It's tough at times to not succumb to cynicism when issues of bicycling and the way in which governmental agencies respond to them are considered. No sooner do I take hope from advances like Seattle's Bicycle Master Plan than I ride around and find that not much has changed, at least not where I ride.

There are the sharrow markings on the ruined roadway that is Beach Drive Southwest. Painting over potholes isn't much of an advancement in my view. Then there are the temporary sharrow markings on Admiral Way that were painted after the street was resurfaced. They're growing faint, visible only to bicyclists. When the biker reaches the bottom of Admiral Way at Spokane, where does one go? Coming up Admiral from Spokane there are no sharrow markings along the East side of Admiral, the current used car lot. Assuming that one can safely get onto Admiral, the biker must compete with cars that for the most part travel at well over the 30 mph limit. How about a bike climbing lane like that on Stone Way? If we West Seattle bikers are to be truly seen as legitimate commuters, we must be offered safe ways of getting to and from West Seattle.

You may also notice that there are no marked bike routes from the area of downtown to West Seattle with the exception of the trail across Harbor Island that winds its way to Alki. While this is a good trail, it doesn't adequately serve a huge part of West Seattle or those who commute through West Seattle. I know bikers who travel from the southern reaches of West Seattle and the area of Fauntleroy. Where are the bike lanes that take bikers to and along Delridge, 35th Ave., Fauntleroy?

I challenge the car driver to navigate a street that suddenly ends with no option accept to drive through a swamp. That's about what it's like when confronted by the end of the bike path along West Marginal and forced onto a speedway that is filled with trucks. Believe it or not, there are those of us who bike up California from Harbor Ave. to get to our homes at the top. There are no sharrows here despite the road being fairly narrow. There are no sharrows on the West slope of Admiral Way, a route taken by many bikers and a route that cars tend to travel at well over the 30 mph limit. But, hey, there are those sharrow markings that try their best to cover potholes along Beach Dr.

We bikers suffer from stepchild syndrome, at least I do. I feel ignored a lot and certainly dismissed by those who seem to believe that we don't have the right to make demands and should be satisfied with the bones that we're thrown. Case in point is Richard Truax who teaches at Garfield High School, bikes to work, and is the YMCA Earth Service Corps advisor. He asked that secure, covered bicycle parking be included in the redesign and construction of Garfield. The contractor, apparently with the approval of the school board, put in racks for twelve bikes and placed them in an insecure area with no cover. This for a student body of 1,600 and 120 staff. Sad.

Then there's the issue of Stone Way. It seems that the city was influenced by a study conducted by a less than objective person that over estimated the amount of traffic at Stone Way and 35th Street. This business owner wished to influence the city to ignore the Bicycle Master Plan. She failed. The city delayed putting in a bike lane while this study was being done. The delay cost the city (you and me) money and the biking community access to a promised bike lane. Erica Barnett, columnist for The Stranger, wrote in the March 20 edition about this and a desired road diet plan for Fauntleroy Way. No, Fauntleroy isn't overweight. Road diets put in place one lane in each direction with a turn lane in the center. This would allow room on each side of the Fauntleroy for a bike lane, thus making the commute for bikers safer and faster. I can't imagine that drivers want a slower and less safe commute. Neither do bikers.

You may well ask whether I'm less than objective. You would be right if you guessed that I'm not. I know that I'm on the right side of the issue of bicycles as serious means of commuting as well as a just plain enjoyable way of getting around.

Stand by for my next column where I challenge almost everything I've just said.

While you wait for the day when we are truly taken seriously, ride safe.

Dave Kannas may be reached via wseditor@robinsonnews.com