Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Biking

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From training wheels to ten-speeds.




We’ve gone from hauling our kiddos behind our bikes in a trailer to years on training wheels and trail-a-bikes, to now doing a 15 mile loop around West Seattle as a family. Although the one thing that hasn’t changed is it usually involves a stop somewhere along the way for a tasty treat.

Here is a list of our go to places:


LEARNING TO RIDE

All these are small paved paths/areas located in a park or in areas without cars.

  • EC Hughes Playground 2805 SW Holden Street
    This playground was recently redone but still has the great little loop that’s perfect for little ones on trikes, scooters and training wheels. Plus in the summer, there’s a wading pool open on certain days.

  • Ercolini Playground 4542 48th Ave SW
    This playground has a small paved loop for little ones and is known for having quite a collection of riding toys that live at the park.

  • Myrtle Reservoir
    • 3600 SW Myrtle Street 
    The upper part of the park has a nice flat paved path with benches and a large grassy area. The lower park of the park has a play area.

  • Westcrest Park 9000 8th Ave SW
    Large flat paved circular path that sits atop the now covered reservoir and near the play area.

  • School playgrounds Most schools have large blacktop areas that are perfect for first time rides with and without training wheels.


READY TO GO A BIT FARTHER

Paved paths with options to ride longer distances and some will hills. All are separate from the street.

  • Lincoln Park—2 miles round trip 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW
    An easy flat trail along the water that’s great for kids looking for a bit more distance. Starting from the South parking lot, you can either walk or ride down the hill to the beach. The trail is paved from here to just past Coleman Pool but you can continue riding on the gravel path to the end of the park or even continue on to Lowman Beach. The upper part of the park also has a lot of wide flat unpaved trails that are good for a bit more adventure once you're off training wheels. 
    See route

  • West Seattle Bridge to Alki Beach—Up to 8 miles round trip  A paved flat trail along the Elliott Bay shoreline is a good choice for a variety of ages since distance can be tailored (just park closer to Alki Beach) and there are a lot of places to stop along the way. Now that my kids are older, we start just north of the WS Bridge, parking along Harbor Ave and bike all the way to the main strip Alki. It will start to get congested around the water taxi dock so this can make a good turn around point or a place to stop and get lunch. You can also take a side trip to Jack Block Park, which is right before Salty’s. 
    See route

  • Jack Block Park—1 mile round trip, parking lot to observation tower 2130 Harbor Ave SW
    A somewhat hidden park off Harbor Ave—look for an archway with an upside down orange metal boat—that has a paved trail with lots of fun ups and downs with the payoff at the end of a little beach to play on and an overlook with views of the city. This was where we went once my kiddos needed a bit more excitement and to practice learning to break without running holes in the soles of their shoes. You can park in the main parking lot for a longer rider or keep going and there’s a smaller one that’s right by the beach and an overlook with a wide paved area and just a few hills.
    See route

  • Duwamish Trail—1 to 4 miles round trip Best starting spot is to park at Terminal 107 Park, 4500 Duwamish Trail
    This flat trail runs along the Duwamish waterway and goes past the Duwamish Longhouse and a handful of Port of Seattle parks. It also connects up with the Alki trail to the north or you can take south to connect to the Green River trail. However, it’s along a noisy industrial stretch of road with lots of traffic and wouldn’t recommend this for younger kiddos.
    See route options
    Add on: Check out this activity guide for kids from Duwamish Alive!



TWEENS/TEENS

A couple options for trying trail riding and longer distances that involve riding on streets.


  • Westcrest Park (updated 5/1/22—no longer an option) 9000 8th Ave SW
    In addition to the paved path by the play area there is a network of trails you can check out to get a taste of what it’s like to ride on trails with ups, downs and some roots. However you’ll need to go slow watch for hikers. For real trail riding, we head just outside WS to     North Sea-Tac Park.

  • Loop around West Seattle—20+ miles Depending on where you live you can combine some of the paved trails with greenways and sharrows to do a loop around the peninsula. 
    Here’s a map of a route we’ve done.
    Updated May 2022—Stretch along Beach Drive between Me-Kwa-Mooks Park and Lowman Beach seems to be a lot rougher riding than last year. Don't recommend for younger kiddos.

  • Bikepacking trip to Manchester State Park
    Fun overnight trip my teen and I did last summer. Starts at the Fauntleroy ferry dock and possible for families with younger kiddos to do it too.



JUST OUTSIDE WEST SEATTLE

Not too far off the peninsula, especially if you live on the south end, are options for riders of all ages.


  • White Center Bike Playground  11050 10th Ave SW
    First bike playground in our state located at Dick Thurnau Memorial Park has stop signs, intersections, a one-way street and even a roundabout for kids to navigate.
    More info
    Added May 2022—While you're there check out the disc golf course. 

  • Green River Trail We usually start by parking at Cecil Moses Memorial Park (11099 27th Ave S, Tukwila) and riding south towards Fort Dent/Starfire Sports for a 10 mile round trip ride. During the summer we would ride to the Tukwila Community Center to play at the spray park, have lunch and then ride back for about 4 miles round trip. For older kids you can start from West Seattle via the Duwamish trail. Parking at the T107 Park (4500 Duwamish Trail, Seattle) and riding to Cecil Moses adds another 11 miles RT with a mix of trail and street riding.  More info and trail map

  • North Sea-Tac Park Next to the BMX park, which is super fun, there is a whole network on trails for mountain biking ranging from easy to hard. Signage is not the best and you can’t get too lost but I always bring a printed map with me.
    More info and trail map
    Updated May 2022—BMX park is under renovations and is temporarily closed. Also haven't ridden the trails this year since our weekly soccer practice that had us down there has moved fields. Hope to check it out soon.

  • Bikepacking trip to Manchester State Park
    Fun overnight trip my teen and I did last summer. Starts at the Fauntleroy ferry dock and possible for families with younger kiddos to do it too.

OTHER:
  • Wheel Fun Rentals on Alki (Seasonal)—Added 5/2/22
    Offers a variety of bike rentals—regular, electric, choppers and surreys—self-guide tours and a team-building scavenger hunt. 

RESOURCES:


BIKE SHOPS:
A list of shops around West Seattle that have bikes and/or service bikes. We’ve had experience with some but not all.

  • Alki Bike & Board 2606 California Ave SW

  • Angle Lake Cyclery (White Center) 9421 16th Ave SW

  • Rat City Bikes (White Center)
    9614 16th Ave SW

  • Second Gear Sports 6529 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98136

  • Seattle E-Bike 4517 California Ave SW

  • Westside Bicycle 3418 Harbor Ave SW