Newsletter June 2007
Try These Summer Cycling Events: Cyclefest, Bike Saturdays and Sundays, Velodrome Racing
Get out and commune with cyclists as spring turns into summer in Seattle. You can ride a portion of Lake Washington Boulevard that is closed to cars on select weekend days, watch some Tour de France racing on a big outdoor screen and see some great local racing at the Velodrome.
Seattle’s Parks and Recreation is again promoting Group Health Bicycle Saturdays and Sundays on selected days throughout the summer. On chosen days, Lake Washington Boulevard is closed to motorized traffic from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. between Mount Baker Beach and Seward Park. Upcoming dates are Sunday, June 17, Saturday, July 14 and Sunday, July 29.
Cyclefest is a Cascade Bicycle Club event centered around a viewing of one stage of the Tour de France. On Saturday, July 22, Magnuson Park will be filled with cyclists young and old having fun. During the day there will be a family bike treasure hunt, kids’ bike parade, bike polo and sprint races. Food booths and a beer garden complete the festival atmosphere. At dusk, Cyclefest Outdoor Cinema heats up with the Tour de France stage that runs through the winding, steep Pyrenees. It’s like the drive-in movie, but on a bike. What could be finer?
Want to see some racing live and first-hand? Check out the Group Health Velodrome in Marymoor Park in Redmond. There is a Friday Night Racing Series happening throughout the summer, and event on many weeknights as well. Sprinting and timed events are on Wednesday and Thursday nights, respectively. For more information, visit the Web site of the Marymoor Velodrome Association.
Favorite City Routes, Part 2: Central Seattle
This spring, while reading about the City of Seattle’s ambitious plans to create better bike routes through the city, I started thinking about the most useful roads available today. So last month I started at the north end of the city and outlined my favorite Seattle routes. This month the series continues, with routes through central Seattle, from the Lake Washington Ship Canal to Interstate 90. Read more...
We love repaving!
Ahh, the smoothness of a new road. When there’s just an inflated bike tire between you and the road, you learn to appreciate the simple joy of a street free of cracks and potholes. Crews have been laying tarmac around the city recently, with a few notable efforts for cyclists.
Besides the silky-smooth Chief Sealth Trail, an old favorite in south Seattle has gotten some restoration. A good portion of the Seward Park loop trail has been renovated.
Commuters from northwest Seattle have noticed the broad concrete approaches to the Fremont Bridge that have recently been completed. They include wider ramps for bikes to enter the shared-use edges of the bridge. (The Burke-Gilman Trail portion under the bridge is expected to open next month.) Continuing south from Fremont, commuters have endured some rocky rides while a section of Dexter Ave. N. has been repaved. It too was finished recently, to the relief of many riders using that major commuting corridor.
The shopping street N. 45th in Wallingford has been the recipient of new paving as well.
On May 7, the Seattle City Council approved an ordinance mandating a Complete Streets policy, so future road maintenance and improvement projects will consider the needs of cyclists and pedestrians as well as vehicle traffic. It’s a great step forward in making city streets safer and more usable for all residents.
Are your favorite routes being upgraded? Let us know and we’ll spread the word in future editions of Biking Puget Sound.
Recent writing
NW Source.com: Chief Sealth Trail
You don't need to leave Seattle to get a great view of Mount Rainier from an off-street bike trail. Look no further than the new Chief Sealth Trail atop Beacon Hill in south Seattle. Read more...
Get your C.C.s on
Are you a cancer survivor or supporter of friends or family members who’ve battled cancer? Join a great group of folks out riding each month. Organized as a Cascade Bicycle Club riding group, the C.C. Riders are focused on relatively flat, short rides that proceed at a moderate pace. Fresh air and the return to health are the goals, along with fun and camaraderie. All are welcome. I had a great time meeting this group last winter, and wrote an article for Cascade Courier about them.
Read the article and join their next ride, a 25-30 mile spin happening Saturday, July 14, from Woodinville to Green Lake. Visit the Cascade Bicycle Club’s web listing for more information.
Three upcoming events: REI Southcenter, R+E Cycles, Tilth tour in July
Spring events to celebrate the release of Biking Puget Sound are winding down, but there are a couple more chances to come out, see slides from the book, and say hello. I’ll be at REI Southcenter in Tukwila on Wednesday, June 13, at 7 p.m. and at R+E Cycles in the University District on Saturday, June 16, from 12 to 3 p.m.
Finally, how about coming for a ride with me? I’m hosting a brief tour of community gardens in July as part of Seattle Tilth’s “Third Thursday” series. It will be a round-trip ride from Tilth’s gardens in Wallingford, heading through Fremont, Ballard and Green Lake areas. A mellow pace, a couple of inclines, but nothing too serious. Bike helmets required, and bringing some portable food to share in a picnic at one of the gardens is encouraged. Contact me for more details.
