North South through Bellevue
 

Hello,

I live in the Renton Highlands and hope to commute on my bike to Kirkland/Redmond near Snyders Corner. I intend to bike North on Coal Creek Parkway and then find my way through Bellevue, hopefully not straying too far East or West from I-405. However there does not appear to be any safe North/South route through Bellevue.

Does anyone have some advice on a safe route through Bellevue?

E~

Not sure where Snyders corner is, but one suggestion is to ride Coal Creek to 118th into Bellevue, cut over to 112th then cross I-405 at NE 4th and ride down 116th past Overlake Hospital. Quick jog at Northup/Northrup and then back onto 116th up into Kirkland. Or turn right onto Northup, left at 24th and catch the 520 trail down to the Sammamish River Trail into Redmond.

If you turn right onto SE 8th off of 118th Ave SE, you can take a short bike/pedestrian path that connects SE 8th up to 116th. In the attached image note a narrow paved path that parallels the I-405 northbound on-ramp (through the brown area.) The second image is the south end of the trail at the northbound I-405 on-ramp at SE 8th. The third image is the north end where it connects to 116th, just past the Master Builders Association building driveway.

Oooh, great tip. I never knew that.

I ride in Bellevue a bunch.

Here's the route I'd suggest:

1) Under 405 on coal creek to lake washington blvd. Or, south on Richards road, left on SE 8th, and under 405, then right on 116th.

2) On 116th north until it ends. When the road ends, there's this little path/sidewalk that heads west.

3) Get on 112th north.

4) Keep riding 112th north until it descends down (steep), and goes underneath 520.

5) Left on northup

6) Right on Lake Wa blvd.

7) Straight/right onto lakeview Blvd, which turns into 68th, goes over the freeway, becomes 70th, and goes right into Snyder's corner.

That's pretty calm.

Another option, starting after #3 above:

4) Turn right on NE 12th. This is a little busy but not terrible.

5) Turn left on 116th.

6) Right on Northup.

7) Left on 116th

8) Right on 60th

9) Left on 132nd.

That's pretty good, except for the section of NE 12th over the freeway.

Another option:

1) Richards road south.

2) West on lake hills connector.

3) Right at the light on NE 7th.

4) Left on 128th

5) Left on 2nd

6) Right on 124th

7) Past NE 8th

8) Left on NE 10th

9) Right on 120th

10) Left on northup

11) Right on 116th

12) continue with #8 from the last one

I think that's probably the calmest one of the three.

u know your stuff!

from the i-90 bridge i take 108th up to main st, right there, then a left on 116th. i follow that all the way up to the 520 trail to get to redmond.

116th certainly isn't a cyclist's paradise (no bike lane, cars that hate you), but it'll get the job done. in fact i enjoy pissing off drivers, which is probably why i pick that route.

Why on earth would anyone ever intentionally piss off drivers? I ride 116th on my commute and find that it is very easy to co-exist safely with drivers on that road.

not intentional - all it takes is not being on the sidewalk for some people..

it doesn't take much to get buzzed in bellevue is all i'm saying.

Hey you guys. Thanks for all the input. I haven't started my new commute yet but will likely begin this summer when my company moves to the North end.