We’d prefer not to have to say this, but we continue to have both good news and bad news regarding the Lake Forest Park Burke Gilman redevelopment project. The good news: it’s finally going to happen, and it’s going to result in substantially safer conditions for cyclists and pedestrians. The bad news: it’s going to pose a substantial burden on those who depend on the trail for their commute trips or for recreation. Reality check: trail closes on June 15 for several months and the detour route is, at best, subpar.
We prefer that the trail project proceed during this construction season, despite our disappointments with that detour. King County has been working hard to make sure there’s a viable route during construction—but this appears to be a difficult task. WSDOT has been unaccommodating in allowing for a safe and direct bicycle detour like a protected lane on SR522, the obvious choice to safely and conveniently accommodate thousands who use that section of trail. And local property owners have been vocal opponents to other potential routes (note the minutes from this city council meeting)—including threatening a lawsuit to keep bikes away.
While we’ve been hearing people’s concerns and have many of our own, standing firm means that we’d be actually standing firmly in the way of a very important trail safety project. We know that, as a community, none of us want that. So in the meanwhile, we have two things to ask.
First, we ask that King County assess the detour one month in to determine if shuttles should be back on the table and if there are any concerns that need to be better accommodated.
Second, we ask you to post your thoughts on your preferred bike route in the comments section. Cascade won’t be recommending any particular route (including King County’s recommended detour) but we trust our members and friends to offer their useful suggestions in helping us all get around while our beloved trail is being improved.
Learn more about the construction on King County’s website.
Critical Mass on 522 anyone?
The real choke point is between Ballinger Way and the SR522 Logboom park turnoff. The entire route is reasonably ok until you get to Ballinger. There is a back road that can be used, but it’s hilly and will probably not see a lot of use by riders unless there is no other alternative.
I expect that a lot of other riders, in particular ones that are fairly quick, will probably examine the possibility of riding the small section between Ballinger and Logboom on SR522. I also expect that Lake Forest Police and various other government bodies will attempt to make SR522 as a no-cycling zone in response to complaints from bus drivers encountering riders like this. I don’t think that a Critical Mass approach would be a good idea, especially as Lake Forest Park already has quite the reputation for already being anti-cycling.
I would have liked to have seen a temporary protected bike lane on SR522 from 145th through to Ballinger Way to accommodate cyclists while the trail is closed. Shoot, I would’ve even settled for an unprotected bike lane instead of the lousy route the city has recommended.
It sounds like there was enough money in the budget to restripe 522 for those couple of miles to accommodate a bike lane, which they could have done months ago to get the drivers used to seeing cyclists on 522. Oh, well… so much for living in the most bike-friendly state in the US.
I’ll probably ride 522 because it’s going to be the fastest and most direct route to get me back and forth from work. At 18 miles each way, I don’t have a lot of extra time to meander through the back hills of LFP.
Bothell Way was the recommended route for fast cyclists for many years. I live in Wedgwood and ride down Hwy 522 from 145th to Ballinger Way about 50 times a year. Many other cyclists ride this part of 522. Complete streets was ignored when it was reconfigured a few years ago but there are only a few choke points and a lot of grates. I know many faster cyclists would consider it safer than the BGT even in its current condition. I don’t ride up this portion of the road because I don’t want to suck exhaust that much. Certainly the up part is better since it has the bus only (bikes OK) lane. There are only a few bus drivers out there that sometimes want to hurt us, and sometimes it is because we are being really dumb. Actually I rarely see buses on the route even though they say they come every 3 minutes. I do ride down during the commute quite a lot for an evening ride starting at 4 or 5 PM. If you want to keep your miles down you can do Ravenna Ave from Nathan Hale and then 20th Ave instead of going back to the BGT. There are a few blocks of Ravenna Ave that are absolutely in terrible shape but if you can live with that you can get at least one of the extra miles back on a trip to the UW.
Two issues I’ll address: detour and Lk Forest Park in general
There is already a detour route… the bus lane. Does “Share the Road” mean nothing to bus drivers? If the WSDOT is not going to give a route to cyclists, cyclists will have to create their own route. Those to whom this sounds intimidating can always be passengers on the bus and remind the bus drivers to be courteous to bikes on the road.
Lake Forest Park has long-standing issues with cyclists and are winning the fight. But what if we cyclists boycott all businesses in Lake Forest Park and write/talk to business owners to let them know what’s going on. Get your friends to boycott them as well. Get ‘em where it hurts, their bottom line.
The proposed detour looks pretty sketchy to me. As pictured here:
http://seattlebikeblog.com/2011/05/30/large-burke-gilman-closure-starts-june-15-county-and-state-say-take-a-bus-or-drive/
There’s gotta be a better way. After some Google map searching, I’ll figure out my own route. Sections of 522 may be part of that option.
I find it hard to believe they can close off the trail – used by thousands of people – with such a bizarre detour, that’s yet to be officially approved.
The detour route shown on the link above is an earlier option that has apparently been discarded. KC staff presented a revised detour at a Ballard Friends of Burke Gilman mtg. on 5/26 (still subject to permit approval from LFP). It still uses Beach Drive at the north end (w/ a stairway connecting to the trail), but then crosses 522 at Ballinger, using the west sidewalk, then left on 178th, left on 37th, connecting w/ the detour route shown on the link.
I believe that we will be able to get from Log boom to Ballinger on the trail or a detour. That is the current plan. From Ballinger Bothel Way intersection I suggest working your way to 147th and Riviera Pl NE. There you can cross the trail ride up Riveria and rejoin the trail south of 145th. I have checked and Riviera is a public right of way.
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I suggest that when you map it that you force the path to go on 137th to 38th avenue down to Bothell Way, cross at the light at 153rd and work your way down to the Riviera on 37th ave NE. This is about 0.8 miles longer.
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A few hills, but very doable. For those of 522 bus lane types, take the bus lane up to 153rd take a left and return to the trail.
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I couldn’t get the city or the county to go for this. Oh well.
I live in Bothell and work in Seattle. I recently started bike commuting 1-2 days a week after a break when I changed jobs. My plan was to continue commuting throughout the summer on fair weather days when my schedule allows.
This detour route is unacceptable. With the length of my commute already anything that adds any significant distance or hills is not going to work. I would take 522 if there were some traffic separation but I’m hesitant to do that without such separation. I ride as traffic on streets in downtown Seattle and elsewhere and I’m comfortable doing it, but riding on a street where cars go 45-50 MPH and there’s no shoulder to speak of is just too big of a risk. Riding on a sidewalk is if anything even more dangerous and is an unreasonable imposition on pedestrians.
I would support any collective action to reserve a lane on 522 for cyclists, if only during commuting hours. I would also consider a boycott of Third Place Books and other LFP businesses that I frequent if this would put pressure on LFP to stop its campaign against bicycles.
Short of that, I will try Joe’s suggestion of an unapproved detour, as it seems a lot better than the official one.
Guys, like all of you, I am disappointed with this whole mess. If they want to fix up this trail, then give us a doable viable alternative for the period it is closed down. They haven’t and June 15 is coming right up.
I usually ride from Seattle to Kenmore and given the impending closure…this is the route I am thinking. From the trail, get on Lakeside Pl NE which will lead to Sandpoint way and onto 522. From there get on the bus lanes and to Bothell Way, to Kenmore. I think it will be find on the bus lanes as buses tend to be more cyclist friendly and lately I am seeing more people ride on the bus lanes on 522, perhaps getting use to the route given the June 15 date. Any thoughts or comments on this detour is appreciated. One thing I am unsure of is the steepness of Lakeside going up to Sandpoint. Does anyone know?
Aside from this, we should be planning some type of protest to get a good detour route approved. Someone proposed not patronizing LFP businesses….sounds like a good idea but perhaps we need some organized protest to get our voice out. The current situation sucks.
I ride from S. Everett Via SR527 to SR522 to Lake city…every weekday….I jump off BG at Lake Forest and head up the hill…..its not bad….I generaly wait out the 522,309,372,318 busses and it gives me a window of about 5-10 minutes to ride the buslane up to 145th un-interrupted….but much of the hill has overgrowth on the westside of the road….which WSDOT could clear to expand the current shoulder….my problem is SR522 from 110-90th…northbound….there is no shoulder at all…..1000ft is pelted with debris…rocks,limbs,mud,water…….from 100th to 90th….road is torn up with potholes from buses….one of the most scareiest mile and half ever…..
I rode rhodeskc’s detour route http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/BGT-Bypass-via-Interurban yesterday from Bothell to Seattle at about 6 PM. 180th/Perkins Way has a speed limit of 25 mph and really not a lot of vehicular traffic. I actually think I saw more bikes than cars on the way up the hill. As for the hill, it’s a good little workout, but totally manageable. There are also plenty of places to pull over if you need to catch your breath or take a layer off on your way up. Once your up in Shoreline, 185th has a bike lane for a good protion of this route and where it doesn’t, there’s plenty of room on the shoulder for a cyclist.
The COUNTY made the decision that the trail had to be closed for that whole stretch. NOT the city of the LFP. There really are no great detour routes. THe one I mentioned before is the best.
I’m not sure why you want to boycott our wonderful businesses. The owner of Great Harvest is a tremendous bike advocate, He paid for most (if not all) of the mural painted on the backside of business long the trail. He says that he may ride the BAT lane.
Third Place books is a pillar of the community.
Joe – I was trying to follow the route you’re recommending on Bike Route Toaster, but I can’t seem to figure it out. Which direction are you coming from? I’m interested in taking an alternative route from Kenmore into Seattle. Where exactly would I turn to get off the Burke, and do you have turn-by-turn instructions to the point where I’d rejoin the Burke further south?
Dan,
I hope this helps.
From the intersection of Bothell and Ballinger ways, you can either follow the county detour to 37th avenue or you can cut across the city/mall parking lot and go up Hamlin rd which is just N of the Shell station then
turn Right onto Hamlin Rd NE (which may become NE 170th St)
Left onto 37th Ave NE go 0.7 mi
Left onto NE 160th St go 256 ft
1st right onto 38th Ave NE go 0.2 mi
Slight right onto Bothell Way NE go 0.2 mi (I will use the sidewalk)
Turn left onto NE 153rd St go 164 ft (I will cross at cross walk)
Take the 1st right onto 37th Ave NE go 0.2 mi
left onto NE 150th St
Continue straight onto 39th Ave NE go 463 ft
Left onto 40th Ave NE go 407 ft
Turn left to stay on 40th Ave NE go 197 ft
Turn right to stay on 40th Ave NE go 26 ft
Turn right onto Riviera Pl NE Go 0.5 mi
Return to trail
An minor alternative to Joe’s excellent route description which might be considered.
Rather than taking Hamlin Rd NE there is a sidewalk/pathway which connects 522 to 39th Ave NE just south of the Shell Station/Animal Hospital. 39th Ave NE parallels 522 and connects with 38th Ave North via some zigzags. This route is shorter than taking Hamlin Rd NE.
Good luck. I am afraid it is going to to be a long 6 months.
Great call Roy. It is much shorter and a little less elevation gain.
My house is deeper into LFP and I used a mapping site so that I could help others out.
Thanks for these suggestions. I’m planning on taking my daughter on her first 40-mile ride (from Redmond to Mercer Island around the north side of Lake Washington, maybe going around Lake Union as well) so minimizing hills and traffic is extremely helpful! BikeRouteToaster wasn’t working very well the last few days, but whatever kinks it had seem to have gotten worked out, so I’m plotting it out now.
FWIW…I commute from Bothell (roughly I-405 & NE 160th partway along the Brickyard Rd hill) and hit the BG at Blythe Park all the way to either the University Bridge or the Fremont Bridge heading towards South Lake Union area. I figured I’d try the posted detour route for my commute yesterday. The commute went from about 19.3 to 21.3 miles and (for me) added about 460 ft elevation gain on the way in and 360 ft on the way back home. So, it added around 10 minutes to my ride and pretty much doubled the elevation gain over the whole trip. It’s doable, but I keep debating finding an alternative…
I live in the neighborhood. I recommend the sidewalk/pathway that Roy Jensen, four comments back, mentions – on the south side of the animal hospital. But realize, it is very narrow so be prepared to DISMOUNT. Then when 39th Ave NE meets NE 165, you can either go straight for the route where 38 Ave runs into Bothell Way or turn right to meet the official route on 37th Ave. NE.
I rode around the lake Monday and was surprised to find the part of the Burke-Gilman Trail from Ballinger Way to Logboom Park was still open! But there are signs and construction fences along the way so I bet that’s not going to last long.
Headed for the detour, I was in Lake Forest Park, riding south down 47th Ave NE, turning right onto NE 175th, and turning right again onto Ballinger Way NE. I did not stop at both right turns. In the last 8 years I have ridden this route several hundred times, often to visit Third Place Books, which I like very much.
On Ballinger, a Police Officer stopped me with his siren and flashing lights (6/23/11 at around 8 AM). He claimed that I made the right turns at 10-15 MPH. I said that was incorrect, that I made those turns without putting my foot down and without stopping, but at walking pace. I said I was safe. He said something like“Yes. Give me your license.” About fifteen minutes later he said “sorry it took so long” and gave me a ticket for $103.00 (46.61.755) “VIOLATING LAWS WHILE RIDING BIKE.”
I broke the law. That said, I believe that this Police Officer decision to stop me and give me a traffic infraction was arbitrary. More evidence, in my opinion, that something is not quite right with Lake Forest Park.
We live close to the trail on 153rd in Lake Forest Park. Now that the trail has been closed for almost a month, it’s a bit discouraging to see that the only obvious work near us has been constructing fences and barricades. Closing it in summer was deemed necessary to protect streams during salmon spawning, but I would have thought the we’d see some activity by now.
Message to contractor and King Co.–We all miss the trail. Let’s get the work completed in a timely manner to protect returning salmon and finish the project on schedule.
“Critical Mass”.
I know it’s fun, but honestly folks, all Critical Mass activities do is turn people against cyclists. do you really think that delaying people, making them late for an appointment, or any of that makes our cause more accepted?
Old string I know but I thought I would update with my experience so far. Obviously YMMV.
I live near this route and off and on ride the lane up Bothell from Ballinger to 153rd.
Sometimes I just use the bus to get to the top of the hill and take the straight drop down 153rd > 37th > 150th > 39th > 40th to Riviera to the Burke. About a 90 second descent at a slow safe speed.
Anyway bus drivers when I ride their bus have been telling me it is no big deal to for them go around the cyclists they encounter in the lane. And cyclists I have spoken to say they feel safe riding it.
IMHO, If you don’t, I suggest using the bus rack for two stops and taking the drop route to the Burke described above.
It is about a six minute ascent up the hill @10mph from Ballinger to 153rd for me so during rush hour you will be encountered by 2-4 buses. Another caution… Riviera is flat but very rough. Probably more dangerous than the drop … or the bus lane. Again, YMMV!!
As a newb rider, I just came across these comments. Thanks, everyone. I just Googled some of the suggested routes and they look pretty sane. The County’s official alternate route just bites and I won’t be doing it again. And maybe I’ll raise a glass to all the lake dwellers at Riviera Place and thank them (belatedly) for their fine road.
[...] yes, we wrangled over the detour, which was less than satisfactory, leaving many of riders without a safe option. Happily, [...]
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