Seattle, for a hill-ridden, bustling metropolis is a relatively easy place to bike around in. There is a vast network of paved trails, large bike lanes and low-traffic routes that facilitate travel throughout the city.
Arboretum
Roads through the Arboretum are generally low-traffic and have bike lanes that make the area popular for cyclists seeking a picturesque escape into the lush landscape. To the south, cyclists can travel along the shore of Lake Washington down to the I-90 trail. Heading north, the roads connect to the bike-friendly University Bridge and the Burke-Gilman Trail.
The Burke-Gilman
The Burke-Gilman Trail is a multi-use, paved route that begins in Ballard and runs to Bothell. There, it connects with the Sammamish River Trail and eventually ends in Redmond. All told, the trail is 30 miles of combustion-free asphalt that swings conveniently by Gasworks Park, the University of Washington, University Village, and the Northwest Corner of Lake Washington. Because it was built on an old railroad grade, it’s straight, level and crosses few intersections.
Dexter Ave. Bikeway
Dexter Ave. is a key bike route that connects the Burke-Gilman with downtown. It begins on Fremont Ave. and heads south across the Fremont Bridge. From there, if morphs briefly into 4th Ave. before continuing downtown as Dexter Ave. The lanes end just past Denny Way.
I-90 and Mercer Island
The I-90 Trail is a direct route from downtown to Mercer Island running parallel to the freeway. Upon reaching the island, cyclists can continue to Bellevue or travel along the popular loop that makes a scenic circumnavigation of Mercer Island.
Interurban Trail
The Interurban Trail is a 14-mile, paved stretch that begins at Fort Dent Park in Tukwila and runs south to Algona and Pacific. Along the way it passes by Southcenter, Renton Junction, downtown Kent and Emerald Downs in Auburn. It intersects twice with the Green River Trail, allowing for the possibility of a leisurely loop.
Lake Washington Blvd.
Lake Washington Blvd. is a non-arterial connection between Coleman Park and the Arboretum. It also provides access to the I-90 trail along the way. It’s an excellent route for those close to the lake looking for a north to south, bicycle thoroughfare.
Terminal Trail or Elliot Bay Trail
This trail runs from Magnolia along Elliot Bay and the downtown waterfront. It’s a paved route that spans about six miles. There’s parking in several spots along the way, including at Myrtle Edwards Park. Yielding picturesque views of the sound and skyline, the trail is worth exploring.
West Seattle Trail
This is the shared-use route that will take you from SoDo to West Seattle. The trail begins at Hwy 99 and runs along Spokane St. on its way to Alki across the West Seattle Bridge. Really, it’s your only option to or from West Seattle and Alki.
Commuting Links
Luckily for prospective bicycle commuters, touring cyclists and trail-seekers, the state, city and county all have excellent online resources to get you started or help plan your next route. It speaks volumes about the bike-friendly nature of Seattle.
http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/bikeresources.htm
This is the city of Seattle’s extensive bicycle resources site. It’s complete with maps, useful tips, safety guidelines, and information about the city’s Master Improvement Plan.
http://www.metrokc.gov/kcdot/roads/bike/index.cfm
This link takes you to King County’s bicycle page. Perhaps the most useful aspect of this site is the comprehensive guide map to the entire county, broken down into 21 separate sections.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/bike/
This is another useful site from the Washington State Department of Transportation. There’s a wealth of information about commuting, safe routes for children to take to school and trip planning resources. Here, you can order a free copy of the official Washington State Bicycling Map.
