Controversy over new bus lanes on 15th

If you drive along 15th and Elliott Ave. between Denny Way and the Ballard Bridge, you’ve probably seen the new bus lanes. In today’s “Getting There” in the Seattle PI, a reader asks: “This last week has been an unbelievable odyssey trying to get home,” Skip Borland said. “It may assist buses, but I think they penalized (other) drivers in an amazing way.” His question is about right turn only signs. Do these apply during peak hours or all the time? “If the signs apply outside of commute hours as well, it has essentially taken away that lane for travel — or it requires drivers to jump between that lane and the No. 2 lane when approaching a turn, to stay legal.” The Seattle DOT responded by saying right turn only rule applies during peak hours only. The bus lanes are being constructed to make buses more reliable, even though it may be an inconvenience to drivers. “Recognizing that we can’t build our way out of the city’s traffic issues, we need to provide transportation options that look beyond the single-occupant automobile,” Rick Sheridan said. The lanes are in preparation for the new Rapid Ride bus service that starts in 2012.