Kudos to West Seattle warriors
This weekend I dusted off my adventure hat and decided I would leave safe Seattle and bike quest for the amazing pastry created at Bakery Nouveau way out West. Normally I would have just hopped on the water taxi to bypass the no man’s land between downtown and the Alki Trail. But I got up too late. So, with my long-suffering sweetie by my side, I set out from Ballard.
Something happened around pier 46 that I can’t quite explain. As I rolled around potholes and over miniature canyons, deep inside me I began to feel a stirring…
From East Marginal we hit the lower bridge bike trail that leads into West Seattle. As we navigated the funny jogs in the path, and a bizarre many-pointed intersection with no rhyme or reason to the signal cycle, I felt that stirring again…
Safely on the Alki trail we rode along the water to the backside of West Seattle, up to Fauntleloy to California to Bakery Nouveau, source of all wonderful pastry. Fully loaded, we turned toward home, heading east at the Junction and making our way to Avalon. Screaming down Avalon at 30+ miles per hour (that’s screaming for me) and scanning for danger, I again felt that stirring with me, and I realized this feeling has a name. Respect.
I have strong and total respect for every bike commuter from West Seattle. You have to navigate some of the worst-signed bike routes in the city, in moonscape-like pocked-up lanes replete with debris, and you do it in the company of 18-wheelers that don’t mind taking a bit out of the curb bulb when they make right turns. You. Guys. Are. Tough. Aili, Ernie and Ignacio (and many others), here’s to you!
Comments
Jun 08
Carol
I am impressed with all you riders! I am glad your pastry hit the spot!
Jun 08
Carol
I am impressed with all you riders! I am glad your pastry hit the spot!
Jun 08
Aili
I constanlty encourage all cyclists who commute south; to West Seattle, White Center, Burien, etc. to contact SBAB and the city and make sure our route is updated and preserved. Some improvements have been made in the past year (yes, this route is actually a little better now, if you can believe it), but we want to make sure we are heard during these planning stages for the viaduct/tunnel construction. There’a a great opportunity for a massively improved bicycle infrastructure for the south end and so far what I’ve heard is not too encouraging...bicycling will become a more important transportation link in the near future!
Jun 09
Ignacio
Robbie, we appreciate your kudos. But what we really need is some respect from the city, and better street patching on bicycle lanes. How much would it cost to lay down a sweet 3-foot-wide bike lane from downtown to West Seattle? One without bumps, as smooth and quiet as the new asphalt on I-5 north of Marysville? And really, how much would it cost to at least run a sweeper down this route once in a while? Whether I’m driving or biking, I always see some poor cyclist changing his blown tire along the way. Think about it. If cars had to fix flats at these rates, someone would be calling for a recall election already!
However, I agree that Bakery Nouveau rocks West Seattle! Don’t miss the BLT!
Jun 09
Zack
Oops. I missed the BLT.