A person bikes north along the waterfront’s new protected bike lane near Alaskan Way and Marion St. Photo: SDOT Blog stats: 800 words | 4-minute read
Editor’s Note: This is a blog post from the Waterfront Seattle Program. The Waterfront Seattle Program is a collaboration between the Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects and City of Seattle departments including the Mayor’s Office, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), Planning and Community Development, and Parks and Recreation.
The Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects is excited to celebrate the new protected bike lanes along Waterfront Park on Saturday, March 8. Providing a connection between Pioneer Square and Belltown like never before, the 1.2-mile-long bike path supports the vision for a greener, more connected city.
This summer, the protected bike lane will extend another 0.6 miles to the north with the completion of the Alaskan Way Safety Project. By summer 2026, additional improvements for people biking will be completed in the form of the new, three-quarters of a mile long, protected greenway trail being built on the east side of Alaskan Way between Pier 62 and the Olympic Sculpture Park as part of the Elliott Bay Connections project.
Join the celebration on March 8
All are welcome to join on Saturday, March 8 between 11 AM and 2 PM at Pier 62 (1951 Alaskan Way) to celebrate this new space and ride on the bike lanes. No RSVP is needed, and the event is free and open to all.
Staff and volunteers from Cascade Bicycle Club, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways, Alaskan Way Safety Project and Elliott Bay Connections project will be joining us to share information on biking safety and future bike connections coming to the waterfront.
What to expect
The new protected bike lane extends from S King St to Bell St on Alaskan and Elliott ways, and on Alaskan Way between Elliott Way and Virginia St, with varying features based on the nearby conditions. On the south end and along the waterfront piers, bicyclists will enjoy a two-way protected bike lane on the west side of Alaskan Way along the waterfront. North of the Aquarium and Overlook Walk, the bike lane transitions to two one-way protected bike lanes on both sides of Elliott Way.
Each segment is described in more detail in the Protected Bike Lanes on the Waterfront factsheet.
Enjoying Waterfront Park: Know before you go
For bicyclists looking to enjoy the open spaces at Waterfront Park, there are over 30 new bike racks spread throughout the park to support access to other amenities. People biking can easily take a moment to rest, enjoy permanent artworks, take in views of Elliott Bay, or visit local businesses.
Waterfront Park is a place where people can explore, gather, and linger, whether on foot or by bike.
The City’s Seattle Center, long known for its ability to successfully maintain and operate large civic spaces, will provide dedicated operations, maintenance, and safety teams to ensure the protected bike lane is well cared for and safe.
Wheeled devices such as bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, inline skates, and scooters, are allowed in the protected bike lane when traveling. The use of all wheeled devices on the waterfront’s walking promenade is prohibited, except for children’s strollers and equipment used by disabled individuals for their mobility needs. If you are traveling through the promenade to reach a bike rack or your job on one of the piers you can walk your bike along the promenade to do so.
Additional bike improvements ahead
Bell St will also feature a two-way protected bike lane between Elliott and 1st avenues. This bike lane will be constructed as part of the Bell Street Improvements Project, now under construction and anticipated to be complete in early summer.
The Alaskan Way Safety Project, which began construction in late 2024, will fill a gap in the bike lane network along the western side of Alaskan Way from Virginia St to Broad St. This project is anticipated to be completed this summer.
Nearby, the Elliott Bay Connections project will create a new, protected greenway trail on the east side of Alaskan Way, between Pier 62 and the Olympic Sculpture Park, for people of all ages and abilities to walk, bike, and roll. Construction on the greenway trail began in February and is expected to be complete in summer 2026.