Pacific Northwest - I Hate the Burke-Gilman!

In particular, the section between the University and Logboom Park.

Last Sunday we did a clockwise Lake Washington loop on our tandem. We had not gone more than 200 yards on the Burke-Gilman at the University when there was a fellow with a bike standing on the right side of the trail futzing with something. His bike was pointed the same direction we were going and he had his back to us. Just as we approached him, he proceeded to mount his bike and attempt a u-turn right in front of us! Simultaneously yelling, braking and moving to the left, I managed to get his attention and he stopped before we t-boned him. He managed a feeble "Sorry" as we passed. This sort of thing scares the s**t out of me, and my stoker even more so. Even though we were only going about 12 mph at this point, a collision could have sent someone to the hospital. This was just the worst of several hazards that I had to deal with on that section of the trail, not to mention the horrible pavement.

Sheesh - I'd rather deal with cars.

It's a MUP. 12 mph seems pretty fast to pass someone in that area. I haven't ridden it for 20 years but it was the same back then. If you would rather deal with cars, do so.

It's a MUP with some of the most out-of-it people in the area. Besides zombies, you've got walkers/joggers who take the entire trail, riders who, for some reason, feel that this is the perfect venue for their interval training, dog walkers who don't control their animals, etc., etc., etc.

If you're looking for a Sunday light ride, the BG is OK. If you're looking for a good ride, you'll need to find someplace else.

Did you announce yourself? If so, a decent-distance in advance?

I can't count the number of times that people announce themselves just as I can see them in the corner of my eye. By then, it's too late.

If in this case you wouldn't have been heard if you used voice, getting a bell would be useful. I'm often riding "in my own world" on MUPs and when I hear a bell it brings me back. Voice will scare the crap out of me (my fault) and I jump a little---hopefully not swerving too much.

You can make the exact same statement about the Green River, Sammamish or Centennial trails. It is an occupational hazard of riding on a MUP.

It's a MUP with some of the most out-of-it people in the area. Besides zombies, you've got walkers/joggers who take the entire trail, riders who, for some reason, feel that this is the perfect venue for their interval training, dog walkers who don't control their animals, etc., etc., etc.


I realize that and I especially worry about little kids who don't have much control of their bikes, let alone have any awareness of the traffic around them. However, it's the only bicycle transportation corridor around the northwest end of the lake, which makes it hard to avoid. Don't get me wrong; I'm glad that it's there - the street alternatives aren't very good - but I dread using it. I don't like, but understand, the numerous street and driveway crossings. I really wish that the bad pavement and root heaves would be fixed. The wood-planked bridge over 45th always has me on edge worried about traction, especially when it's wet.

Did you announce yourself? If so, a decent-distance in advance?

I can't count the number of times that people announce themselves just as I can see them in the corner of my eye. By then, it's too late.

If in this case you wouldn't have been heard if you used voice, getting a bell would be useful. I'm often riding "in my own world" on MUPs and when I hear a bell it brings me back. Voice will scare the crap out of me (my fault) and I jump a little---hopefully not swerving too much.

No, I did not announce myself. The person was stopped at the side, off of his bike, when I first saw him and didn't think it was necessary. We were travelling down the center of the trail and he started to mount his bike as we approached, but the last thing I expected was for him to turn left in front of us. Yes, I do have a bell and I use it primarily for warning pedestrians, however I don't have a really good location for it and have to move my left hand off of the bar in order to "ding" it. In tight situations with limited sight distances, such as that section of the B-K, I want both hands on the handlebars at all times - particularly on the tandem.

luckily nobody is forced to use the trail. there are surface streets (granted, hilly ones) that can take you from the UW area to bothell...

for instance, since i hate the BG trail as well, i skip it by going up 5th ave next to I-5, then take perkins/180th down to the BG trail near lake forest park.

from there, you only need to be on the trail for a kilometer or two before you can break off on juanita or 100th ave (to complete the loop).

so, the solution is to not be part of the problem. i figure unless you're just starting out, or are walking, then use the MUP.. those paths are for old people and strollers, not fast bikes.

for instance, since i hate the BG trail as well, i skip it by going up 5th ave next to I-5, then take perkins/180th down to the BG trail near lake forest park.

Wow, that's a long way out of the way. How do get to 5th Ave from the University?


from there, you only need to be on the trail for a kilometer or two before you can break off on juanita or 100th ave (to complete the loop).

It hadn't occurred to me to head up 100th. We live in Kirkland at the top of the Winery Hill, so we don't go over Juanita Drive on our Lake Washington loops (we go directly south and stay on the east side of I-405 'til we cross 520). We usually go up Norway Hill and take the 7 Hills of Kirkland route back home.


those paths are for old people and strollers, not fast bikes.

Thanks for assuming that we're fast :)

It's a MUP with some of the most out-of-it people in the area. Besides zombies, you've got walkers/joggers who take the entire trail, riders who, for some reason, feel that this is the perfect venue for their interval training, dog walkers who don't control their animals, etc., etc., etc.

I can excuse most of the above, except for the cyclists.

The "clueless" pedestrians on it, esp. on the weekend, may be getting their only exercise of the week (or even month). Weather's nice - let's go to the BG and take a walk. So it's their place to stretch their legs, and the rest of us need to either watch out for them, get out of their way before 9 a.m. or so on the weekends, or just slow down.

What *still* p****** me off, to be honest, is the cyclists trying to ride in a pace line or riding quickly two or three abreast. The pedestrians are annoying but I can avoid them -- fast-moving cyclists are menacing.

Lately, if I see two or three folks in team kit on the BG riding quickly, I email the sponsors to complain.

Wow, that's a long way out of the way. How do get to 5th Ave from the University?

it might add a mile or two extra, but what's that added to a ~50 mile loop anyway?

to get to 5th, take 11th up to 75th, take a left there (instead of going straight onto Lake City Way) and then a right on 5th.

then after you get up into shoreline, take a right on 185th and you're more or less home free. here's the route for the details: http://veloroutes.org/bikemaps/?route=23499

there are (many) other ways to avoid the BG trail, this is just one. like i said early, luckily nobody is forcing anyone to ride on the trail, so avoiding it is your best bet.

plus, the extra hills will make you stronger! besides the BG trail being crowded, i hate how flat (read: boring) it is.

I don't like BG. It's a MUP! Too many stop signs and slow traffic for a road bike. It is good for a recovery ride, or taking a slow recreational ride with some non cyclist friends. But when I'm training I require a road with a wide shoulder or a bike lane, with long stretches without stop lights or intersections. East Lake Sammamish fits the bill. Also 202 out to Snoqualime Falls if you don't mind riding on an 18 inch shoulder on a 55mph road. :twitchy:

BTW, the one paved trail I've found without a lot of foot traffic is the Cedar River Trail. If you're headed from Renton out toward Maple Valley, there is some foot traffic for a couple of miles and then it dies out. And if you keep going past Maple Valley it turns to packed gravel (packed enough for a road bike) and you can ride in peace for several more miles out to Landsberg. From there you can head north to Issaquah, or keep going south toward Black Diamond, etc.

BTW, the one paved trail I've found without a lot of foot traffic is the Cedar River Trail. If you're headed from Renton out toward Maple Valley, there is some foot traffic for a couple of miles and then it dies out. And if you keep going past Maple Valley it turns to packed gravel (packed enough for a road bike) and you can ride in peace for several more miles out to Landsberg. From there you can head north to Issaquah, or keep going south toward Black Diamond, etc.

This is true. In addition, the Interurban from Tukwilla on down through Auburn is usually pretty unloaded. There are places where you have to cross city streets, which will slow you down some, but even so you can generally maintain a reasonable speed. The Green River Trail through the same area is prettier and has more winding bits, but it's also far more populated.

The crowding of the MUPs really show that we need to include peds and bikes in our transportation planning much more. We need to make some streets less friendly to cars.

The crowding of the MUPs really show that we need to include peds and bikes in our transportation planning much more. We need to make some streets less friendly to cars.

W. Lake Sammamish is a good example of proper roadway design for cars, bikes and peds. 2 lane motorized traffic roadway, and on either side (at the north end of the lake, at least) is a 2 lane pathway with one lane each designated for pedestrian and cyclist use.

If all you bicyclists have this much trouble from the Burke-Gilman I have no effin' idea how you can handle riding a bicycle in traffic.

cope with the 'dangerous' conditions by being a bit more aware and letting those you pass know you're coming with a bicycle bell. To the tandem team, get a bell. do you have a bell on your tandem? Ring it at all you aproach to pass. Expecting predictable behavior from anyone-motorists, pedestrians on MUPs, people next to parked cars, bicyclists stopped on the side of the MUP - a faulty assumption

Yeah, the alternative on road rides are so much superior- motorists just love to encounter bicyclists on Lake City Way/Bothell Way. and those interminable, all afternoon rush hour backups between Kenmore and Bothell, what a pleasure to be in the mix of cars there, such enjoyable riding conditions... (sarc)





MUPs serve bicyclists well on this route north out of the city. The BG/ road gap/Centennial Trail is the most enjoyable route north out of Seattle if you are heading north of Everrett. the Slough necks good routes down to where the BG to woodinville and then the Centennial trail is the most viable option for heading to Bellingham/Vancouver/Mountain loop highway/ north cascades highway.

Mattm- the Seattle Randonneurs use the BG, dude. I've seen SIR en masse on the BG in your wool jerseys proclaiming your membership, clogging it up for the rest of us...

About a year ago I was riding south on the Lake sammamish trail, coming into Redmond. There were lots of people out so I was slow (14 or so), and was being careful in passing. As I got near one of the underpasses, an 11-year-old boy pulled out right in front of me. I saw bike frame, and then I was on the ground. He ended up with a bloody nose and a few scratches. I ended up with a bruised knee, a cracked rib, a tweaked shoulder, a ruined helmet, and a broken fork.

So, yeah, I prefer the roads.

^^ Wow exact thing happened to me in the exact same place. Just North of Redmond where that pedestrian bridge joins the trail from the west side. Three 6-7 year old boys were chilling out by the side of the trail, they were alone (where were the parents?!) One of them jumped on his little kid bike with training wheels and cut right in front me. He turned his head, saw me coming, turned forward, started pedaling faster (LOL!). I was about 10 feet from him at this point. I slowed and tried to pass on the left, he swerved to the left, I tried right, he swerved right, left, he went left. All that with him looking ahead and not at me. I slammed the brakes, he STOPPED right in front of me. Little prick was trying his hardest to get rammed. I tried turning one final time to the right while still gripping the brakes. If that failed I would have been on the ground and he'd be crying. Luckily he remained stopped and I managed to get around him.

That was the last time I used a MUP.

Over in Wenatchee we have a little loop trail that goes around both sides of the Columbia River; one side is sage the other green belt parks. Every close encounter I've had on the Burke or Sammamish has been again highlighted in that 5.5 mile stretch through the parks.
Last fall while watching for little kids on my left near a playground I was dropped by a loose volleyball coming in from the right.
I used the west trail for commuting until I "startled" the senior citizen walking club by coming up behind them and ringing a bell one morning. They were four a breast and three rows deep and the incident made our local paper as "mysterious biker dive bombs Wenatchee elderly".
Maybe they should just ban us completely and continue to crash the baby jogging roller blading new moms into the power walking kettle bell swinging Gold's Gym members.

When on any trail or MUP, I wear a shrill survival whistle on a lanyard around my neck and blow it to let people know I am approaching, if they seem unaware and I cannot pass safely. The sticky wicket with this method is the number of people wearing iPods and the like who cannot hear anything in their environment. I don't have a lot of sympathy for a group trying to do a 25 mph paceline on our local MUPs; rarely is the other bicycle or pedestrian traffic so low as to enable this to be done safely.