While King County's proposed $20-a-year licensing fee has been a very, very public debate topic this election cycle, another, larger licensing fee has been brewing in the city of Seattle. The City Council is considering putting a city car tab fee on the ballot to support transit improvements through the Seattle Transportation Benefit District, and this one is much larger: anywhere from $60-$80. $40 was proposed, but apparently will not raise enough money and is off the table. An $60-80 fee would double, or more than double, what drivers currently pay yearly when you factor in the $20 Seattle drivers just started paying, but would go to fund much-needed transit improvements. But living in a state with one of the most regressive tax structures in the nation, a lot of concern has been raised as to whether a fee this high goes too far. This is a pretty complicated issue. Good thing there's a public meeting tomorrow! more ›

The Seattle Department of Transportation failed to properly oversee almost $200,000 in roadwork, the reports, all of which will now be replaced at the city's cost. In the midst of the ongoing budget crisis at City Hall, this does nothing to help Greg Nickels' re-election campaign, who some pollsters show losing in head-to-head races with virtually all his potential opponents. more ›

"Lines&Patterns diptych" by duna12 ( Kelly Johnson), from the Seattlest Flickr pool more ›

The Seattle Times says "between 4 and 9 a.m., the Washington State Patrol logged 52 accidents, including five with injuries, on major highways in King County." But you'll only read on Seattlest how dangerous the corner of Broadway East and East Aloha was. That's where our bike slid out from under us and we still somewhat sleepily glided along the road for a few feet. Ironically, we'd been checking for ice farther up the hill, but there we were in the sunshine and the frost had melted. A shady corner in the flats was our undoing. We've been biking around the Hill for almost three years now and that was our first spill. Sort of anticlimactic. more ›

We had just noted that the temperature was 27 degrees this evening, and the roads were shiny, when we saw two luxury cars kissing bumpers on Roy Street. It was just a little surprising to see that one was a Hummer, and all the 4WD in the world hadn't helped. Now that's slippery. more ›

• While lightning may not strike the same person twice, getting stuck on the Monorail just might. Just ask Ballard resident Robert Baker.
• The cold weather and icy roads may be a hassle for the rest of us, but if you're selling chains or snow tires, it's been a boon. So much so, according to White Center Now, it's nearly impossible to find chains at area stores.
• It seems that public transportation in Seattle has always had a problem with the hills when it snows. Just check out this photo of a derailed Seattle cable car from 1929.

Seattle environmental think tank Sightline recently reported that three out of five petroleum geologists surveyed think world oil production will peak within ten years. (More than ten percent think it's already happened.) more ›

We apologize, Greg. We got a little hot under the collar last week, after hitting one pothole too many, and we became...intemperate. The Pothole Rangers are not hiding out; they're working hard and filling potholes whenever you notify them. This weekend we were biking along, ready to dodge this one (pictured), when we were startled to see it had been filled, just three days after our post about it. Point for Mayor Nickels and the transportation crew. Our high-mileage 1970s 3-speed thanks you. more ›