Bike commuters queued up at stoplight on 2nd Avenue.
The snow was a good excuse for many (but not all) of us to ignore our bikes last week, but now that highs are back around 50 with a grey blanket of clouds, it’s time to bundle up and befriend our bikes again.
Chapter 3 of the #SeattleSqueeze continues with Connect 2020 Link light rail disruptions. We appreciate all of the transit riders who are navigating this short term inconvenience by patiently waiting for trains and switching up their commute patterns.
One way we’ve seen commutes shift is an increase in bike ridership, which took off dramatically with the Viaduct closure and hasn’t stopped since. In 2019 compared to 2018, we saw a 12% increase of bike rides over the Fremont Bridge and 22% increase of bike rides on 2nd Avenue!
If you had big intentions to incorporate biking into your commute – but then were discouraged by the snow last week – here are three reasons you should hop back on your bike.
BikeLink locker at KCM Park & Ride in Shoreline. Image by Melissa Gaughan of King County Metro.
New on-demand bike lockers
Does it make sense for you to bike to a Link light rail station, but you don’t want to bring your bike on the train (especially since no bikes are allowed at Pioneer Square Station during Connect 2020)? There’s a new way to store your bike at light rail stations: BikeLink on-demand lockers.
For 5 cents an hour (yes you read that correctly!) you can safely and securely store your bike at the UW, SODO, and Rainier Beach stations. Each of those stations have at least 30 first-come, first-served lockers. These bike lockers are accessible 24/7 and you can store your bike for up to 12 days. To get started, simply purchase a BikeLink card online. There are also BikeLink lockers at 12 King County Metro stations. Your BikeLink access card can be used at any of these locations.
There are still leased bike lockers, bike cages, and bike racks at most light rail stations. Learn more about all the bike parking options at Link light rail stations.
Protected Bike Lane on 2nd Avenue.
New protected bike lanes
In 2019 we made big steps towards having a connected network of protected bike lanes in Seattle’s business district.
Protected bike lanes make biking a reliable travel choice and calm traffic as more people compete for limited street space. New protected bike lanes were installed to connect the Dearborn St and 2nd Ave bike lanes along S Main St and 5th Ave S. These, plus new bike facilities on 7th Ave and King St, will take you from the International/Chinatown Station to the University Station and connect you to other downtown destinations.
We also opened protected bike lanes on 9th Ave N, 8th Ave N, Pike St, and a neighborhood greenway on South King Street. Check out all of Seattle’s bike lanes and plan your commute.
JUMP bike with Seattle in the background. Photo by Niki Seligman
New 20% off Jump Bike discount code
Don’t have a bike or don’t want to lug around a heavy U lock? Try getting around by bike share. JUMP bikes is offering a discount during Connect 2020 – riders simply apply the promotion code “JUMPCON20” to their accounts, and their subsequent rides will be 20 percent off until mid-March.
Ready. Set. BIKE!
If you are new to biking, the Seattle By Bike guide has an overview of everything you need to know to get started. Cascade Bicycle Club has a ton of resources and classes to help new bikers feel comfortable on the road.
It’s rainy out there – remember to dress for the weather, wear brightly colored or reflective clothes, use front and rear lights, and always wear a helmet.