Bicycle Tour 2008
Bicycle the Bloom will again be offered for the special price of $20. For those opting to ride their bicycles, a map will be provided at the Hub check-in or the Bike Barn at the Bainbridge ferry terminal, and secure bike parking will be available at each garden. Bike the Bloom tickets are available at Classic Cycles and BI Cycle on Bainbridge Island.
*If purchased on-line between July 1 and July 10, bicycle tickets will be available as "Will Call" at the bus hub. Or, if you prefer, exchange your Bicycle the Bloom ticket for a garden program, detailed map and directions for cyclists at two locations: the bus hub or the Bike Barn at the Bainbridge Ferry Terminal.
Here is how to Bike onto the Ferry
Ride through the car toll booths, just like a car, stop and pay a fare. For up-to-date ferry ticket prices, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries.
After paying at the tollbooth, cyclists cross the parking lot and stop in front of the cars. Ferry personnel will direct bicyclists onto the ferry.
Arriving at Bainbridge, ride off before cars, as directed by the ferry personnel. If you are on a ferry at low tide, the exit ramp will be steep, so be sure to gear down. Ride up the ramp and follow the road as it goes gently uphill. The Bike Barn is on the right side as you exit, west of the ferry terminal.. Unfortunately, once the motorcycles and cars start exiting, the traffic can be quite busy. If you are not used to traffic riding, wheel your bike on the sidewalk.
Returning to Seattle
When you return to Seattle, you do not have to pay again, as you have already paid for a round trip ticket. Cycle through the car toll booths without stopping, staying to the right of the vehicles waiting to board, and head down to the covered parking area right next to the on-load ramp. Wait there to board the ferry.
Biking from Kingston
You may also bike to Bainbridge from the Edmonds-Kingston ferry. The bike ride is about 20 miles of busy roadway, with a variety of shoulders. Once you cross the Agate Pass Bridge to the Island, follow the highway into Winslow and the Seattle ferry.
Agate Pass Bus
You do have the option of boarding a Kitsap Transit bus (Route 90 Poulsbo/Bainbridge) at the Agate Passage Park and Ride (on the north side of the bridge, on Hwy 305, at the casino parking entrance) and getting off anywhere along the bus route. Kitsap Transit vehicles can transport up to 3 bicycles per vehicle.
For further detail and schedules, go to www.kitsaptransit.org, and note that schedule start times vary on Saturday and Sunday.
2008 Bainbridge in Bloom: Bicycling to the Gardens
Exchange your ticket for a garden program, detailed map and directions for cyclists at two locations: the bus hub (click here for map to bus hub) or the Bike Barn at the Ferry Terminal.
To get to the bus hub, after exiting the ferry, ride up Olympic Drive to stop light. Turn left along Winslow Way, the main street in downtown Bainbridge Island. At the Madison Avenue stop sign, bike up Madison Avenue, a gentle uphill grade. Proceed straight through the roundabout and then take the first left, entering the Bainbridge Island School District & Bainbridge Island pool. Take the next left and follow the lane to the bike racks and Bike the Bloom booth. Total mileage from the ferry to the Bainbridge In Bloom hub is a little over 1.5 miles.
The Bike Barn is located at the Ferry Terminal, immediately to the right after exiting the boat.
The recommended route to see all the gardens is 20.6 miles, beginning and ending at the bus hub. The route makes use of bike lanes and avoids travel on Highway 305. It includes a number of hills and some travel on packed gravel roads. At least a moderate level of cardiovascular fitness is required to comfortably ride to all the gardens on a single day. Of course, you may modify your route by seeing the gardens in any order, skipping one or more of the gardens, or increasing the length of the route to see other parts of the island. You may also choose to visit some of the gardens on Saturday and some on Sunday (one visit per garden).
General Bike Information on Bainbridge Island
Bicycle rentals are available through Classic Cycle on Bainbridge Island, www.classiccyclesus.com, phone 206-842-9191. Reservations are highly recommended. The Classic Cycle store on 310 Winslow Way. In addition to Classic Cycle, the Island has a second full service bike shop: BI Cycle, 162 Bjune Dr. SE, b-i-cycle.com, phone 842-6413. Both bike shops will be selling tickets for the event.
It is always recommended that you lock your bike. There are bike racks by the front door and on the east side of Town & Country Market on Winslow Way; at Winslow Green at the corner of Madison Avenue and Winslow Way; and at the Winslow Mall on Winslow Way (great public restrooms here, also).
A nice area of flat riding and beach access is on the South end near Lynwood Center and Ft. Ward State Park, where you'll find the Treehouse Café, Walt's Lynwood Center Market, and Lynwood Theatre. You may cycle West, along Crystal Springs, or South, along Pleasant Beach Drive, for a lovely ride.
The classic island ride is the 33 mile perimeter Chilly Hilly route. Basically, one follows the main roads that circle the Island, including Ferncliff, Sunrise, Miller, Fletcher Bay, Lynwood Center, Rockaway Beach, and Eagle Harbor Drive. A very fast rider can bike the route in 2 hours.
Safe Riding and Island Bike Laws
- Helmets are required
- Cycling on sidewalks is legal, but remember that
pedestrians have the right of way
- Be visible and predictable
- Stop at all stop signs and stop lights
- Take the lane if a road is too narrow to ride safely
next to a car
Other Transportation Resources:
Detailed Bainbridge Island Maps can be purchased from
the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce: Tel: 206.842.3700
bainbridgechamber.com
Special Thanks to Dana Berg of Squeaky Wheels for organizing
this information for bicyclers attending the Garden
Tour.
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