— Advertisement —

The 2017 Emerald Bike Ride will make a big freeway loop on 520, I-90 and I-5

The 2017 route, from Cascade.
The 2017 route, from Cascade.

For the second annual Emerald Bike Ride, Cascade Bicycle Club is scaling up big time. The full route is longer, the start location is bigger and the rider limit has been set at a stunning 10,000 people. That’s 3,000 more people than the sold-out 2016 ride. If the 2017 event also sells out it would reach the same size as the club’s signature Seattle-to-Portland ride.

The May 28 route, announced this week, remains focused on providing bike access to freeways where biking is banned. The ride includes the I-5 Express Lanes and the 520 Bridge as it did last year. So if you regret missing a rare chance to bike on car-free freeways last year, you will have another chance.

But instead of going out and back on 520, the route will travel through Medina and Bellevue to connect to the I-90 Express Lanes leading back to the new start line on Occidental next to CenturyLink Field (why they dropped “City” from the former “Emerald City Bike Ride” name). This is almost certainly your only chance to bike on the I-90 Express Lanes, since East Link light rail construction is already underway and will soon occupy that space.


— Advertisement —

The full 24.4-mile route only includes 1,237 feet of climbing, a nearly impossible feat in this hilly region outside of the freeway system. There is also a cheaper, flatter and shorter 10-mile route option up and down I-5 for people who can’t or don’t want to bike 24 miles.

The biggest catch is that unlike many other open streets events in Seattle and across the world, this ride costs money. That’s not exactly Cascade’s fault, of course. It costs a lot of money to plan and host such a gigantic event. And the ride is a fundraiser for Cascade’s education programming.

The full route is $40 for non-members if you register online (there are discounts for members and youth as well as scholarships). Online registration is set to close May 24, or earlier if it sells out.

The experience is worth the cash.

Emerald City Bike Ride 2016 on the I-5 Express Lanes.
Emerald City Bike Ride 2016 on the I-5 Express Lanes.

About the author:


Related posts:

Comments

7 responses to “The 2017 Emerald Bike Ride will make a big freeway loop on 520, I-90 and I-5”

  1. Alkibkr

    Waaaah..will we ever get a chance to ride on what is left of the Alaskan Way Viaduct?

    1. Nick

      Looking at Cascade’s Ride with GPS makes it seem like the Viaduct was an option. That would have been cool.

      https://ridewithgps.com/routes/18379647

      1. asdf2

        Does anybody has suggestions for earplugs that fit under a bicycle helmet, and are likely to stay plugged in after miles of riding? Some parts of the I-5 express lanes can get very loud, with cars still driving on the regular lanes. (Last year’s ride, the quietest part of the I-5 express lanes was the ship canal bridge, the loudest part, passing underneath the Convention Center downtown).

    2. Jen

      If Cascade continues with the theme of saying hello or goodbye to car infrastructure it will probably happen next year.

  2. Bicycle Freeways!
    Non stop pedaling, limited terrain, limited access. I often travel at about 20 mph while driving on the freeway. On a bicycle freeway I could do about the same or better.

  3. […] Ride on: Riders of the 2017 Emerald Bike Ride will get a chance to make a loop around Lake Washington via SR-520, I-90, and I-5. […]

  4. Sh. A

    Can anyone answer this question please.
    Is this bike ride for kids? Are we, at any point, biking on street, where cars are present?

— Advertisement —

Bike Events Calendar

Sep
28
Thu
7:15 pm Point83 @ Westlake Park
Point83 @ Westlake Park
Sep 28 @ 7:15 pm
Point83 @ Westlake Park
Meet up in the center of the park at 7ish. Leave at 730. Every Thursday from now until forever rain or shine. Bikes, beers, illegal firepits, nachos, bottlerockets, timetraveling, lollygagging, mechanicals, good times.ShareMastodonTwitterFacebookRedditEmail
Sep
30
Sat
all-day Reach the Beach Washington Cycle… @ Lacey, Washington
Reach the Beach Washington Cycle… @ Lacey, Washington
Sep 30 all-day
Reach the Beach Washington welcomes riders from across the PNW on September 30, 2023 to enjoy a fast and flat century ride starting in Lacey, WA and ending with a celebration on the beach in … Read more
10:00 am Beacon Hill Safe Streets Family … @ Beacon Hill Library
Beacon Hill Safe Streets Family … @ Beacon Hill Library
Sep 30 @ 10:00 am
Beacon Hill Safe Streets Family Bike Parade @ Beacon Hill Library | Seattle | Washington | United States
Join us for a family bike Parade from the Beacon Hill Library to Jefferson Park playground! There will be bike decorating, snacks, drinks, and more. We’ll be hosting a slow, family paced bike ride starting … Read more
10:00 am Family Bike Parade with Beacon H…
Family Bike Parade with Beacon H…
Sep 30 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Beacon Hill Safe Streets Family Bike Parade!Sept 30th, 10:00 amJoin us for a family bike parade from the Beacon Hill Library to Jefferson Park Playground. There will be bike decorating, snacks, drinks, and more.Start at … Read more
Oct
3
Tue
6:30 pm West Seattle Bike Connections mo… @ Online
West Seattle Bike Connections mo… @ Online
Oct 3 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
 ShareMastodonTwitterFacebookRedditEmail
— Advertisements —

Latest on Mastodon

Loading Mastodon feed…

Latest on YouTube