Bike To Work Day: “Commute station” under The Bridge

| Health | Transportation | West Seattle news

Aaron’s Bicycle Repair (in Morgan Junction) and BECU (all over) sponsored the West Seattle “commuter station” this morning as part of Bike To Work Day today – thanks to a different Aaron for sharing his photo. West Seattle bicycle commuters tell us a steady stream of riders went by as part of today’s event; stations like this were set up all over the city during the morning commute. Any other West Seattle bicycle commuters with BTW Day photos to share, editor@westseattleblog.com — we’ll add ’em! Thanks, and we wish you a safe ride home. ADDED 5:32 PM: Via Twitter, @greggscycles noted sightings of 150 bicycles while riding from West Seattle to Green Lake. 11:03 PM: Also from Twitter, King County Council Chair Dow Constantine (of WS) reported addressing a BTW crowd downtown. And West Seattle’s @bikehugger DL Byron has posted some of his BTW Day scenes. Final note: Bicyclist Kerry says that upon arrival at the WS commute station – the counter clicked to 599 – and #600 arrived shortly afterward!

marco May 15, 2009 (11:23 am)

I’m glad we have good weather for B2WD. After all, all of May is Bike month (Did they rename that from Bike to work month, because of the many layoffs?), but I have just been able to bike 5 out of 11 work days.
Yes, I’m a fair weather biker ;)

marco May 15, 2009 (11:26 am)

They were also handing out stickers from
http://mcginnformayor.com/ under the bridge – apparently “When he commutes to work, he often rides his bike” ;)

Patrick May 15, 2009 (11:39 am)

I didn’t even realize it was bike to work day today until I saw the tents.

AJP May 15, 2009 (11:42 am)

Bike to Work Day is so much fun! I look forward to it every year. Does anyone else bike from way down south in WS, Roxbury-ish? I think we should have another commute station in WS than just Aaron’s (love you guys, but more is better!). Cafe Rozella area?

Patrick May 15, 2009 (11:44 am)

I do, I start at Thistle and go down Delridge.

Brian May 15, 2009 (12:03 pm)

I’m a bike commuter, not as much as I should though since I’m also racing throughout the week and weekend.

Starting from 35th and Thistle I’ll either dump straight down 35th or if I need extra miles I swing down by the ferry and follow the water all the way around. through Seattle and up Dexter to Fremont, Stoneway to Greenlake then up Aurora to 125th.

For those of you who ride on Dexter, I tip my hat to you. I’ve ridden a lot of roads and Dexter scares the heck out of me, especially just past Home Depot. People fly up that hill and hug the curb. *shudder*

Hope you all rode safe and politely today. With great vulnerability should come great caution.

Brian

Scooper May 15, 2009 (12:53 pm)

Holy Rosary School is also participating in “bike to school” today. It was great seeing all the kids and parent enjoying themselves.

Aaron May 15, 2009 (1:27 pm)

There’s a Home Depot on Dexter? Surely you jest. I commute from Sunrise Heights, up near Station 37. The more tents, the better!

Brian May 15, 2009 (1:37 pm)

** correction **

Not Dexter… Delridge.

I have the dumb today and can’t brain.

Joan May 15, 2009 (2:25 pm)

Got up late but I biked too! And pedaled to the liquor store at lunch time. A bicycle with panniers is liking having a rolling shopping cart you can ride anywhere! Can I get a WOOO? :D

And Right ON, AJP. I have an EZ-UP and would LOVE to sponsor a station in White Center! I will have to talk with the Cafe Rozellians about their “parking lot”, it would perfect!

Wish I’d thought about it sooner, this year kind of sneaked up on me. ;>

Patrick May 15, 2009 (3:10 pm)

On my commute home I take 26th as far as possible, avoiding Delridge until the Home Depot when I have to get back onto Delridge to Thistle.

Joan May 15, 2009 (3:53 pm)

Patrick, are you riding from downtown? For a painless traverse of Delridge after crossing the low bridge, take the Pigeon Point cut off up to 21st(?) all the way to Sanislo, over to 16th. THEN west to cross Delridge at Thistle. Works great, it’s a LOT quieter along 21st, maybe because of the topes. Been doing this for, like, YEARS. :D

AJP May 15, 2009 (4:10 pm)

I usually do Joan’s route as well, just taking 16th all the way to Henderson then over to 12th. It’s much hillier to go that way, though, but the hills are short. Better than Highland Park Way, my other option! Also Joan, my guess is Cafe Rozella would totally be into it. You drop ’em a line and I will too. Cool!!

Brenda May 15, 2009 (9:41 pm)

Thanks to all of those who were out supporting Bike to Work Day, it was great to see so many commuter stations set up on my route from WS to Bellevue. And a special thanks to the Elliott Bay Water Taxi that made the last leg of the commute home so much more fun on a beautiful night!

Larry May 17, 2009 (6:06 pm)

I’m wondering how many more years the West Seattle BTWD commuter station will be offering alcoholic beverages to bike riders. It seems to be fundamentally unsafe to ride a bike under the influence, especially during morning rush hour, but maybe that’s just me. Besides, I would have guessed it was illegal, but I’m not well versed in the law, just in alcoholism.

Brian May 18, 2009 (6:59 am)

Larry had to go and ruin the moment…

ed May 18, 2009 (2:42 pm)

Just to clarify, the West Seattle BTWD commuter station does not offer alcoholic beverages to bike riders. Aaron’s Bicycle Repair is there independently and is not part of the Cascade Bicycle Club sponsored BTWD.

Larry May 20, 2009 (9:05 pm)

Washington State RCW 66.44.100 states, in part:

“Except as permitted by this title, no person shall open the package containing liquor or consume liquor in a public place.”

The BTWD sponsors may not have provided the liquor in a public place, but they certainly didn’t do anything to prevent its consumption in a location in which any reasonable person in attendance would assume that the liquor was being provided as part of a BTWD function.

Sorry, comment time is over.