Last weekend, WSDOT held “Go Long” which celebrated the (almost) completion of the new Hwy 520 floating bridge, the worlds longest at 7,710 feet (~ 1.5 miles).
There was something for everyone:
–Saturday morning was a 10 km run/walk followed by a day-long family-friendly “experience” that included a Build-a-Bridge activity, and STEM activities sponsored by the Pacific Science Center. The announcers at the run claimed there were between 13,000-14,000 participants. The first male finished in about 32 minutes, and the first female in about 36 minutes.
I attended the 10 km run as a spectator. A bonus that morning was my first trip on Link light rail from the new University of Washington to Capitol Hill stations. Because when you need a coffee from Vivace on Broadway you cannot get there fast enough. The subway experience was effortless (I have an ORCA Card so didn’t have to figure out how to pay). Both facilities still have that appealing “new” subway station smell.
–Sunday was the Emerald City Bike Ride presented by the Cascade Bicycle Club. The options included an 8-mile out and back across the new bridge, and a 21-mile loop through Seattle via a southbound excursion on I-5 Express Lanes.
I was excited to participate in the ride as soon as I heard about it. Although I’m not a fan of crowded event rides, how often do you get to legally ride a bike down the middle of a freeway?
As the date approached, some members of the cycling community were surprised to learn that the leadership of the Tacoma Wheelmen’s Bicycle Club planned to “crash” the event, contending that bicyclists shouldn’t have to pay to cycle the bridge. In the comments section of a The News Tribune article, Wheelmen’s President Darrell Slinger posted a letter he sent to Governor Jay Inslee, that included these excerpts:
“I find it inappropriate and offensive to taxpayers and bicycle riders in particular. Charging $40 to $50 dollars to ride over the bridge that the taxpayers paid for is an excessive toll. I understand that it is a Cascade ride and there will be things happening in connection with their ride beyond the bridge. Yet it is a toll to a private non-governmental group if you just want to ride on the bridge, it is wrong.”
and:
“I and The Tacoma Wheelmen’s Bicycle Club plan to schedule an organized ride to cross the 520 bridge that day. Will we be stopped? Who will stop us? The Washington State Patrol, Seattle Police, Cascade Bicycle Club or ? We hope we are not.”
According to the Cascade Bicycle Club, the Wheelmen’s proposed “organized ride” was not an issue. I did not notice anyone wearing Wheelmen’s kit, but I did see a crew of at least five unicyclists at the east end of 520.
The ride was two hours of ambling along and snapping pictures around Seattle. After a lengthy start process, there were additional pinch points wherever the road tipped upwards, and at narrow sections like where the route transitioned from a street to a bike trail. Registration was initially capped at 6,000, but was increased to 7,000. Cascade speculates that some of the slowdown on Montlake was attributable to the larger crowd.
Although the new 520 was the main attraction for most, the ride down Interstate 5 was more compelling to me. As we approached the on-ramp volunteers advised us we were about to enter “cycling paradise.” I can’t say that I experienced cycling nirvana (that is more likely to happen on a lonely country road), but it was certainly interesting to experience a freeway at the speed of bike. I stopped on the Ship Canal Bridge to snap photos from a rare vantage point of Lake Union, Queen Ann, and the University District. There were two homeless encampments along the east side of the freeway that you probably wouldn’t notice in an automobile.
Tom Fucoloro, who produces The Seattle Bike Blog, pondered the potential implications for bike policy and infrastructure in this account of his ride experience.
As the ride date approached, the grievance from the Tacoma Wheelmen’s faded and another possible storyline became apparent: Who would be at the top of the Strava leaderboard for 520 and I-5? Strava devotees have a reputation for “segment chasing” and I wondered who and how aggressively folks would go for it. I was a little concerned that, based on previous behaviors by some Strava fans, the pursuit of the segments would result in unsafe riding. Fortunately, as it turned out, the Strava segment winners were just having fun on their bikes.
Taldi Walters scored the women’s KOM on 520:
“It was a beautiful morning to ride into the sunrise, carefree with 20 of my Group Health teammates, and most importantly on a fresh road and no cars. My teammates and I were joking about how there wasn’t a Strava segment; it was pure luck! I was just conversing the whole time!”
Alexa Volwiler (a Cascade Ride Leader and Board Member) scored the women’s KOM on I-5:
“I just have to say ‘wow!’ about the Emerald City Ride. Cascade knows how to put on great events, and this one was no exception. The food was great, the ride support was great, the volunteers were wonderful, and the traffic guards did a perfect job providing clear roads for bicyclists. Riding on roads normally dedicated to vehicle traffic only was a truly unique experience. I also must give kudos to the staff. What a wonderful experience!”
“And, in good fun, I also managed to set the record of QOM on the I-5 Express Lanes, which will be a real challenge to beat until next year!”
Walt Nestell (Audi Racing) scored the men’s KOMs on both 520 and I-5:
“I did not target a KOM although I do enjoy the KOM feeling. I just like to hammer and get the huge work-out. I’ve been racing the road races here this year for the Audi Team. I think that has helped get me in shape.
The I-5 section was a lot of fun, also. After a few minutes the motorcycle escort said that I was good to go and I had no problem passing him, so I took off and hit the gas.
The whole thing was one of the coolest rides I’ve ever experienced as cyclist, and will definitely be back if it happens again!”
Instead of doing the full route proper, we peeled off in Leschi and climbed Madrona to meet High Performance Cycling buddies at Métier Racing & Coffee for post-ride coffees and savory waffles.
We finished the morning at another new cycling cafe, Peloton, to make it a three-coffee ride.
Cascade has a goal of putting on a similar ride in the future.
