Samish neighborhood residents frustrated Samish Way's dangerous feel, and hoping for some improvements soon.

Is Samish Way A Dangerous Way?

Anyone who has walked or driven down Samish Way has taken note of the large number of Motels and Inn's that line the road. Samish Way is one of the main roads taken by people living around this area, and for some it has been causing problems and unwanted detours.

Residents avoiding Samish Way

Why? According to resident Kelci Marx, “I just don't feel comfortable walking down Samish Way anymore after the past few times of being harassed by homeless drunk people.” This seems to be a common thought of people living in or around the Samish Neighborhood. Most of the residents believe a large reason for this is all of the inexpensive motels lining the road are drawing in lower income and sometimes homeless people who are staying there and are out roaming the streets at night. With the combinations of these motels and all of the fast food restaurants, this is no doubt an ideal spot for poor or even homeless people of Bellingham.

Large number of motels could be source of problem.

Emily Goronkin, a 20 year old Bellingham resident, lives near pizza pipeline explained that she was walking home last Tuesday night and was followed by two drunk men who were sitting outside of the Aloha Motel, she ended up calling for a ride home because they wouldn't leave her alone. She also says, “This definitely wasn't the first time this has happened, I usually just don't walk on the road at night.”

Although the Samish area has a large number of Students from Western, it also has a vast amount of family housing. Jennifer Leen, an expecting mother and resident in the Samish Neighborhood, is planning to move out of the Samish Neighborhood area and to somewhere she feels comfortable raising a child. “Don't get me wrong, I love it here, but it wouldn't be my ideal place to raise children,” She explained.

Samish residents hoping for change, and soon.

She also expressed that considering Samish Way is one of the first things you see when you are traveling to Western Washington University, she thinks it should be a better reflection of the true spirit of Bellingham, not a bunch of fast food restaurants and run down motels. “We shouldn't be having to worry about being scared to walk to the grocery store.” Leen exclaims.

There is no doubt that these Bellingham residents love living in Bellingham, but the look and feel of Samish way seems to be a common worry for these Samish Neighborhood residents. Marx adds, “I would love to see some improvement and make Samish Way a safer place, and even see more police on these streets keeping it safe for us residents.”