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July 19, 2013 at 6:53 pm #608297
BostonmanMemberI bought a bike last week and next week I will start biking to my office by Pikes market. I haven’t ridden a bike in 24 years, other than this week.
Any advice from the many bike riders of the forum? Is there a preferred route to get to the waterfront? Best time to leave in the morning? It’s a 6.4 mile trip from my house and I hope to do it in about 30 to 40 minutes in the beginning.
Thank you
July 19, 2013 at 8:01 pm #794075
KimberleyParticipantAl has some excellent posts on the forum regarding biking to work and the WS biking community has been super helpful to me. It depends where you’re trip originates really. I’ll often futz with google maps when planning out trips and also use the Cascade Bicycle Club website for information.
Directions from West Seattle to Pike Place Market
The trail (runs along the lightrail) is sometimes preferable to surface streets.
July 19, 2013 at 8:18 pm #794076
AndyParticipantBostonman,
I’m sure you’ll get plenty of good advice here. I bike to the stadium area almost daily, and it’s a breeze. How you get out of West Seattle depends on where you live, of course, so I won’t try to give any route guidance.
Just stay alert and stop for red lights. A TON of cyclists blow right past me all the time while I’m stopped at the lights – please don’t be one of them.
You’ll get the hang of the bike lanes and how to get along with traffic after a few rides. Be patient and careful.
July 19, 2013 at 8:23 pm #794077
AndyParticipantAnd as far as what time, I don’t think it matters much. I have 2 departure times, depending on what’s going on: 6:45-ish or 7:45-ish, and I find that I get to work in the same amount of time no matter when I leave. It’s one of the real benefits.
July 19, 2013 at 9:40 pm #794078
BostonmanMemberThanks, I will take a look at the bike club. I am coming from the Alaska Junction area so I will be going down Alaska, Avalon and across the lower bridge.
July 19, 2013 at 11:28 pm #794079
trickycooljParticipantConsider trying your route on a Sunday morning while the roads are quiet so you can acquaint yourself with any tricky maneuvers without traffic as an added frustration.
Also good for you to get back on a bike! I rode the STP last weekend but I’m still too scared to ride to work which would include negotiating Highland Park Way downhill to the 1st Ave bridge.
July 19, 2013 at 11:51 pm #794080
WFMemberyou can ride east marginal way; or get lazy ant take the water taxi
July 20, 2013 at 2:29 am #794081
datamuseParticipanttrickycoolj, Highland Park Way is one of the few occasions where I’ll ride on the sidewalk, because people just drive too fast on that stretch. Just be careful as you hit the curve as the pavement starts to get really bumpy, and watch for people coming up. Then cross at the crosswalks and pick up the path to the bridge on the northeast corner at Highland Park Way/West Marginal.
July 20, 2013 at 3:06 am #794082
wundrgrrrlParticipantYes, the water taxi is a nice option once in a while! I often ride-n-float in the a.m. to avoid the truck traffic of Alaskan Way. Plus I get less sweaty making it an easier transition at work. In the p.m. I’ll always ride the full route home since the trucks are mostly gone by then…
July 20, 2013 at 4:34 pm #794083
kmitchamParticipantI second the recommendation for the Water Taxi for the in-bound commute, and keeping it as an option for the return. If you are headed North of Pier 50, I think the Taxi is easier and much more scenic, since Harbor Ave is prettier and safer than Alaskan Way.
Scouting out the route one a weekend is also good advice. I used to commute from Alaska to Sodo, and just did the route you proposed. Now that I work downtown, I take the taxi, and think it is much nicer. I will ride the whole way when I miss the boat or feel energetic.
July 21, 2013 at 7:33 pm #794084
AlParticipantGood for you Bostonman, you’ll get to/from work quickly once you get the hang of it.
I ride from WS to South Lake Union and the route I’ll recommend to you to get to Pike Market is the one I ride all the time.
Note you can follow West Seattle Bike Connections at this link and find us on Facebook too! http://westseattlebikeconnections.org/
The route to the low bridge depends on where in WS you are coming from. From the Alaska area it’s pretty easy. I’d second the suggestion to ride it on a weekend to get a feel for the street first.
From Alaska, cross Fauntleroy and use the bus/bike lane to 36th. Take a left on 36th (be careful to check that there’s no vehicles coming well before you make a left out of the bus/bike lane) to Avalon. Take Avalon down the hill – be sure to take the lane once the bike lane ends because drivers will try to squeeze by you instead of giving you room if you don’t (and that’s dangerous). Take a right down Yancy and a left at the stop behind the gym. Follow Andover to Delridge. Early in the morning you shouldn’t have many problems, but be sure to use that bike box! If you can’t use the bike box because a driver has incorrectly stopped in it, be careful when making your left turn onto Delridge – watch that drivers are not going straight while you are turning left (what the bike box is meant to prevent).
You could either use the sidewalk here or the street to the lower bridge, whichever you are comfortable with.
After you cross the low bridge, follow the path to the RIGHT – I advise against using that intersection at the east side of the bridge. Trucks/drivers run that light all the time (and so do bicyclists) and it’s difficult to make it over to the left. The path circles under the bridge and you’ll follow it as it makes its way back eastbound. Be careful crossing in the crosswalk/bike crossings at the port entries. Pretend NO car will stop for you until they do. Because they won’t.
Follow path to E. Marginal. You can use the crosswalk at E. Marginal/Spokane, but note the drivers will NOT yield to you at the first crossing even though they have the yield sign. Most cyclists you’ll see follow the sidewalk northbound along the west side of E. Marginal. Even after years of cycling this is what I do as well, to avoid crossing E. Marginal at a very busy location. You’ll see lots of cyclists following the sidewalk through the intersection at Hanford and then crossing to the northbound bike lane. I do this as well, crossing at the old port entry past the yellow hydrant where there’s lots of space and good visibility.
Then follow path north to Atlantic (watch for vehicles behind you as you approach Atlantic where the bike lane crosses the right turn only lane. The light at Atlantic will turn for you – however it’s a long light. And it’s triggered by a camera sensor so when I pull up to it I sort of weave a little before I stop so the camera picks me up. It’s working so far. (A train will mess everything up and the light won’t change for you then)
Follow path on other side of Atlantic to wherever it exits below the viaduct (it changes often). You can either ride in the street (less stress in early mornings) or take the path along the east side of the street. If you take the path, watch out for pedestrians, parked cars, crossing vehicles, curbs and other misc. things and ride slow).
You’ll eventually get to (Madison?) a point where you’ll have to get on the street to continue northbound because the bike/ped lane ends. Just watch out for errant drivers and stop for the lights. Take a right onto Union and a left onto Western (watch out for drivers running the stop sign here, I see it all the time). Up Western and you are there.
Riding home reverse it, but I do recommend riding the street under the viaduct southbound. Traffic is often at almost a standstill and you’ll be able to pass on the shoulder. You’ll see plenty of other cyclists to follow – just use care and common sense.
I usually leave WS about 6:30 am so if you want a ride-partner let me know!
It’s fun and you’ll love it.
July 22, 2013 at 3:52 pm #794085
BostonmanMemberThanks Al, I took your advice exactly. I even made the ride in over the weekend and made it back to Luna Park before I just had to stop.
The ride in wasn’t bad leaving at 7am. Even Alaskan Way wasn’t to bad. Basically I just tried to be really careful and didn’t worry about going fast.
I do appreciate the offer to have a ride partner. Right now my 235 pound fat ass would just slow you down since I usually have to stop for a second going up Erskine and up Western Ave from University. Eventually I will be able to make it all the way without stopping but I don’t want to kill my legs since I want to do it every day.
Maybe once I can make it without stopping I will take you up on your offer.
Thanks for taking the time to answer. I was actually looking at the STP and thinking 2015.
July 22, 2013 at 4:21 pm #794086
AlParticipantGood job! And it was a nice morning – a little cool, not too warm. No wind, no rain! I don’t mind riding slow BTW, I’ve ridden with lots of newbies and it’s ok. If you want someone to ride with just let me know.
I’m located near Luna Park, so Erskine isn’t a climb for me ;-)
Have fun. I think you’ll find yourself getting stronger much faster than you think after a couple weeks. Just remember to take it easy and you don’t have to do it every single day when you are starting out. WS has some tough hills and those you have to get used to. Which you will.
July 22, 2013 at 4:41 pm #794087
BostonmanMemberPerhaps I will take you up on your offer soon. Especially as rain starts coming and it gets cooler I could use advice on clothing and staying dry.
July 22, 2013 at 4:44 pm #794088
Jeff HParticipantAwesome that you are actively seeking a way to eliminate the traffic congestion problem everyone complains about!
I made a video of my entire commute (from November 2012) which was from Alaska Junction, through the downtown waterfront, and continuing north to the Interbay area:
http://jnsadventures.com/2012/11/jeffs-bike-commute-to-work/
Here’s the direct link to the video:
Let us know if you need help figuring out routes to get to other places. We’ve got maps too. Lots of people who are very willing to help…don’t hesitate to ask.
July 22, 2013 at 5:16 pm #794089
SueParticipantBostonman, when my husband started cycling a few years ago, he was about 100 lbs. heavier than you. I know some of those hills (like Avalon) were killers for him and he walked up many of them. But he kept going, commuting to work, increasing his endurance, and he just finished his first STP last week. So you absolutely can do this! I know he was talking about putting together a cycling group of larger people since his pace is slower than most other groups (at least uphill – downhill his weight is an advantage). If you’d be interested in talking to him about that and his experiences, let me know.
July 22, 2013 at 5:26 pm #794090
trickycooljParticipantSTP is a fabulous goal! Great job getting to work this morning! I agree the hills are super intimidating around West Seattle for a first timer but I wish I would have tried them before tackling the STP. I made it on endurance, tailwind, and gu packets. One thing to keep in mind for STP is in addition to weekday commuting miles eventually work in long rides on the weekend the 6 months leading up to your goal STP. You’ll want lots of sustained saddle time, that coupled with the hill training on the daily commute rides and it’ll be a piece of cake, I bet you could do 2014!
July 22, 2013 at 8:09 pm #794091
BostonmanMemberThanks everyone. I would be interested in a cycling group for weekends just to see new areas and get some longer distances in.
Once school starts I will be biking only half the week because I need to take my son to school across the bridge a few days a week. But I am so sick of sitting in traffic I am just relieved to not have to look out my office window at 99 and see how backed up it is before I leave.
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