Bicycling and Running
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Bikes are a favorite way to get around Seattle, even on rainy winter days. For an easy and level ride, walk, run, or skate, join the throngs at Green Lake, where a 2.8-mile paved path circles the duck-filled lake. On sunny spring weekends you're likely to meet hundreds if not thousands of other folks out for fun in the sun.
One of Seattle’s most popular bike/running paths is an old railroad route, the Burke-Gilman Trail. This 14-mile-long paved path begins in Fremont at 8th Avenue NW, cuts through Gasworks Park on the north shore of Lake Union, and follows along Lake Washington all the way to the north end in Kenmore. From here, the 10-mile-long Sammamish River Trail continues to Marymoor Park in Redmond for a total of 24 miles of bike riding, in-line skating, running, or walking pleasure.
Another favorite ride is the six-mile Alki Trail, which follows the shore of Puget Sound at Alki Point. It begins at the intersection of Harbor Avenue SW and S.W. Florida Street and curves around the north tip and then west to Alki Point Lighthouse.
Lake Washington Boulevard through the Arboretum and south along Lake Washington to Madrona Park makes for a scenic bike ride, but traffic can get heavy. Other popular cycling places include Bainbridge Island, Mercer Island, Seward Park (in south Lake Washington), and Elliott Bay Trail (just northwest of downtown off Alaskan Way).
Bike Rentals
Tougher insurance regulations have really put a dent in the number of city shops that offer bike rentals these days. Your best bet is one of two shops in the U District. Budget riders should check out Recycled Cycles (1007 N.E. Boat St., 206/547-4491, $40 per day), which rents decent road bikes, mountain bikes, comfort bikes, and trailers.
Bike snobs might be happier at Montlake Bicycle Shop (2223 24th Ave. E., 206/329-7333, $35–125 per day), which offers a fuller range of rentals, including some of the top mountain and road bikes around.
Gregg’s Greenlake Cycle (7007 Woodlawn Ave. NE, 206/523-1822, www.greggscycles.com) no longer rents bikes, but it is still a good spot to pick up tubes and other repair supplies.
Maps
Get an excellent free map detailing the various cycling routes around Seattle from the city’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Program (600 4th Ave., 206/684-7570); it’s also available in Seattle visitors centers. Also free and useful is the King County Bicycle Guidemap, which covers the areas surrounding Seattle. It is available from the county RoadShare Program (206/263-4741, www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot).
Cycling Clubs
Three regional cycling organizations lead rides and are involved in cycling issues:
- Cascade Bicycle Club
- 206/522-2453
- www.cascade.org
- Seattle Bicycle Club
- www.seattlebike.org
- Bicycle Alliance of Washington
- 206/224-9252
- www.bicyclealliance.org
© Ericka Chickowski from Moon Washington, 8th edition
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