.
But you’ll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two.
“Daisy Bell”
by Harry Dacre. 1892.
M Mike H June 28, 2008
Thanks a lot Mofo. Now I’ve got the Hal 9000 version of the song running thru my head.
M Mofo from the Hood June 28, 2008
TACOMA 2008: A Spacey Odyssey
T Tacoma (A)roma June 30, 2008
I just dont want to take my life into my hands when riding my bicycle on 5-mile cause some fat Nascar Dad wants a little scenery to eat his Carls Jr to.
Its supposed to represent the Tacoma that once was..and on a larger scale its a slice of the natural world. How could you possibly enjoy it while driving a car?
And isnt the park closed after dusk anyhow?
S shingst June 30, 2008
There’s a better chance of getting run down outside the park.
Because of a few bad apples ( that in my opinion should never be allowed back into the park if caught speeding ) you want to ban all automobiles?
Visitors & Tourist should be turned away when they want to drive on 5-mile DRIVE??
How about the disabled, young kids, older generations.. what if they can’t ride a bike, walk or jog??
Not everyone is a Nascar Dad…
T Tacoma (A)roma July 1, 2008
Then put in a low speed tram or something.
And I dont know if you realize this..(probably not) but the fact its called 5-mile drive has no relation to it being car exclusive. Its another name for street/avenue/boulevard.
There are absolutely NO car-free zones in Tacoma..I dont understand the resistance to this…
S Squid July 1, 2008
Tacoma (A)roma @19: Don’t understand the resistance? You aren’t getting out much are you?
;)
Everybody who wants the drive open Sunday mornings really oughta be in church then anyway, while us heathen liberal (regressive) bike riders and joggers are communing with nature in pagan rituals on the re-named Five Mile Ride.
M Mofo from the Hood July 1, 2008
PROPOSED NEW NAME FOR 5 MILE DRIVE (Sundays Only):
5 MILE HIGHWAY TO HELL
B Big Jim July 1, 2008
Stop putting all the bad apples in one basket. If we make it exclusively for walking and bicycles will you stop riding your bike down the middle of Pearl?? I’m sure you won’t! Be happy that you have a nice place like this to even ride your bike. Two wheeled hippies. Go buy a new pair of crocs!!
S Squid July 1, 2008
Mofo @21 FTW!
S Steven July 1, 2008
I’m a former, and hopefully future, avid cyclist. I have done more than a couple of laps around Five Mile Drive. I have always considered it a very safe place to ride. One way traffic, wide road, mostly slow drivers (On a couple occasions I have passed cars, an interesting change of rolls).
The times I don’t like riding it is when the road is closed and folks are walking 8 abreast, zigging a zagging across the road to look at the flora and fauna. Now that is dangerous.
The park is owed and paid for by the citizens of Tacoma. They have a right to use it. Most of these folks do not want to walk or bike five miles to enjoy their park.
Steven
M Mofo from the Hood July 1, 2008
Good point Steven about the pedestrians wandering and getting in the way of biker’s when the 5MD is restricted.
The last thing I wanna do on a speeding bicycle is take down a Japanese tourist.
Maybe Metro Parks can paint a white stripe along the edge of the road to define a walking lane.
T Tacoma (A)roma July 2, 2008
@22 Big Jackass, I mean Jim
I should be happy I have somewhere to ride a bike? Excuse me, but my tax dollars help fund roads the same that yours do; so I will ride my bike anywhere that I please.
And furthermore, who are you calling a hippie? Im willing to bet a large percentage of people that read this blog ride a bicycle at least recreationally.
How many yellow ribbons do you have on your F-250?
M Mofo from the Hood July 2, 2008
And you know what’s worse than a wandering Japanese tourist? Squirrels.
How about closing the 5MD on Friday’s and allowing unlimited Squirrel Hunting to thin out the varmint population. Then sell the pelts at Fort Nisqually to generate income for park maintenance.
S Squid July 2, 2008
Count me in on the squirrel hunt. Them’s good eatin’.
B Big Jim July 9, 2008
@ 26
What is that aroma Patchouli? I did not want anyone to take it personally. This is an open blog. That was my opinion. With a little joking added. Loosen up stinky!!