Let’s Move Seattle

By Blake Trask | Published August 13, 2015

Seattle’s transportation levy on the November ballot will push Seattle forward in improving biking and safety citywide.

Seattleites this fall have a chance to make historic investments for better biking and safer streets citywide. November’s ballot features the renewal of the nine-year Seattle transportation levy. It’s called Let’s Move Seattle and it takes a huge step forward in making a city that works for residents and visitors alike. logo

To ensure its passage, we need you to get involved in the Let’s Move Seattle campaign!

The Let’s Move Seattle levy will improve Seattle’s transportation system in three key ways:

  1. More transportation choices to improve mobility – Levy dollars will go to critical projects, like the Northgate biking and walking bridge, as well as hundreds of additional mobility improvements across Seattle.
  2. A focus on safety – Investments will improve safety in every Seattle neighborhood, notably Safe Routes to School improvements at every public school, as well as funding to keep implementation of the Bicycle Master Plan on track.
  3. Taking care of what we have – Since no one likes potholes or unsafe bridges, the nine-year levy fixes existing infrastructure, too.

Let’s Move Seattle makes Seattle safer and more accessible whether you bike, drive, take transit, or walk. Take a look and see the great projects slated to be built in your neighborhood.

The campaign is just getting started and the Let’s Move Seattle levy team needs you to get involved today. While you’re there, endorse the levy by adding your name on the Endorsements tab.

Let’s make 2015 a year to remember for better biking in the Emerald City. Let’s Move Seattle!

Is your town considering a local transportation measure that would improve bicycling? We want to know about it so we can help spread the word. Contact Blake Trask, blake@WAbikes.org. 

Posted in News | 1 Comment

Time to ride PROS: Perimeter Ride of Seattle

By Louise McGrody | Published August 11, 2015

PROS Banner - Don Willott

Is PROS on your bucket list of bike rides? It should be.

The Perimeter Ride of Seattle—or PROS—is a Labor Day (September 7) ride organized by the Cyclists of Greater Seattle (COGS) that literally follows the perimeter of Seattle. PROS circumscribes the city, following a counter-clockwise route from its start at Discovery Park. Seattle’s hilly and ravine-divided landscape makes for a challenging but very rewarding ride. You will see Seattle from all sides, including spectacular city, mountain, Puget Sound and Lake Washington views.

Labor Day - September 7 2015
Labor Day – September 7 2015

The full PROS route entails 80 miles and 4,200 feet of elevation gain. PROS Lite is a shorter option of 60 miles and 2,700 feet of elevation gain, which eliminates the challenges of Seattle’s northern border. Both routes include snack stops (2 for PROS and 1 for PROS Lite) and lunch featuring tasty Banh Mi, Vietnamese-style sandwiches.

Unlike other rides that hand you a map/cue sheet and send you on your way, PROS divides riders into groups based on their distance and riding pace, and provides ride leaders who pedal with you. And yes, you still get a cue sheet or you can use GPS. Learn more here.

Ready to sign up? Registration is $35 ($40 after August 31), includes lunch, and supports bicycle advocacy in Washington state. COGS donates all proceeds from PROS to Washington Bikes to further our work to get more folks on bikes.

You can register online. Sign up by August 31 and you will be eligible for prize drawings for a WA Bikes jersey made by Castelli and a custom bike sketch by Seattle artist Andy Goulding.

Banner photo credit: Don Willott.

Posted in Rides | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Experience the Palouse on Tour de Lentil

By Louise McGrody | Published August 10, 2015

Tour de Lentil 2Prepare to be challenged!

Tour de Lentil is a 50k, 100k, or 150k bike ride through eastern Washington’s scenic Palouse region on August 22.  Cyclists are taken on a beautiful tour across the rolling–and often windy–hills of the Palouse region. All routes include elevation, and 150k route includes a summit of Steptoe Butte and the amazing views it provides.

The ride begins at the City Playfields in Pullman, then rolls through Colfax, Palouse, and more before returning to Pullman. This event is organized by and a fundraiser for the WSU Cycling Club. The club is generously supporting bike advocacy in Washington state with a donation from this ride to Washington Bikes.

Register today. Your registration fee includes rest stops and a post-ride BBQ.

Tour de Lentil is held in conjunction with the National Lentil Festival, so consider making it a Palouse weekend! More details about the festival can be found here.

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Who Are Your Everyday Superheroes of Bicycling?

By Barb Chamberlain | Published August 8, 2015

 “Where are they now? They are living among us. Average citizens, average heroes. Quietly and anonymously continuing to make the world a better place.” — From “The Incredibles”

Superman on a bicycle made with his X-ray visionYou know one. You may even be one. An Everyday Superhero of Bicycling who works to make the world a better place for bicycling, that is.

Some of the things an Everyday Superhero might do:

  • Teach someone to ride a bike
  • Help someone find the best route from Point A to Point B
  • Start a local group that does something to promote and improve bicycling
  • Help develop a bike master plan and get it adopted
  • Get a Complete Streets ordinance in your hometown
  • Teach someone to fix a flat
  • Get 20mph (the Neighborhood Safe Streets Law) adopted in your town
  • Serve on a Bicycle Advisory Board
  • Run for office as a bike-friendly candidate
  • Organize or volunteer at a Kidical Mass ride or Open Streets event
  • Nominate your town for Bicycle Friendly Community recognition
  • Make your business a Bicycle Friendly Business
  • Contact a legislator in support of more funding and better laws
  • Take local leaders and traffic engineers on a bike ride to highlight areas that need improvement
  • Run a community bike shop
  • Volunteer for a kids’ bike program at a school, community center, or youth program

Everyday Superheroes also serves as the theme of this year’s Washington Bikes Auction and Gala, coming up October 17, 2015, at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront. We like to call it the biggest bike party of the year. It also serves to bring in revenues essential for our bike advocacy work.

We want to highlight and thank your Everyday Superheroes before, during, and after the event. Tell us about them using the form below, and attend the gala if you can. It’s a Super thing you can do for bike advocacy.

About You

We may want to contact you for additional information. If you prefer we use email, be sure to provide your email address in the field above.

About Your Everyday Superhero

Maximum file size: 516MB

Maximum file size: 516MB

Thank you

Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your Everyday Superhero. We'll send you bike news with our profiles and other recognition of Superheroes from around Washington, information about the Gala Auction, and opportunities to be a Superhero to others as a local advocate.
Sending


And in case you were wondering — no, you don’t have to wear Spandex to be a superhero.

 

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North Kitsap Peninsula Bike Loop

By Guest Blogger | Published August 6, 2015

Today’s ride post was written by Seattle cyclist Lee Nathan. The post first published on his personal blog Tenacious. You can also find Lee on Twitter @tenaciouslee.

Back in June, we took a bicycle tour of North Kitsap Peninsula, amounting to about a 40 mile ride. We’ve been getting ready for the STP bike ride, so this was one of a slew of training jaunts, but this one was memorable due to some nice views and challenging hills!

North Kitsap Loop MapWe started and finished at Poulsbo High School. Since we live in Seattle, we had to first get over to Kitsap County, so we took the Bainbridge Ferry across the Sound. Summer ferries can be tricky if you’re in a car due to the heavy volumes, especially over weekends as people look to escape from the city for a few days, but biking on is always nice – no waiting! We were one of the first groups of bikers to arrive for the 8am ferry over, successfully navigating our way across the Rock ‘N Roll Marathon course complete with thousands of runners!

We cheated a bit and caught a ride with a friend from the Bainbridge Ferry Terminal. We could have ridden that stretch, but we were on a bit of a time crunch and that section isn’t the most scenic out and back along the highway.

North Kitsap Point No PointFrom the PoulsboHigh School, we headed North, picking our way around Indianola, through Kingston, and up towards Hansville. The ride was pretty quiet with limited traffic. Early in the ride, we had no problems with a gentle climb heading towards Kingston, and then another gradual hill as we climbed up to the high point around mile 17.

We dropped into Hansville, and were rewarded with some impressive views of Puget Sound spreading in front of us. This was about halfway through the ride, so we stopped at Point No Point in Hansville to fully appreciate the scenery and refuel.

North Kitsap Little Boston RoadFrom the park, we continued rolling through Hansville, heading west and south and back up! You’re rewarded with views to the west, Port Gamble and the Olympic range beyond. There are a few rollers on those roads as we headed back towards Poulsbo, and one particularly punchy hill (11% grade, but only 0.1 mi long) on the appropriately-named NE Cliffside Road and one final major climb up NE Little Boston Road. After some huffing, we stopped to catch our breaths and enjoy the view behind of us, this time gazing at the Olympic Range to the West.

From here, we followed Gamble Bay Road and Stottlemeyer Road back to Poulsbo. After a few rollers, we were back at the high school. We got back to the car just as the crowd was starting to arrive for the graduation ceremony going on that afternoon at the stadium. We enjoyed a well-deserved lunch at the Loft at the Poulsbo Marina before catching a ride back to the Bainbridge Ferry Terminal for our trip back to Seattle. One more biking leg got us back home from Colman Dock in Seattle. Phew! All in all, it was a great bike tour!

Route details can be found here.

Write Your Ride!

Do you know of a great bike route that others might enjoy? Submit it using our Write Your Ride form and we’ll share it.

 

Posted in Rides, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Kidical Mass Growing in Washington

By Louise McGrody | Published August 5, 2015
Photo credit: Link Transit

Photo credit: Link Transit

Parents who bicycle want to share the joy of riding a bike with their youngsters. Kidical Mass provides a fun, safe and social way to do it.

The first Kidical Mass ride occurred in 2008 in Eugene, Oregon, and it has quietly spread to over two dozen communities across the country. This year, Walla Walla and Wenatchee joined the ranks of Kidical Mass when volunteers started organizing local rides. You’ll find a list of Washington state communities (six that we know of) listed at the end of this post.

Walla Walla

Inspired by Kidical Mass rides in other communities, dads Luke Waggoner and Corren Current decided to organize one in Walla Walla. They created a Kidical Mass Walla Walla Valley Facebook page and set up a Twitter account to announce their first ride in April and were pleasantly pleased when two dozen participants turned out for the ride. They have been riding monthly.

“We set a date for our first ride and planned a route from Pioneer Park—one of Walla Walla’s best known parks—to a locally owned frozen yogurt place called Blue Palm. We started our second ride in the community of College Place and hope to regularly include both Walla Walla and College Place,” Luke explained and added, “We may even venture across the state line to Milton Freewater (OR) for a ride in a few months.”

He noted that the Walla Walla group plans to continue riding into fall.

Kidical Mass Walla Walla

Taking a break for frozen treats during the Walla Walla ride

Wenatchee

Kidical Mass Wenatchee Ride

Group selfie on the Wenatchee ride

Organizers Deb Miller, Todd Jensen and Patrick Tracy held their first Kidical Mass ride in June to coincide with Everybody Out(doors) Day. They have monthly rides scheduled through September, with the next one coming up on August 15. The organizers have been using flyers, word of mouth, and the Pybus Kids Century Facebook page to get the word out about their events.

Wenatchee is home to the much loved and heavily used Apple Capital Loop Trail, and Wenatchee Valley adopted a regional bike master plan a couple of years ago. The bike master plan process identified a high contingent of interested but concerned riders in the valley who either don’t feel safe biking on roads or are not aware of how best to access local bike routes.

“Kidical Mass provides an opportunity for families to ride and feel safer while riding in a larger, more visible group, helps them learn some of the easy connections between their neighborhood and local amenities, and teaches them a few road skills while we’re at it,” Deb noted. “Our hope is to help families identify these routes and then be able to access downtown, Pybus Market, Apple Capital Loop Trail, and other locations via bicycle and without driving to these locations in their cars.”

Kidical Massive: September 19

The founders of Kidical Mass are organizing the first ever Kidical Massive on September 19. They bill it as the biggest global family bike ride ever. (Added bonus: it’s also Talk Like a Pirate Day!) Among the Washington communities registered for Kidical Massive so far include Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma and Walla Walla. From the Facebook event:

Join us as thousands of families around the world go for a bike ride together. We’ll be showing that Kids are Traffic Too and that cities that plan for family biking are more livable, sustainable, profitable, and FUN! Make a ride in your community happen: register your community and start planning your event now.

Kidical Mass Washington State:

Seattle

Tacoma

Spokane

Thurston County

Walla Walla

Wenatchee

Are we missing your Kidical Mass rides or your Kidical Massive event? Please post it in the comment section!

Posted in Encouragement, Family biking, News, Rides | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Creating a Bicycle Friendly Ellensburg

By Guest Blogger | Published August 4, 2015

Today’s post was written by Ellensburg City Council Member Nancy Lillquist.

Ellensburg bike rackSeveral years ago I was approached by a citizen who cycles with the suggestion that Ellensburg become an official Bicycle Friendly Community.  After looking at the application form, which at first glance appeared somewhat daunting, I decided not to pursue it.  Ellensburg citizens who cycle know we are friendly!  Why would we need the label?

Recently, I was approached again, this time by the Director of Tourism, Amy McGuffin.  She was looking at survey data showing that many people visit our small (18,000 people), central Washington college town for the great cycling.  She asked if I would help apply for the Bike Friendly designation as a way to promote cycling tourism.  A “stakeholders” meeting and several phone calls later, we submitted our application (it really wasn’t as difficult as I had imagined).  We were rewarded this spring with a “Silver” level Bicycle Friendly Community designation from the League of American Bicyclists!

Ellensburg is a naturally easy place to ride.  Settled in the late 1800’s, the City was platted in the traditional manner, with residential neighborhoods surrounding a central commercial center and a highly connected street network, making it easy to walk and bike in minutes to most services.  Many students attending Central Washington University take advantage of the relatively gentle terrain to get around by bike.  CWU has, over the years, created a large “auto-free” portion of campus.  The semi-arid climate is generally sunny and dry, though the snow and wind deter less committed riders winter and spring.  The 2010 Census reports 17% of our citizens walk and 8% cycle to work in Ellensburg.

The City of Ellensburg has been working for several years to make it even easier to bicycle around town. The City has focused on “Engineering” – providing infrastructure such as multi-use paths, bike lanes, and sharrows, including constructing segments of the John Wayne Trail reconnection and a path under I-90 connecting two parks.  In all, Ellensburg has 15 miles of off-street and 7.5 miles of on-street bicycle network.  We have collaborated to place five custom bike racks designed by local artists in our downtown and to promote bike events.  A large effort has gone towards updating our non-motorized transportation plan and subsequent changes to City Code including requirements for bike lanes on certain new streets and bike racks at new commercial developments.  Our police department receives bike training and has a bike patrol.  They also participate in helmet give-aways and share-the-road campaigns.

Ellensburg Trail Underpass

Recycle Shop weekly ride

Recycle Shop weekly ride

Beyond City government, the Ellensburg community has provided encouragement through fun events such as the Manastash Metric bike race and Whiskey Dick triathalon, as well as informal weekly rides organized by the local Recycle Shop and Ellensburg Mountain Bike Alliance.  The Ellensburg School District incorporates cycling into their fitness classes in middle and high school.  Younger children can participate in bike-to-school events and bike rodeos.

Ellensburg has a solid bike friendly base to build on, but there is always room for improvement.  We hope to turn our Silver into Gold in 4 years by making improvements in all areas – engineering, enforcement, education and encouragement – making Ellensburg an even friendlier place to bike for citizens and visitors alike.

 

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Washingtonians Spoke Up for Biking, Health, and Safety and Governor Inslee Listened

By Barb Chamberlain | Published July 28, 2015

Little girl on bike seen from te back, wearing helmet, others biking/walking in street.Today, Governor Jay Inslee announced a path to retain investments in the safety of our children on their way to school, special needs transit, and critical biking connections while moving forward on his agenda on reducing carbon emissions.

Washington Bikes thanks Governor Inslee for making the choice that retains Washington’s historic transportation investments in bicycling, health, and safety.

Over the past six months, thousands of caring Washingtonians asked state leaders in Olympia to make bold investments in our transportation future by making it safer and easier to bike and walk. They listened by investing $500 million in biking and safety projects in the transportation revenue package signed into law in July.

Over the past eight days, Washingtonians affirmed the need to save those same historic investments and Governor Inslee listened, too.

“When Washington bikes people are safer and healthier, and businesses thrive. We are heartened to hear that these historic investments for biking, health and safety will move forward,” said Washington Bikes’ Executive Director Barb Chamberlain. “Biking and walking investments are always investments in cleaner air.”

Over the past eight days, Washington Bikes highlighted what papers like the Seattle Times, Spokesman-Review, Everett Herald, and Tacoma News Tribune seconded: there’s broad, bipartisan, and statewide support for a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build bikeways and safer sidewalks for Washingtonians.

Numerous organizations and cities joined this call to action including American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Foundation for Healthy Generations, League of American Bicyclists, Cascade Bicycle Club, Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition, One America, Safe Routes to School National Partnership, Transportation Choices Coalition, and Transportation for America, among others.

“What is clear is that these investments go beyond protecting the environment,” said Washington Bikes Policy Director Blake Trask. “They make kids safer, they increase physical activity and health, and they grow local economies statewide.”

Thanks, Governor Inslee, for listening to the thousands of caring Washingtonians who want more investments in biking, health, and safer schools statewide.

Posted in Advocacy, Alert, Infrastructure, Issues & Advocacy, Legislature | Comments Off on Washingtonians Spoke Up for Biking, Health, and Safety and Governor Inslee Listened

What’s at Stake if Governor Inslee Cuts Historic Investments for Biking & Safety?

By Blake Trask | Published July 23, 2015

A review of what will be lost, if Governor Inslee eliminates historic investments in biking and walking safety.

Little girl on bike seen from te back, wearing helmet, others biking/walking in street.As was posted Monday, Washington Bikes is on high alert as the Governor Inslee has indicated he is considering eliminating historic investments in biking and walking. Since then, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition, Transportation Choices Coalition, One America, and numerous local governments as well as health and mobility organizations across the state have asked Governor Inslee to not move forward on this executive action.

Add your voice and take action now to tell Governor Inslee to protect biking and walking safety investments.

With over $235 million in direct biking and walking investments on the line, many have asked what projects are at stake. Roughly $104.5 million is identified for 25 projects statewide with the additional $130 million slated for competitive grant programs over the coming 16 years.

Governor Inslee threatens to eliminate all state Safe Routes to School funding.

Governor Inslee threatens to eliminate all state Safe Routes to School funding.

These investments, if allowed to move forward, would represent a stable base of funding that — with additional federal and limited state dollars — amounts to roughly $40 million each biennium. This type of long-term funding has never occurred in Washington state and at the July 15 bill signing represented a nationally significant investment in biking and walking infrastructure.

Identified Biking & Walking Projects in the Transportation Package.

Below is the identified bike/ped project list that outlines 23 projects at $89 million. These are often regionally significant projects (and even statewide significance) that resolve real transportation issues across the state. The Burke Gilman Trail improvements at the University of Washington help a piece of transportation infrastructure that moves more people during peak hours than most roads in Washington state. The missing link of the Mountains to Sound Trail through Bellevue is another project, as is Spokane’s University District bike/ped bridge that will knit the neighborhood together.

LEAP-Bike-Ped

Other Critical Biking and Walking Projects

Also contained in the Transit Project List are two regionally significant projects:

  • $10 million for the Northgate Light Rail Station Bicycle and Pedestrian Overpass. This project will dramatically increase ridership for Sound Transit’s light rail network, and connects an Urban Hub (Northgate) to Northgate Community College and surrounding neighborhoods
  • $5.5 million for expansion of Puget Sound Bike Share to cities like Kirkland and Bellevue. This project will expand the nascent bike share program that is already looking to expand in Seattle.

Competitive Grant Programs

Also at stake for biking and walking? WSDOT’s competitive grant programs that fund critical biking, walking and school safety projects statewide:

  • $56 million in Safe Routes to School funding that would (assuming past grant allocations) fund safety and wellness projects at 151 schools across the state.
  • $75 million in biking and walking safety projects that would (assuming past grant allocations) fund 150 safety and mobility projects statewide.

Other Critical Mobility Grant Programs at Stake

Beyond projects and grant programs directly benefiting biking, over $400 million in competitive grants are at stake through the Transportation Improvement Board’s Complete Streets Grant Program ($106 million), as well as the WSDOT Regional Mobility ($200 million) and Rural Mobility ($110 million) grant programs. In addition to the $400 million, $200 million will go to Special Needs Transit Grants statewide. Losing the Complete Street Grant Program would be a significant blow to creating safe and economically competitive streets across the state.

Also, this assessment does not include the loss of city and county investments that could go to street maintenance and other improvements that benefit everyone.

What Can You Do?

Clearly this decision will set the course for safety and mobility for years to come. Take action now and tell Governor Inslee to protect biking and walking safety investments.

If you’re on Twitter, after you complete the form use our Twitter tools below to highlight the project that matters most to you and ask others to take action. Remember — your town may have a project not listed here that would be eligible for future funding IF you take action and help fight for it now.

[Tweet “Act now to save historic investments in bike/walk safety & connection now/in future. #WAtranspo”]

[Tweet “ZERO in #SafeRoutes $$ #ForWAKids for 16 years? If @GovInslee signs exec order. Tell him no. http://t.co/Jl0QLxTenk http://t.co/VNVVsyHph1 “]

[Tweet “SAVE $4.5M for Anacortes #GuemesChannelTrail. Safe biking/walking, @wsferries access http://t.co/gBNIQnXxQA http://t.co/mk8Wj8PfuL “]

[Tweet “Tell @GovInslee SAVE $14M for @MTSGreenway Mountains to Sound Greenway #Bellevue gap http://ow.ly/Q1a2U “]

[Tweet “Tell @GovInslee to SAVE $1+M for #CrossKirklandCorridor! Take action here: http://t.co/yYEg6Ri466 http://t.co/SNmEc5mtWH”]

[Tweet “Tell @GovInslee $2.6M for Gravelly Lake Trail in Lakewood matters! http://ow.ly/Q1bMN “]

[Tweet “Ask @GovInslee to SAVE $405K for #Milton #InterurbanSouth. Take action here! http://t.co/1VWYCMR4BJ #Milton #WA http://t.co/L3pIf988Tw “]

[Tweet “Tell @GovInslee to SAVE $1.85M for #nterurbanSouth Trail in #Pacific! http://t.co/HVzILFKYzN “]

[Tweet “$3.5M for Mosquito Fleet Trail waterfront in Port Orchard at risk. Tell @GovInslee save it! http://t.co/7XNuG2EwBx http://t.co/RnpePzo9ae “]

[Tweet “Tell @GovInslee SAVE $2.8M for #SR520 #Bellevue connection! http://t.co/xIgeE66Fhg http://t.co/FgZPALRZeg”]

[Tweet “Tell @GovInslee $5M for Wilburton Reconnection critical to #EastsideRailCorridor http://t.co/zHkavVuVIF #trails http://t.co/Qcf2uLSZVm “]

[Tweet “#SR520 #Redmond 40th St safety project. Tell @GovInslee SAVE $10.7M! http://t.co/xIgeE66Fhg http://t.co/3iUs9P1IFU”]

[Tweet “Tell @GovInslee SAVE funding for #burkegilmantrail improvements. Act now: http://t.co/WQ9RGdINi0 @burkegilmantrl http://t.co/yTTPO60HQT”]

[Tweet “Let @GovInslee know you care about $8.8M for Spokane U District Gateway Bridge http://ow.ly/Q1bHn http://t.co/lMT3Y2PAmr #bikeSPO “]

[Tweet “Ask @GovInslee to SAVE $4M for Schuster Parkway Trail in Tacoma: http://ow.ly/Q19Wz http://t.co/adGe0irhmh #bike253”]

[Tweet “Ask @GovInslee to protect funds for #DeschutesValleyTrail in Tumwater. Take action! http://t.co/BADconOL4Z http://t.co/DlapZhNaHo”]

[Tweet ” Tell @GovInslee #UniversityPlace #WA needs $1.1M for its bike/walk safety projects! http://ow.ly/Q1aDC “]

[Tweet “Tell @GovInslee to SAVE $2M for beautiful Cowiche Canyon Trail in #Yakima http://t.co/KDO9Wjg1Dr http://t.co/Z5paGwfmBJ #bikeYAK #trails”]

[Tweet “Tell @GovInslee SAVE $2M for Yakima Greenway Trail! http://ow.ly/Q1aGV http://t.co/PjFCKVTbud #bikeYAK”]

 

Posted in Advocacy, Alert, Complete Streets, Economic Impact, Funding/Policy, Infrastructure, Issues & Advocacy, Kids, Legislature, WSDOT | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on What’s at Stake if Governor Inslee Cuts Historic Investments for Biking & Safety?

Skagit’s Land O’ Lakes Loop

By Josh Cohen | Published July 23, 2015

Skagit has tons to offer road cyclists with quiet country roads, a nice mix of flat terrain and rolling climbs, Cascade mountain views, and plenty of lakes, rivers and forests. Find more bicycle adventures on Washington Bikes’ Where to Ride page.

Baker
Distance: 52 miles
Elevation: 2065 ft
Good for: Beginners to Intermediate
Highlights: Farmland scenery, rolling climbs, mountain views, low traffic

Skagit County is famous for its colorful tulips and vast farmland. That alone probably makes it a worthy riding destination, but with quiet country roads, a nice mix of flat terrain and rolling climbs, Cascade mountain views, and plenty of lakes, rivers and forests, Skagit has tons to offer road cyclists. It’s no wonder the ALS Association’s Evergreen Chapter used to host their two-day fundraiser ride on the roads around Mt. Vernon each year. The fundraiser is now held in Snohomish County, but the roads are still out there for anyone to enjoy.

The Land O’ Lakes loop was traditionally day two of the ALS ride weekend. It takes you counterclockwise to the east of Mt. Vernon and has a little bit of everything that makes riding in Skagit so great. You’ll pass by a number of lakes, ride along farms on flat roads, parallel the Skagit River for a bit, and do just enough climbing to keep you honest.

The ride starts in downtown Mt. Vernon. Fuel up with coffee and a pastry at Ristretto Coffee on 1st Street, or grab some snacks at the ever-wonderful Skagit Valley Food Coop just a block off your route. As is often the case with urban riding, when you start you’ll have to do a bit of a zig-zag to get out of town. Head north on 1st, take your first right on Montgomery, then your next left onto 2nd. You’ll climb up a gentle bridge grade to get over I-5.

After you cross the bridge, take a right on Fulton St then your second left on 6th Ave.  When 6th Ts into Division hang another left. After .3 miles on Division take a right on 13th Ave. Stay on 13th for 1 mile. Take a right on Blackburn Rd then take your second left onto Cedardale Rd. (You’re almost out of town!). Cedardale parallels the freeway and is noisy, but it’s nice and flat and passes along a few farms.

After 1.6 miles, take a left onto Hickox Rd then your immediate next right onto Burkland Rd. When Burkland Ts into Johnson Rd at mile 6 take a Right then take a Left to get back on Cedardale. When you reach WA-534 at mile 7.6, take a left.

This is where the ride really starts getting great. You’ll climb up into the forested foothills for a few miles and quickly get a taste of rural Skagit County. You’ll be sweating uphill for a few miles, but you’ll be rewarded with a fun descent at Lake McMurray.lakes

After 5 miles on WA 534, take a left on WA 9 (mile 12.6). Though it is a state highway, there isn’t much traffic to worry about. This stretch of WA 9 has lots of fun rolling climbs, nice views of the lake, and opens up back up into lovely farmland. After 3.6 miles take a left onto Big Lake Blvd (mile 16.2).

As the name indicates, Big Lake Blvd takes you along the western shore of Big Lake and into the small, unincorporated community of the same name. Stay on Big Lake Blvd for 4.4 miles. Take a left to get back on WA 9. Stay on WA 9 for 2 miles then hang a right onto Knapp Rd. You’ll ascend a punchy little climb up Knapp, then hang a left onto Baker Heights Rd. After .7 miles on Baker, take a right on Gunderson. Stay on Gunderson as it curves 90 degrees around a bend. There are a few more punchy rollers before Gunderson rewards you with a nice long downhill. You’ll ride for 3.5 miles past more farms and forest and continue straight as Gunderson becomes Beaver Lake Rd where the road continues to point down hill for a while. At mile 29.2 take a hard right to stay on Beaver Lake. After another 1.8 miles take a sharp left to stay on Beaver Lake again. Ride 1.3 miles then take a right onto Front St.

Front St Ts into WA 9. Hang a right into the small town of Clear Lake. If you need to stop for re-supplies, the Clear Lake Market will be on your right a few blocks up. As you reach the edge of town (all several blocks of it) the road Ys. Stay right on Front St then take a right again on Old Day Creek Rd.

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Old Day Creek leads you straight into the biggest climb of the ride. Three miles long and nearly 600 feet of elevation gain, it’s definitely a bit of a grunt. But put your head down, keep the pedals turning, and rest easy knowing the ride is nearly flat all the way back to Mt. Vernon once you’re up and over this hill. Once you’ve crested the hill, enjoy the descent back off the other side all the way to the Skagit Hwy at mile 38. When you reach Skagit Hwy, take a left. It will take you along the Skagit River for 5.5 miles before curving you back onto WA 9.

When you reach Hwy 9 take a right and head back towards Clear Lake. You’ll briefly backtrack through town before taking a right on Mud Lake Rd at mile 44.8. Stay on this for 1.8 miles then take a right on Swan Rd. Swan Ts into Francis Rd at 48.4. Take a left. Continue straight on Laventure Rd at 49.2 then take a right on Fir St at 50.4. You’re almost done!

Continue on Fir for 1 mile then take a left onto 4th St. This will take you back across I-5 and down the hill into downtown Mt. Vernon where there a bevy of places to grab a post-ride meal. If, like many cyclists, you enjoy a post-ride pint, the Skagit River Brewery  is waiting for you at the corner of 3rd and Montgomery.

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