Katie, 5, and Claire, 7, ride along Lake Washington Boulevard. The City of Seattle closes the street to cars from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on most summer Sundays.
There are plenty of places to stop and explore along Lake Washington Boulevard. Lucy, 9, Sara, 7, and Claire, 9, are about to set sail to a boat made with things they found along the lakeshore.
Five-year-old Katie gets fitted for a new helmet by Morgan Scherer, a bike ambassador with the Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation. The foundation offers free helmet fittings and $10 helmets for sale every Bicycle Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Mt. Baker Rowing and Sailing Center at Stan Sayres Park.
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Tips for Safe Riding from the Cascade Bicycle Club and Seattle Parks and Recreation
Ride in control and ride on the right side of the road.
Wear a helmet at all times. Seattle law requires it and wearing one reduces risk of severe head injury by 85 percent.
Give pedestrians the right of way.
Use hand signals and look before turning.
Obey all traffic signals and vehicle traffic laws.
No more than two cyclists should ride side by side at the same time.
Respect the rights of property owners.
Stay aware: Boulevard residents and boaters need access by car.
Every Sunday, the City of Seattle closes to cars a five-mile stretch of one of its most scenic lake drives, and turns it over to bicycles for "Bicycle Sunday." My family joined in this 43-year-old Seattle tradition for one Sunday afternoon in July.
A light rain – one of the few we've had this summer – was falling the morning of our ride. Undeterred, we packed a picnic, loaded our bikes onto the back of the car and caravanned with our friends to South Lake Washington Boulevard.
Unsure whether the youngest child in our group, age 5, could ride the whole five miles – plus a 2.4-mile loop around Seward Park – and back again, we parked on a neighborhood street at the midway point of the ride. Then we set off on our bikes down the hill to the boulevard, turning right toward Seward Park.
Having an entire road to ourselves was as invigorating as the spectacular views. Houses line the west side of the road, but to the east is an unobstructed view of the lake with several parks that offer a nice place to rest or explore the water.
Our leisurely afternoon with the kids, ages 5, 7, and 9, included more time exploring than riding and that suited the laid-back spirit of the day. Less than two miles into our ride, we reached Seward Park, a 300-acre forested peninsula with a lakeside bike and walking path that loops around the entire park. The kids spent some time on the old metal slides on the playground to the right of the environmental center near the park's entrance. They were wet, but the kids didn't seem to care.
A mile later, on the far side of the park, we stopped for lunch on a rocky beach with a 180-degree view that included Mercer Island, the Interstate 90 floating bridge and the tallest of Seattle's skyscrapers. We skipped rocks and waded in the water.
After lunch, we finished our ride through the park and turned back onto the boulevard, pedaling all the way to the Mt. Baker Rowing and Sailing Center, a little more than halfway to the ride's end at Mt. Baker Beach. By then, the sun had replaced the rain and more families had ventured out to enjoy the day. Tricycles, bike trailers, training wheels and trail-a-bikes all took to the road together. We were all out for a “Sunday drive” – Seattle style.
IF YOU GO
Where: From Mt. Baker Beach to the entrance of Seward Park. Parking is recommended at Mt. Baker Beach, 2521 Lake Park Drive S., at the north end of the ride; Genessee Park, 4316 S. Genesee St., near the midpoint of the ride; and at Seward Park, 5895 Lake Washington Blvd. S, at the south end of the ride. Mt. Baker and Seward Park are the easiest and most convenient locations for families to park. Genesee Park is less than a half mile from Lake Washington Boulevard.
When: Every Sunday, May 3 through Sept. 27 (except July 5, July 26, and Aug. 2), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Bicycle Helmets: The Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation offers free helmet fittings and $10 helmets for sale every Bicycle Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Mt. Baker Rowing and Sailing Center at Stan Sayres Park.
