The Downtown Waterfront Bike Path Is Now Complete — With a Key Connection to the North
- clara
- July 25, 2025
The transformation of Seattle’s waterfront continues — and it just got even better for people biking and rolling.
Earlier this year, we celebrated the opening of the new protected trail along the downtown waterfront. Now, thanks to community advocacy and thoughtful adjustments, that trail is finally connected to the Elliott Bay Trail via a brand-new protected bike lane on the west side (along the water) of Alaskan Way.
This half-mile link fills a critical gap between the newly rebuilt waterfront trail and some of Seattle’s most-used bike routes, including connections to Ballard, West Seattle, Downtown, and beyond. The project also includes sidewalk and curb ramp repair to improve the area for people walking and rolling.
The bike lane is a game-changer for commuters, people riding for leisure, tourists, and cruise ship passengers alike.
So What Was the Problem?
When the city unveiled its redesigned waterfront — a multi-billion dollar investment in public space — it came with aglaring gap: The new trail ended at Virginia St. and riders were forced to navigate confusing street crossings heavy car traffic for a busy half mile stretch of Alaskan Way, right where thousands of cruise passengers cross during the summer season, before reaching the Olympic Sculpture Park, where the Elliot Bay Trail begins and connects to neighborhoods to the north.
SDOT’s early plans sketched out a confusing and inconvenient permanent detour around the cruise terminal at Pier 66 by making people on bikes cross Alaskan Way, just to cross back over a few blocks later. That flawed proposal would have failed everyone and created chaos and safety hazards for both people biking and walking.
Community Advocacy Made the Difference
Seattle Neighborhood Greenways, along with partners, local advocates, and thousands of concerned residents, pushed back. Over 1,000 people wrote to the Port Commission, urging them to prioritize a safe and continuous route — without unnecessary detours.
The result? A creative compromise:
- A direct protected bike lane along the west side of Alaskan Way
- Real protection (not just paint) by installing removable bollards, and allowing a short detour only during ship boarding times
- A safer, simpler, and smarter solution that works for everyone
- A wider 12’ bike path that gives enough space for family, cargo, and adaptive bikes to safely use the new connection.
This is a win for bike connectivity, pedestrian safety, and common-sense urban design.
Learn More
We’re proud to see this kind of progress and grateful for everyone who spoke up to make it happen.
Get out there and check out the new waterfront bike lanes in totality this summer!
It’s an amazing way to experience Seattle and connect to some of the city’s most vibrant destinations.