uofiblue

Good afternoon from sunny and 60 degree Seattle, Washington. I just moved out here from Illinois for the summer for an internship with an accounting firm. Don't have a car at the present time so it will be a bike or bus to work for me during the summer.

I went out for a ride this morning to check out a route and have found one that's 7.9 miles. Now, being a clydesdale, I'm definitely not the fastest biker out there but it's only about 35-40 minutes each way. So probably not all that much longer than a commute by car during rush hour. For those of you familiar with Seattle, I'm living in the Ballard area on 56th street, so I go down to the Ballard bridge and across. Take Emerson to Gilman. Gilman turns into 20th and heads into what looks like an industrial area. At the end of that area is a bike path the you can hop on (I believe the Myrtle Edwards?) and it takes you down along the sound all the way to downtown and spits you out on Alaskan Way.

I still need to get a good pair of fenders for my bike as I can't imagine biking in Seattle without them would be too great in the rainy months.

If anyone has any words of wisdom for me, especially if you are in the seattle area, let me know. Looking forward to joining the many who have gone before in commuting by bike. Have a great day!!

chephy

Welcome and hope you enjoy your commute!

As for wisdom, there is plenty of good stuff around these forums. Do a search, browse the threads or ask questions and ye shall find all the wisdom a bike commuter needs.

Cheers!

mirage1

You might want to ask about the route in the regional forum, too.

I used to live in Issaquah, but I don't know anything about biking in the area you're talking about.

Enjoy Seattle!

djSlvt

A bike is faster than a car. Tested by mustang owner, who's also with SCCA racing. Bikes is just faster.

Bekologist

Hi there, I'm very familiar with riding in the greater Seattle area and would be happy to give you some tips and directions for good riding to and from Ballard and Downtown. I also work at one of the local bike shops, send me a PM- I'd be happy to go for a ride after work and show you some of the routes.

Cheers.

greenstork

So, I have some very specific directions for you being in the Seattle area.

You mentioned that you get on to Gilman. It might be a little quicker to take this route:

I would cross the Ballard Bridge on the west side of the bridge. At the very end, there's a break in the curb and you can cross the street, continuing southbound on 15th Avenue. Crossing in front of the right-turning traffic off the Ballard Bridge can be a pain in rush hour, beware. You'll have to ride in slightly busy traffic for about 1/4 mile before you take an exit ramp for Dravus Street. Take the exit and then turn right on Dravus... go down the hill and cross the bridge, turning left just across the bridge at the first traffic light, which is 20th Avenue. Take your first left off 20th Avenue and head down the hill about 1/4 mile before where you pick up the bike trail through Myrtle Edwards.

Basically, it's the same route you take but it's probably a little quicker to take Dravus than to take Emerson/Gilman.

Good luck to you, Seattle's a great biking town!

Bekologist

there's also the Ballard Locks, and the Burke Gilman/Fremont Bridge/ Dexter routes to downtown from Ballard, versus the Ballard Bridge approach. shoot me a PM if you'd like a little routefinding assistance.