Jill
Hi SA from post #2, if you’re still reading, or anyone else who likes to ride but is wary of downtown,
Actually, downtown is not that bad, and I encourage you to give it a try. In my experience commuting off and on for the past 5 years, downtown traffic is (for the most part) more predictable and tolerant/aware of cyclists than on, say, Fauntleroy or even Alaska between Fauntleroy and the Junction. Also, because it’s slower during rush hour, generally you’re not holding anyone up if you ride in the center of the lane. I wouldn’t say riding downtown is relaxing, but it’s also not what I would consider scary if you know the laws and ride smartly yourself. There are some great web sites that give tips for riding in traffic. Start with rideyourbike.com, and follow their links. Also take a look at the commuting boards on the Cascade site to get an idea of the best routes. Ok, sorry, this is turning into an ad for bike commuting! :)
One exception to what I think is pretty straightforward cycling downtown: the *bike lane* on 2nd. Always a recipe for disaster. To NewResident and others who assume that riding in the bike lane should always be safer by default, you might have to either take the word of those with experience, or get out and ride regularly in various areas to understand the situation. You’re right that it doesn’t make any sense on the surface, and I thought the same thing. Once I started riding, it didn’t take long for me to figure out that, as with most issues, there’s nothing B&W about it.