Just got back from a family wedding in Seattle,
where my girlfriend and I were able to rent bikes and
cruise around for a few days. First of all I have
to say that this is a great city, and I loved pretty
much every minute of it. First day on the bikes
we rolled north up the Burke-Gilman from our
home base in the Montlake area, then the
Sammammish River Trail to the end, then
west somehow and south back through the
city. We didn't have odo's but it felt like
about a 50-miler. The B-G was a great
rec trail and no doubt serves many commuters
as well--I was surprised to find it surfaced with
asphalt instead of Portland cement concrete as
I had imagined it. I was also surprised and pleased
to find the paths replete with children out cruising
with parents and older siblings.
Second day we rolled into downtown and
just rode around for a while to get the feel
of the place. I would love to deliver packages
in a city with hills like that. Then we inhaled
some fish n chips and got onto the Bainbridge
Island ferry with the rest of the family. While
the family wandered about staring at sale
racks in expensive boutiques and eating
lunch and languishing in a semicatatonic
state in the town there, we took off for a
loop around the island. What a great ride,
rolling hills through thick rainforest, gorgeous
homes. About 10 miles in we realized that
we had forgotten to bring any water.
Perhaps due to the high humidity that
we weren't exactly used to riding in, neither
of us really got thirsty. The loop turned
out to be a little over 30 miles. If I were a
Seattle local, I think I would go do that ride
every now and again just for kicks.
At some point, we noticed a sign claiming that
a MHL exists and is enforced on the island.
Neither one of us had a helmet, but the police
passed us a few times and didn't seem interested
in making an issue of it.
Overall we found the drivers to be more
considerate of cyclists and other drivers
than they are here on the Front Range.
Noticed immediately while driving from
the airport up Hiway 5 a lower level
of aggressive driving and rage on the roads.
Bike commuters were numerous, and
well 'put-together.' Surely they are out there,
but I don't think I noticed a single random
immigrant-sidewalk-cruising-mart-bike
guy, the type of rider which makes up the
majority of bike commuters here.
Robert