Murray's office asks state to keep Ride the Ducks off Fremont Bridge

SEATTLE – Seattle Mayor Ed Murray’s office sent a letter to the state asking that Ride the Ducks not be allowed to resume operation until it resolves its unsatisfactory safety rating, and argued that company’s plan to use the Fremont Bridge rather than the Aurora Bridge would bring increased danger.

Five people died in September when a Ride the Ducks vehicle collided with a charter bus on the Aurora Bridge. A report released this week by the state’s Utilities and Transportation Committee found the company committed 442 infractions, leading it to propose the unsatisfactory safety rating.

During its review, the state said Ride the Ducks planned to move from the Aurora Bridge to the Fremont, and to add a second staff member to future tours. In its letter, the mayor’s office pointed out that there was no mechanism to enforce either of these changes.

The letter also said the Fremont Bridge would be a poor alternative, saying  It “would pose even greater safety risks to the public” because of higher bicycle and pedestrian traffic.