There's a movement underway in urban environments across the nation and led by northwestern city examples it is gaining momentum. Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw has written about the idea of Neighborhood Greenways, alternative routes for biking and walking that offer safety for those who take them instead of heavily traveled roads.

Greenways facilitate travel between neighborhoods, and to schools, parks, shopping and other destinations. Often they are located on quiet streets parallel to busy arterials, and include traffic calming measures, protected crossings, pocket parks, and other elements that make the route safer and more pleasant for everybody.

The first meeting about Greenways in West Seattle is taking place Sunday, February 19, at Pearl's Coffee 4800 Delridge Way s.w. at 3 pm

The City of Seattle has committed to funding eleven miles of greenways in 2012, and twelve new miles per year thereafter. Because of the work of several local advocates, two West Seattle routes are under consideration for 2012: 21st ave SW between the West Seattle Bridge and White Center, and 26th Ave SW along the Longfellow Creek Trail through North Delridge. This is just a beginning: we hope to form a vision of bicycle and pedestrian connectivity through West Seattle as a whole, and prioritize greenway routes for future development.