Comments on: Preferred route: Don’t bike it?

By: C Davida Ingram

C Davida Ingram — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 18:27:02 +0000

If you want a perk to your bike commute listen to the DETOUR: Cascade to South Lake Union cell phone tour: 206 686 8566. More details here: http://detour-watchthis.tumblr.com/.

This is also a project affiliated with the Seattle Design Festival (September 20 -23) which will be mostly located in South Lake Union. Visit seattledesignfestival.org for more details.

By: Burke-Gilman Trail through Lake Forest Park opening at noon on Friday « Cascade Bicycle Club Blog

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:51 +0000

[...] yes, we wrangled over the detour, which was less than satisfactory, leaving many of riders without a safe option. Happily, [...]

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:24:55 +0000

As a newb rider, I just came across these comments. Thanks, everyone. I just Googled some of the suggested routes and they look pretty sane. The County’s official alternate route just bites and I won’t be doing it again. And maybe I’ll raise a glass to all the lake dwellers at Riviera Place and thank them (belatedly) for their fine road.

By: Doug Hansen

Doug Hansen — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 01:46:09 +0000

Old string I know but I thought I would update with my experience so far. Obviously YMMV.

I live near this route and off and on ride the lane up Bothell from Ballinger to 153rd.

Sometimes I just use the bus to get to the top of the hill and take the straight drop down 153rd > 37th > 150th > 39th > 40th to Riviera to the Burke. About a 90 second descent at a slow safe speed.

Anyway bus drivers when I ride their bus have been telling me it is no big deal to for them go around the cyclists they encounter in the lane. And cyclists I have spoken to say they feel safe riding it.

IMHO, If you don’t, I suggest using the bus rack for two stops and taking the drop route to the Burke described above.

It is about a six minute ascent up the hill @10mph from Ballinger to 153rd for me so during rush hour you will be encountered by 2-4 buses. Another caution… Riviera is flat but very rough. Probably more dangerous than the drop … or the bus lane. Again, YMMV!!

By: John J

John J — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:56:32 +0000

“Critical Mass”.

I know it’s fun, but honestly folks, all Critical Mass activities do is turn people against cyclists. do you really think that delaying people, making them late for an appointment, or any of that makes our cause more accepted?

By: Lisa Seeb

Lisa Seeb — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:35:25 +0000

We live close to the trail on 153rd in Lake Forest Park. Now that the trail has been closed for almost a month, it’s a bit discouraging to see that the only obvious work near us has been constructing fences and barricades. Closing it in summer was deemed necessary to protect streams during salmon spawning, but I would have thought the we’d see some activity by now.

Message to contractor and King Co.–We all miss the trail. Let’s get the work completed in a timely manner to protect returning salmon and finish the project on schedule.

By: Visitor

Visitor — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 04:24:47 +0000

Headed for the detour, I was in Lake Forest Park, riding south down 47th Ave NE, turning right onto NE 175th, and turning right again onto Ballinger Way NE. I did not stop at both right turns. In the last 8 years I have ridden this route several hundred times, often to visit Third Place Books, which I like very much.

On Ballinger, a Police Officer stopped me with his siren and flashing lights (6/23/11 at around 8 AM). He claimed that I made the right turns at 10-15 MPH. I said that was incorrect, that I made those turns without putting my foot down and without stopping, but at walking pace. I said I was safe. He said something like“Yes. Give me your license.” About fifteen minutes later he said “sorry it took so long” and gave me a ticket for $103.00 (46.61.755) “VIOLATING LAWS WHILE RIDING BIKE.”

I broke the law. That said, I believe that this Police Officer decision to stop me and give me a traffic infraction was arbitrary. More evidence, in my opinion, that something is not quite right with Lake Forest Park.

By: Dan Crawford

Dan Crawford — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:04:23 +0000

I rode around the lake Monday and was surprised to find the part of the Burke-Gilman Trail from Ballinger Way to Logboom Park was still open! But there are signs and construction fences along the way so I bet that’s not going to last long.

By: Ron Hebron

Ron Hebron — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 02:03:09 +0000

I live in the neighborhood. I recommend the sidewalk/pathway that Roy Jensen, four comments back, mentions – on the south side of the animal hospital. But realize, it is very narrow so be prepared to DISMOUNT. Then when 39th Ave NE meets NE 165, you can either go straight for the route where 38 Ave runs into Bothell Way or turn right to meet the official route on 37th Ave. NE.

By: Scott Blachowicz

Scott Blachowicz — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 02:38:19 +0000

FWIW…I commute from Bothell (roughly I-405 & NE 160th partway along the Brickyard Rd hill) and hit the BG at Blythe Park all the way to either the University Bridge or the Fremont Bridge heading towards South Lake Union area. I figured I’d try the posted detour route for my commute yesterday. The commute went from about 19.3 to 21.3 miles and (for me) added about 460 ft elevation gain on the way in and 360 ft on the way back home. So, it added around 10 minutes to my ride and pretty much doubled the elevation gain over the whole trip. It’s doable, but I keep debating finding an alternative…