If you haven’t seen Seattle by bike then you haven’t seen Seattle. I think it is really the best way to see the city, and after coming to that realization after years of biking around Seattle, I now try to bike when I am visiting other cities. In order to becoming a great scenic bike city, you need the scenery and you need the bike trails. Seattle has both (although some routes are still in work). I have biked many other cities and Seattle is still my favorite. Coming in second is Vancouver BC. Portland and San Diego have some good trails and are close. Northern Europe cities like Stockholm, Copenhagen and Amsterdam are also in the running. I have heard the New York and Boston have recently put in a lot more bike infrastructure but I haven’t been able to see it yet.
But Seattle has a lot going for it. Mountains, lakes, rivers, awesome bridges, canals, tunnels, saltwater beaches, fresh water beaches, great parks, new architecture, old architecture, and so many different fantastic neighborhoods.
I have come up with 5 rides that are all around 15-20 miles that are perfect to show off our beautiful city. These are great for people that are newer to riding, new to Seattle or just want to take some awesome photos. They all start from my home on Beacon Hill but many can be done using Light Rail or buses to get you started or get you home.
Honorable Mention Rides- My commute ride along the Green River and Duwamish Trails, Lake Washington Loop Trails, Burke Gilman to Bothell, and the North Interurban.
Click on each of the 5 posts to see some scenic pics from each of the rides.
Scenic Bike Ride #1 Lake Washington – South
Scenic Ride #2 Lake Washington North
Scenic Ride #3 Capitol Hill Lake Union
Scenic Ride #4 Alki Beach
Scenic Ride #5 Fremont, Ballard and Waterfront
