GO SEAHAWKS!! 12 for LYFEJoined: 20 Jul 2011Posts: 3092Location: King County
Sup
I have a friend who lives on 53rd place west in Lynnwood and is looking for a safe yet efficient route to the UW Bothell campus. He is relatively new to riding bikes and I think he's on the verge of becoming a convert. Plus, I figure if I get him a good route it's one less car. I am not familiar with that area so any feedback would be nice. grassy ass
gsbarnes
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 11:46 pm
Joined: 15 Aug 2006Posts: 2666Location: No Fun Town, USA
Start off with the Google bike directions. They have the right general idea: head south to the Burke-Gilman, take the Burke/Sammammish River Trail to UWB.
However, Google wants you to use Ballinger Way/State Route 104 for a couple of stretches. Last I looked, this idea is nuts.
If there really is a bike trail/bike lane on the stretches they recommend, then fine. Otherwise, to cut out the section between NE 178th St and the trail, just jog west on 178th to Brookside and take that street to the trail instead.
To cut out the section between 30th and 35th Ave NE, I'd cut over to Cedar Way at either 205th or 236th, whichever seems better. Cedar to 35th NE is fine --- in fact I'd recommend it all the way except for 2 things: Mountlake Terrace High School, which sucks if you happen to come by when it's starting up or letting out, and the section near I-5, which is a steep downhill (northbound) into I-5 onramps and Alderwood Mall traffic.
Google's 2nd suggestion, which crosses the freeway at 44th I would just ignore. Their 3rd suggestion is interesting; it zigzags over to Brier and hits the Burke at 61st Ave NE. The last bit is fine, but I wonder how much climbing you have to do when you travel to 61st NE. Plus it's way more complicated.
Edit: this assumes 53rd Pl W south of 99. If we're starting north of 99, the more easterly options look better, as 99 forces you to head east to cross it.
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Bo Ttorff
Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 6:12 am
GO SEAHAWKS!! 12 for LYFEJoined: 20 Jul 2011Posts: 3092Location: King County
Right on. Will forward the route suggestion. Thanks again.
mu suggestion would be:
212th to larch to poplar to vine to locust to lockwood to the BGT. while it might not have a shoulder the entire way, it's actually a nice ride. bonus points if he can find the suburban cut through trails that exist.
53rd Place is on the SE side of I-5, right? That makes the whole commute way easier because most of the crossings up there are either steep narrow overpasses or big sketchy offramp underpasses.
Heading south only makes sense if you're on the west side of I-5, in which case you'd take the Interurban to the secret 195th St overpass to Perkins Way.
Rory has the right idea, Larch Locust and Poplar are all really nice back roads. There's a bunch of different bits to link together that are definitely worth exploring for the variety.
68th and 73rd get really big and trafficked near 522, but they also get wide and with bike lanes so they really aren't bad to ride on. I've taken that way up to Lynnwood a whole bunch of times.
Note the BG trail exit right into the campus, it's a little longer but avoiding the traffic through Bothell is worth it especially on your way in.
Bo Ttorff
Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 6:21 pm
GO SEAHAWKS!! 12 for LYFEJoined: 20 Jul 2011Posts: 3092Location: King County
Hey Thanks Fred that looks like a nice route for someone not down for too much traffic.
Thanks again ya'll
gsbarnes
Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 6:44 pm
Joined: 15 Aug 2006Posts: 2666Location: No Fun Town, USA
I bow to Fred's superior knowledge, but I'd still avoid Mountlake Terrace High if you're going to pass by anytime just before the school day starts or just after it ends. Gobs of students and parents in SUVs.
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GO SEAHAWKS!! 12 for LYFE
Joined: 20 Jul 2011
Posts: 3092
Location: King County
Joined: 15 Aug 2006
Posts: 2666
Location: No Fun Town, USA
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Joined: 01 Mar 2010
Posts: 1505
