Yesler bike path
In 2019 we added 35 blocks of bike lanes to our Center City Bike Network.
For the first time, people of all ages and abilities have a safer bike connection all the way from the Chinatown-International District to South Lake Union and beyond! Last year we added protected bike lanes along 8th Ave, Pike Street, 9th Ave, and connected the 2nd Ave protected bike lanes to Dearborn St protected bike lanes along S Main St, 5th Ave S, King St, and 7th Ave S.
Map of City Center Bike Network projects completed in 2019.
The connected Center City Bike Network is part of Mayor Jenny Durkan’s 2019 to 2024 Bike Master Plan update that invests $76 million over six years in making significant progress toward connecting our bike network, including 50 miles of new bike facilities and 29 miles of new projects funded through design and planning.
“As our city continues to grow, we believe active & healthy transportation is critical to move people through the city and address climate change.”
Mayor Jenny Durkan
Since 2006, the percentage of people who bike to work has increased by 22% while the number of people driving to work fell 14%.
In fact, Seattle had the nation’s greatest drop in drive-alone commuting over the past decade. We’re proud of that distinction, and we’re committed to keeping that trend going.
“When cities invest in protected bike networks the number – and diversity – of people biking skyrockets. Seattle is no different. Biking in Seattle is on the up, especially downtown, thanks to the city’s focus on closing dangerous gaps between existing routes. Under the Mayor’s leadership, the city has added important connections and the results speak for themselves. But it’s not just about ridership. Almost anyone who’s biked in Seattle has a story of a near miss, or worse. Every gap leaves people vulnerable, and while good work has been done, real gaps remain. We must continue to act with urgency to build a complete bike network, so that anyone who wants to bike can do so safely and comfortably.”
Cascade Bicycle Club
Over the next 20 years, it’s expected that Seattle will add 115,000 jobs. Companies like Expedia, Facebook, Amazon, Google, and many others are encouraging employees to get to work in active and healthy ways.
“Seattle is a growing city. We understand now more than ever that bicycles are an important part of our transportation system – moving people to work, school, parks, shopping areas, and other destinations. Our investments in bicycle facilities, many of which are funded by the Levy to Move Seattle, are a big part of making Seattle a safe, connected, and sustainable city. The Center City Bike Network makes biking downtown safer and more comfortable for riders of all ages and abilities. The Levy to Move Seattle Oversight Committee is pleased to join the city in celebrating this significant accomplishment.”
Joe Laubach, Levy to Move Seattle Oversight Committee
Thank you, Seattle voters for making many of these projects possible by approving the 2015 Move Seattle Levy. Our investments in bicycle facilities, many of which are funded by the Levy to Move Seattle, are a big part of making Seattle a safe, connected, and sustainable city. These projects demonstrate that we are back on track to deliver our Levy commitments, and we’ll continue to build more new bike facilities each year.
We’re looking forward to more connections & committed to continuing to build safer bike connections promised in the Bike Master Plan.
This includes more protected connections through downtown like the 4th Ave protected bike lane, and completing the gap on Pike Street between 7th Ave and 9th Ave.
“Our local chapter Central Seattle Greenways led an extensive community engagement effort on Pike and Pine Streets that resulted in a community supported bike plan. Changes to our streets can often be controversial, but when community members constructively talk to each other, we can build streets that work better for everyone. And now we’re already seeing major benefits, and people are able to get to local businesses, schools, and to downtown safely and conveniently by bike.”
Clara Cantor, Community Organizer for Seattle Neighborhood Greenways
We’re planning to build a new connection along Bell St from 2nd Ave to 7th Ave. We’ll also be continuing work on the S King St Greenway, which will connect to a new protected bike lane 12th Ave S providing a better biking experience for people traveling to southeast Seattle.