Thank you! I used to use the Bill Dawson trail as part of my morning commute (pre-rebuild, and pre-work from home). I've made it part of my urban loops and had been pleasantly surprised how much effort the 520 project had put in to keep it accessible. I was shocked last week to find the west access missing--and would not have found the east access without your video!
Nice! Seems like it's a helpful connector if doing a ride from east side to Cap Hill for sure, which is huge! Hard to imagine though, that coming from U district I'd ever really ride this way...University bridge is just gonna continue to be way easier. The exception would be if I was pretty far east, maybe even toward Laurelhurst or UW sports facilities. Really cool though! Thanks for showing this and in such a concise and enjoyable video!
I’ve been really curious about this connection, so I’m super happy you make this video! I’m sure this will be a game changer for people who take the 520 or go to UW. That said, I’ll likely never use it. 😂 I always use University Bridge. The bike lanes across the bridge are better (in that they exist) and University takes me right into the heart of the U District or to the Burke Gilman. Also, living on Cap Hill, the best way up and down is 100% Interlaken. It’s a much cleaner route to/from University Bridge than Montlake.
The Bill Dawson trail has been a useful hack that I've used for years, I didn't realize that they were integrating into the new lid system. Sounds like you're saying that it can't be accessed from Southbound Montlake Blvd. E right now? Too bad, because that's how I always get to it. Hopefully that gets remedied soon.
@@PeterBreyfogle Good point. I prefer to come down the Rainier Vista, cross Pacific in front of the hospital, and then take Montlake Boulevard southbound to the Dawson trail but you're right, I could just take the overpass by the light rail station and head south on the east side of Montlake. That will work.
Nice! Just rolled over "The Lid" this past Wednesday and was admiring the newer results there and the years of construction! Did not know the tunnel was a new part bur have certainly used the older bumpy trail after the tunnel. All discovered after the lovely Arboretum rides! Thanks!
I’m ready for it to all open. I frequently ride from UW light rail either on down to the Lake Washington trail on to Seward Park onto the 520 trail. Getting to the 520 you have to go on that neighborhood road that’s super rough and to get to Lake Washington Blvd, you have to ride on streets with no bike lane. I haven’t seen the final designs but I think it fixes both. And yes that trail to Calhoun street is super narrow.
Well I rode that area a week or so ago and I had no clue about the tunnel..went over and west on the arterial cutting behind the Greek church (35yd trail) up 19th Ave(beast block) from boren into interlaken and then up to the entrance of interlaken then volunteer...430ft climb decent for city limits
I've used that trail to connect to Madison Park by heading up the hill at the end when you get to Dawson instead of just powering through on 24th from the bridge to Boyer
When I worked in an office in SLU, I was a year-round, 5-day per week bike commuter. Now I work from home and I'm "just" a year-round recreational/transportation cyclist.
Great video!
My father, Bill Dawson, would smile.
Thank you! I used to use the Bill Dawson trail as part of my morning commute (pre-rebuild, and pre-work from home). I've made it part of my urban loops and had been pleasantly surprised how much effort the 520 project had put in to keep it accessible. I was shocked last week to find the west access missing--and would not have found the east access without your video!
making that little hairpin turn uphill going from cap hill is brutal lol, looking forward to the completed track to the bridge
they still haven't fixed that deathtrap of a corner 😂
Yep. Still unusable. I’ll stick to the roads until they fix that
I felt like I had just discovered the old tunnel when it got closed for construction. I’m excited for this new tunnel
Nice! Seems like it's a helpful connector if doing a ride from east side to Cap Hill for sure, which is huge! Hard to imagine though, that coming from U district I'd ever really ride this way...University bridge is just gonna continue to be way easier. The exception would be if I was pretty far east, maybe even toward Laurelhurst or UW sports facilities. Really cool though! Thanks for showing this and in such a concise and enjoyable video!
I’ve been really curious about this connection, so I’m super happy you make this video! I’m sure this will be a game changer for people who take the 520 or go to UW. That said, I’ll likely never use it. 😂
I always use University Bridge. The bike lanes across the bridge are better (in that they exist) and University takes me right into the heart of the U District or to the Burke Gilman. Also, living on Cap Hill, the best way up and down is 100% Interlaken. It’s a much cleaner route to/from University Bridge than Montlake.
The Bill Dawson trail has been a useful hack that I've used for years, I didn't realize that they were integrating into the new lid system. Sounds like you're saying that it can't be accessed from Southbound Montlake Blvd. E right now? Too bad, because that's how I always get to it. Hopefully that gets remedied soon.
You can access Southbound on the EAST side of Montlake Blvd
@@PeterBreyfogle Good point. I prefer to come down the Rainier Vista, cross Pacific in front of the hospital, and then take Montlake Boulevard southbound to the Dawson trail but you're right, I could just take the overpass by the light rail station and head south on the east side of Montlake. That will work.
Nice! Just rolled over "The Lid" this past Wednesday and was admiring the newer results there and the years of construction! Did not know the tunnel was a new part bur have certainly used the older bumpy trail after the tunnel. All discovered after the lovely Arboretum rides! Thanks!
Woah Bill Dawson tunnel is open now? I've been watching the cams, I didn't know it was open yet!
I got a map to update, I guess! I didn't think they were going to open this earlier than the rest.
Indeed a nice surprise in the construction schedule :) still waiting on that pedestrian bridge though.
I’m ready for it to all open. I frequently ride from UW light rail either on down to the Lake Washington trail on to Seward Park onto the 520 trail.
Getting to the 520 you have to go on that neighborhood road that’s super rough and to get to Lake Washington Blvd, you have to ride on streets with no bike lane.
I haven’t seen the final designs but I think it fixes both.
And yes that trail to Calhoun street is super narrow.
Oh wow I had no idea! This is like the nicer twin of the I-90 lid tunnel! ; )
Took the tunnel today! I live near and ride that intersection almost every day, never noticed the tunnel. Thanks for sharing!
Well I rode that area a week or so ago and I had no clue about the tunnel..went over and west on the arterial cutting behind the Greek church (35yd trail) up 19th Ave(beast block) from boren into interlaken and then up to the entrance of interlaken then volunteer...430ft climb decent for city limits
I'm so excited to get to use this on my commute! Thanks for the heads up that it is open
I don't even live in Seattle but i LOVE these videos :) Hello from Sacramento, CA
Glad you like them! Come visit and ride around here sometime
OMG I can’t waaaaaaaait. End of the month hopefully 🎃
I've used that trail to connect to Madison Park by heading up the hill at the end when you get to Dawson instead of just powering through on 24th from the bridge to Boyer
What do you think of this new connection? Have you ridden it before? How does it change your commute? Look forward to more bike infra tours!
Hey thanks. I never knew the old trail to Calhoun St. existed.
Just wait until the new portage bay bridge and Roanoke lid project is completed. This will be an excellent path.
I had to idea that trail was there. At least not that it was bike accessible.
Pretty nice tunnel.
So... how muck money does Seattle spend on Bike infrastructure that will only get used for about 3 months of the year?
There are a lot of people that bike commute year-round in Seattle.
@@SpeedyBlueBiker1 I never see people on bicycles. I have one co-worker who will ride into work, but not often.
When I worked in an office in SLU, I was a year-round, 5-day per week bike commuter. Now I work from home and I'm "just" a year-round recreational/transportation cyclist.