Seattle cycling history bite
 

Not a very exciting picture, but an interesting bit of Seattle history.

Lake Washington bicycle path, Seattle, September 21, 1902

"At the beginning of the 19th century, most people walked to their destinations, rode astride or in a carriage behind a friendly steed, took a streetcar, or pedaled chain-driven bicycles, which arrived in the 1890s. By 1900 more than 40 Seattle firms were selling bicycle models ranging in price from $25 to $150. Bicycle clubs attracted hundreds of members and miles of bike trails were maintained throughout the area. Mayor George Cotterill (1865-1958) championed the development of some of the first bike routes ever built by an American city."

Does it say how many miles of bike paths, and where they were located? It would be a great to "restore" any of those bike paths to the quality shown in the picture (surrounded by huge trees and ferns, not a car to be seen).

It looks like around 20 miles. A huge chunk appears to include Lake Washington blvd north of I-90 through the arboretum, which is a popular cycling route. Quite refreshing as it is in it's current state.

"Most of Seattle's Olmsted parks and connecting boulevards were built by 1908. The Olmsted plan incorporated previous proposals such as the ambitious 1892 ideas of City Parks Superintendent E. O. Schwagerl and the 1890s bicycle trails of City Engineer (later mayor) George Cotterill."

Wonder why it came down
 

Miss that sign on Interlaken Pl. E ,just west of 24 th Ave N.E that was there several years ago said it was the oldest bike path in Seattle built in 1889 or something like that.

very cool!