or buy bananas 🍌
or buy a sandwich 🥪
or buy seafood 🐟𓇼🐚
Just buy something.
This summer, for the first time, the City of Seattle banned cars in Pike Place Market
Last year (2024), some politicians warned no one will shop here anymore if it’s pedestrianized:
https://publicola.com/2024/04/02/dont-open-pike-place-to-pedestrians-council-member-urges/
It’s important Pike Place pedestrianization succeeds.
The stakes are high for the future of Seattle. If this summer experiment is a success, it will help push back against pro-car politicians. Failure will make future pedestrianization efforts much harder.
So go out there and purchase something 🍏🍌🥪🎁🛍️
This brings up the quandary, should I drive 1.5 hrs round trip to support an anti-cars initiative.
I drop by Pike Place on a regular basis. Even before the current car ban, it was near impossible to drive through. Pedestrians would flow out onto the street because the sidewalks and inside of the market was packed. Sometimes even due to lines for some of the popular shops. And sometimes it was me blocking your drive because screw that noise, I’m walking here!
This summer with the car ban it has been even more popular and crowded, with fewer shoulders and elbows getting in the way. IMHO, this project has already been successful. Great job, Seattleites! :)
Also new in the area is the rebuild of Alaskan Way. It’s much nicer than ever before, plus the aquarium got a new building.
Good job being the local!!
This place needs a few trees :)
One of the most vocal vendors opposed to the street being pedestrian-only runs one of the produce shops. So, maybe buy something else.
Which is ridiculous. Most rational people who have been to Pike Place know you shouldn’t drive there if it’s remotely busy. I remember, a few times, seeing a few tourists in cars get stuck in the crowds when I was there for work.
Why can’t you just go there to watch the guys toss fish between them (and drop it sometimes)? Imo it’s also a fun option…I guess you can buy that too if you feel like walking around with a fish.