A Fremont Business, Ride The Ducks, Needs Our Support

On Sep 24, 2015, on the Aurora Bridge, a terrible, and fatal, accident occurred when a Ride The Ducks vehicle went out of control and crashed into a charter bus.

Friends of Ride The Ducks of Seattle has asked fans, friends and caring neighbors of the local tour company to write letters of support of the future of the business, following a devastatingly tragic accident on the Aurora Bridge.

On September 24^th, the failure of the axle on a Ride The Ducks vehicle caused it to swerve out of the driver’s control and crash into a charter bus. Terrible fatalities and injuries occurred, and Ride The Ducks instantly responded and followed recommendations to cease operations, temporarily.

At this time, city officials and the community at large need to understand the value of this tour company that has brought dozens of visitors to Fremont each day for 19 years. While not currently in operation, Ride The Ducks has been implementing rigorous safety measures and continuing their focus on passenger safety. They will not put another vehicle on the road, the owner has promised, until he knows it is safe.

During one of the many Fremont Chamber Ride The Duck rides, on Lake Union, taken thanks to the generosity of the local business. Photo by K. Lindsay Laney, Aug '09 — During one of the many Fremont Chamber Ride The Duck rides, on Lake Union, taken thanks to the generosity of the local business. Photo by K. Lindsay Laney, Aug ’09

State and Federal investigators currently are performing stem-to-stern inspections of Duck vehicles. In full advance of their recommendations, Ride The Ducks has already announced it will no longer include the Aurora Bridge on its route and will add a second staff member on every tour to address any passenger concerns or safety needs.

Please consider sending a note of support of Ride The Ducks, and the continued viability of this important tour business in Fremont and the 130 well-paying maritime jobs it creates. Send these letters to Governor Jay Inslee care of Charles Knutson, Senior Policy Advisor On Transportation & Land Use, at Charles.knutson@gov.wa.gov as well as the State Utilities & Transportation Commission at comments@utc.wa.gov Or, mail your letter of support to the Utilities & Transportation Commission, P.O. Box 47250, Olympia, WA 98504-7250.

Please also send copies of any words of support to ridetheducksseattle@gmail.com, or Ride The Ducks Seattle, c/o Firmani + Associates, 306 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109

Consider voicing your support for this local company, struggling to recover after a very tragic accident.