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Bicycle Tour
Bicycle the Bloom – For the second year, a bicycle
only “Bike the Bloom” ticket is offered
for the special price of $20. For those who opt to ride
their bicycles, a map is provided and secure bike parking
is available at the gardens.
Bike
the Garden Tour $20.00: TICKETS>>
Biking onto the Ferry
At the Seattle ferry terminal, bikes ride through
the car toll booths and act just like a car, stopping
and paying a fare. The cost is $6.50 plus a $1.00 bicycle
surcharge. After paying at the toll-booth, cycle across
the parking lot and stop in front of the cars. Ferry
personnel will direct you to ride onto the ferry. Once
on the ferry, cycle to the front and park your bike
against a railing - there are often ropes to secure
it.
When you arrive on Bainbridge, bikes ride off before
cars. 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 for
about 1/3 mile to a stop light. 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 to the Festival Site to start the tour
After exiting the ferry, you will be riding up Olympic
Drive. At the stop light turn left and cycle west about
2 blocks along Winslow Way, the main street in downtown
Winslow. Turn right at the stop sign and bike up Madison
Avenue, a gentle uphill grade. After 1 mile and 1 stop
sign you'll be at a roundabout; circle 3/4 of the way
around and go uphill on High School Road to Bainbridge
High School, the Festival Site. Total mileage from the
ferry is about 1.5 miles.
You may also bike to the Festival Site 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 south
to High School Road, turn right and proceed approximately
1/2 mile, through the roundabout, to the Festival Site
at Bainbridge High School.
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
at High School Road on Bainbridge. 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.
The Tour
Directions to the gardens, along with an island map,
will be given to all cyclists at the Festival Site.
As a bicyclist, you may visit the gardens in any order,
unlike those taking the bus, so you may want to visit
the gardens in a reverse order, starting with the one
closest to the Festival Site. By doing this you will
experience smaller crowds.
General Bike information
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; in
Winslow Green at the corner of Madison Avenue and Winslow
Way; and in the Winslow Mall on Winslow Way (great public
restrooms here, also). The island has two full-service
bike shops: Bainbridge Island Cycle Shop is in Winslow,
off of Winslow Way, below Eagle Harbor Book Company,
and Classic Cycle, which is located on Winslow Way,
across from Town & Country Market.
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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