Kamala

Does anyone continue on 20th to Gilman making a right on W Emerson and then over the overpasses to get to Nickerson? This is longer but seems less challenging than right on dravus and holding left lane uphill to get to 15th Ave W to Nickerson. I don't mind left-lane biking (ride Third Ave in to work), but I'm really slow uphill and felt very uncomfortable trying to do all this on Dravus yesterday. (Not looking to spark a religious debate on taking lanes and going slow, just looking for thoughts on the proposed alternate route.)

I don't want to go all the way to the Ballard Locks all the time. This is already a roundabout way to add miles on the way home.

FlowerBlossom

I have. I don't like it, would do it again if I needed. I didn't like it because I didn't feel like I had enough room from cars, or, they were annoyed that they had to wait for me to get over the ramp. Plus, it dumps you out on Nickerson, which I also do not like riding on, especially in the AM rush hour. Oy!

Kamala

I tried it yesterday and I wasn't a fan. Definitely not a lot of room to be had on the ramp. This is a PM ride for me, so Nickerson wasn't too bad and I like the long downhill

FlowerBlossom

I personally love the locks, it adds a bit of "quiet time" to my ride home, even if it is a little more out of the way. In the summer, the extra miles are fine. In the winter, though, I would like to have a wider lane at Nickerson or even over the Ballard Bridge.

Kamala

Went through the Locks on the way home yesterday, great longer ride. When the nasty weather comes back around, I'll probably be taking the shorter route home up and over Dexter since I live in Ravenna.

jordangerous

east on dravus
left on 15th
right nickerson

that is my usual.

ngateguy

I perfer dravus over emerson. As FlowerBlosom mentioned niot enough room for cars to pass you. As far as the locks, like the view but I will take Nickerson over Market any day. Dexter is the saniest route and it is not so bad of a hill to climb.

Bekologist

Fremont Bridge from Magnolia? there really isn't any good route. I used to live in Magnolia and rode dravus/15th/emerson almost daily.

The city could do a lot, cheaply, with paint, to emphasize bicyclists' right to road space both on Dravus over 15th, and the route past fishermans' terminal to the overpasses. Emerson? can a city stripe a bikelane on an overpass?

I don't find any of the route choices particularily meddlesome, just tedious.

my favorite way bicycling from Magnolia to Fremont south of the Fremont bridge (westlake ) is to ride one block past 15th up the steep bit, then turn left at the church. maybe this is 14th. then reconnect with nickerson.

if the city truly had their head out of the 20th century sand and recognized, sat up and paid fair due to nonmotorized transportation, a MUP that connects Myrtle Edwards/ Pier bike path with the ship canal trail would already be complete.

Kamala

I agree on Dexter being the sanest route after trying Locks/Market, Dravus/15, and Emerson, but it's also the shortest. Need to get my exercise in on the way home. Dexter hill doesn't bother me much (not that it isn't tough for me), but I like to get some more miles in the PM. Any other suggestions on Downtown to Cowen Park/Ravenna Blvd Area for a few more miles while generally ambling in the direction of home?

FlowerBlossom

How about north through the lock, Market to 24th, left/up 24th to 84th (85th is toooo busy), making your way east and down to Greenlake, and then over to Ravenna?

Kamala

How about it? I'll try that bad boy out on the way home tonight. Certainly looks more promising than the death-slog up Stone Way.

Kamala

I finally got to try 24th/83rd out this morning. Great ride! Nice up and down to keep the legs pumping. Thanks for the suggestion!