'#WeekWithoutDriving' Day 4: biking the Burke-Gilman Trail

If you’ve ever biked in Seattle, you’ve probably ridden on one of the most popular paths in town: the Burke-Gilman Trail. In the morning and afternoons, the trail is a cyclist expressway full of commuters on two wheels.

I couldn’t do a week without driving in Seattle without pedaling down the Burke-Gilman.

The nearly 20-mile trail stretches from Kenmore at the top of Lake Washington, through Lake City and the U District, past Lake Union, and all the way to Ballard — well, almost.

On the trail you will see every kind of bike imaginable: e-bikes, cargo bikes, small folding bikes, mountain bikes, standard road bikes, and even tandem bikes with multiple passengers.

During the morning and evening commutes, bicyclists fly down the trail — sometimes to the chagrin of pedestrians or people trying to cross the thoroughfare.

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It is an efficient and mostly safe route for cyclists to get around town.

Mars Greenspun rides an electric Rad Power Bike from Lake City to downtown Seattle for work. Her favorite part of the ride is along the Burke-Gilman.

Bike lanes on the street feel too dangerous, she said.

“I actually got hit by a car about a month ago,” Greenspun said. “I like it but you have to be very, very cautious.

Thankfully, Greenspun said, she was not seriously injured and was able to ride away. Another cyclist, who had also been previously hit by a car, rushed over to see if she was OK.

“It definitely made me aware of how unaware drivers can be,” she said, “I can’t put trust in drivers — I have to put trust in me to watch out and be careful.”

Greenspun prefers staying on the Burke-Gilman because it’s “more of a bike space instead of a car space.”

My favorite part of the trail is along Portage Bay and Lake Union where you can take in lovely views of the water as you ride.

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About a block away from the trail in the University District is the fantastic Agua Verde, a Mexican restaurant and KUOW staff favorite.

I always tell people to order their food to-go (their elote is a summertime specialty) and enjoy it at the nearby Fritz Hedges Waterway Park. The spot has beach access and plenty of bike parking.

Just down the road from Agua Verde is Gasworks Park, one of the city’s most beloved spots to take in views of the Space Needle and the downtown skyline.

Pull the bike over, sprawl on the grass in the sunshine, and plan your next bike adventure.