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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Bothell area, WA
    Posts
    564

    Specific Commuting Route

    Hi northwest ladies! I have finally moved to the Seattle area from Massachusetts. For the next 10 months or so I will need to commute from the Juanita area to near the King Street Station in Seattle. I would really appreciate any suggested routes. I will be trying two today: One (19 miles) south through Bellevue across I-90 and then another (20 miles) back north through Seattle across the Montlake Bridge to the Burke-Gilman Trail. Any tips on roads to ride or avoid?

    Thanks in advance for your help!
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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Folsom CA
    Posts
    5,667
    Oh my gosh, I didn't even notice your new locale on your Plus3 routes (goes and takes a peek). Yep, there you are. Welcome to the West Coast!

    2009 Lynskey R230 Houseblend - Brooks Team Pro
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  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Bothell area, WA
    Posts
    564
    Thanks! I'd forgotten what more than about 3 days of rain felt like, but it's all coming back to me now. Time to break out the rain pants!
    Almost a Bike Blog:
    http://kf.rainydaycommunications.net/

    Never give up. Never surrender.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Beautiful NW or Left Coast
    Posts
    5,619
    the Burke Gilman trail will get you all the way to Gasworks park. from there you will be on roads, several will work. I'm sure Eden will have more info for you.
    or if you want to go for the pretty route, you can ride to Ballard and then follow the trails on the waterfront - this will take you to south of downtown.
    I like Bikes - Mimi
    Watercolor Blog

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  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Beautiful NW or Left Coast
    Posts
    5,619
    it's actually wetter than normal here, with above average rain for the month and year. the storms of the last week were unusual too.
    I like Bikes - Mimi
    Watercolor Blog

    Davidson Custom Bike - Cavaletta
    Dahon 2009 Sport - Luna
    Old Raleigh Mixte - Mitzi

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    WA State
    Posts
    4,364
    Hmmmm a couple things I can think of...

    I think the Bellevue - I-90 route may be a bit more hill and traffic friendly than the west side. The I-90 route also eliminates the need to get through downtown, which while not impossible or dangerous can be really slow...
    The Burke starts to wear on most people who use it often because its bumpy, has a lot of cross streets and can be crowded in nicer weather. Of course you can avoid most of the BG and cut some of the milage by going through Lake City (it does mean climbing a big hill though) The basic route is Lake City way to 35th to Ravenna which turns into 25th, but if it interests you I can be much more specific.

    If you are up on the hill off Juanita Drive then there's no avoiding it, but if you are just in the area, then Waynita is an easier climb.

    It won't work for the Xtracycle, but with a regular length bike you can take a bus across 520 if you are in a hurry. It can be a challenge to get a spot at rush hour though as most of the buses have 2, 3 at most rack spots. Metro is giving free lifts on deadhead buses from only the last stop before to the first stop after the bridge. I think they may even be allowing bikes on the bus to fit more riders too, but as far as I know there isn't exactly a regular schedule so it can be a bit dicey to wait there.
    "Sharing the road means getting along, not getting ahead" - 1994 Washington State Driver's Guide

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  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    somewhere between the Red & Rio Grande
    Posts
    5,297
    Quote Originally Posted by Biciclista View Post
    it's actually wetter than normal here, with above average rain for the month and year. the storms of the last week were unusual too.
    We brought that from Texas when we visited the first weekend of the month! We got hailed on while out walking about on 11/5. We thought it was hysterical because everyone kept telling us they don't have thunderstorms but there were several during our visit. We didn't mind, we visited your fancy REI and got rain coats.
    Amanda

    2011 Specialized Epic Comp 29er | Specialized Phenom | "Marie Laveau"
    2007 Cannondale Synapse Carbon Road | Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow | "Miranda"


    You don't have to be great to get started, but you do have to get started to be great. -Lee J. Colan

 

 

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