West Seattle and Seattle were once connected by two low drawbridges, but when a ship rammed one of these in 1978, discussion turned to the building of a high bridge that would permit ships to pass underneath. A low bridge would also be replaced.

In 1983, Seattle’s City Council held hearings on the plans. Over 300 cyclists jammed City Hall to protest the lack of bike lanes on the new high bridge as well as the proposed van-trailer system for cyclists during the replacement of the lower bridge. Some 6,200 people signed a petition asking for bike lanes on both levels.

Here, the cyclists wait with their bikes before entering Seattle City Hall.

Caption information source: “Meeting to discuss Harbor Island bridge”, by David Schaefer, The Seattle Times/Seattle Post-Intelligencer, September 25, 1983, page A32.
Caption information source: “Cyclists demand path on new span”, by Darrell Glover, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, September 30, 1983, page A1.