Seattle Times Editorial: http://blogs.seattletimes.com/northwestvoices/2014/06/16/westlake-cycle-track-praise-for-the-mayors-inclusive-approach/
Peter Schrappen Letter to the Editor: http://blogs.seattletimes.com/northwestvoices/2014/06/16/westlake-cycle-track-praise-for-the-mayors-inclusive-approach/
A whole slew of articles from the Times on Westlake Cycle Track: http://seattletimes.com/flatpages/services/search/searchresults.html?q=westlake+cycle&x=21&y=18
King 5: Proposed cycle track gets neighborhood pushback: http://www.king5.com/news/cities/seattle/Westlake-neighborhood-cycle-track-proposal-258100581.html
Business owners put brakes on Seattle’s bike master plan:
http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/business-owners-put-brakes-seattles-bike-master-pl/ncqCr/
May 20 Three Sheets article:
http://threesheetsnw.com/blog/2014/05/lake-union-bike-track-would-drive-out-boaters-businesses-group-says/
February 2014 NW Yachting colum: Chicken Wings, Glogg and You: http://www.nwyachting.com/2014/02/chicken-wings-glogg-and-you/
9/8/13 Email to LeAnne sending information about parking spaces on Westlake Ave. N.
8/27/13 Email from LeAnne Nelson of SDOT regarding status of Cycle Track Project
8/26/13 Email from LeAnne Nelson of SDOT regarding status of Cycle Track Project
Westlake Stakeholders Group 
As a business owner on Westlake Ave since 1988, and as a founder of a bicycle club in 1985, I have strong opinions about the proposed Cycle Track. I do not support the Cycle Track idea as a solution to the problem of bike safety on Westlake Ave. The only solution to rider safety will be implementing and inforcing cycling laws and rules. Education on riding safety, and tickets for those riders who choose not to follow the rules is the only way to safety for all. A bike rider must ride in a way that is predictable to the driver, if not the driver has no way to know how to avoid the cyclist. They have no way to know if the cyclist plans to run the red light, jump the curb to ride on the sidewalk and cross the street like a pedestrain, or plans to ride between the cars. Our club was proud to have riders follow the rules of the road, and riders who did not were kicked off the club!
This Cycle Track is the response to the riders choosing to not use the path that is already on Westlake, that was built as a BIKE PATH! They ride on the street, some on the path, and some up the parking lot! A driver has no way of knowing where to look! Adding another place for the bikes will mean just another place to try to look for them, unless rules are put into place. This Cycle Track will greatly impact the WATER DEPENDANT businesses along Westlake AGAIN! Causing many to just leave Seattle.
STOP THE CYCLE TRACK IDEA!
SUPPORT RULES OF THE ROAD FOR CYCLISTS!
First, why, if the Westlake corridor was being considered for a bike corridor since 2007, did the city choose to butcher Dexter Avenue into the sad, waste of a corridor it is now? It is now a street to be avoided by car traffic and a hazard to pedestrians and bikes, owing to a maze of chicanes and blind routes.
Second, how is it that the elimination of automobiles (a stated goal of the city) is featured in the whole process we are discussing, when a viable alternative to individual transportation has yet to be devised for our uniquely weather challenged environs? If cars are wasteful and extravagant, what about cars sitting idling in endless lines of congestion caused by reduced lane availability?
As an upper middle aged person, I feel discriminated against by this system and as a business owner, completely unrepresented by my city leaders.
The proposal to add ANOTHER bike path to Westlake is ludicrous and borne of the complete lack of safety and disregard for existing rules of the road by the bikers who use Westlake now. Placing a track to shoulder up to the street itself will further exacerbate what is now a truly adrenaline filled experience – namely turning off a busy street into a crowded parking lot and doing your best not to hit an oncoming bike, who is feeling fully empowered to disregard their own self preservation instincts based on the encouragement of their mayor and the knowledge they will NEVER be found in the wrong for blowing through the intersection of paths.
As biker myself, and one who uses the road as bikers should, I am embarrassed by the behaviors I see by many Seattle bikers today. The rules for me have always been to ride in control, mimicking the behaviors of cars, holding the right side of the road and not pretending I can maintain automotive pace. The failure of the city to control bikes on our roads is dangerous and will inevitably cost our city millions in personal injury claims, brought about by the sense of empowerment being encouraged by our elected officials.
The land/water boundary of Westlake has been the home of our marine dependent business for more than thirty five years. Encroachment of non-water dependent businesses has been a worry, but this proposal completely erases any facade of preserving the original intent of land use and marching forward to grease the skids for future non marine development. A sad and short sighted approach.
The current parking lot is largely filled with park and ride users, owing to the free, all day slots along Westlake. As a business owner and business taxpayer, I am not allowed to buy a long term parking pass,here, while live aboard users and owners of condos on the west side of the street are. City officials have verified that the current paid parking slots were never intended to raise significant revenue by parking fees, only through fines for non-payment. Seems draconian to me.
Seattle, as a city, must compete in a global economy. To do so, we must be efficient and fast. We should know this, after losing Boeing to another city. The push to bikes is a silly business choice, slowing the development and effectiveness of the city to compete, and driving potential development away.
Finally, have a look at Westlake when it rains (it does rain here a bit). It is remarkable how free of bikes it is. The blistering pace of one bike rider per year that we estimate comes to our business falls to zero during the rainy winter season, the peak time for our business.