They used to call it Bike to Work Day, or Bike to School Day. Now it’s Bike Everywhere Day and it’s officially on Friday, May 21st! Inspired by Jack’s previous blog I thought about the bike trails on Whidbey. There’s a plan for a Boat to Bridge bike path, but so far only a few miles of that exist. Yet, we have some nice places to ride, around Crockett Lake in Coupeville, or from Langley down to Maxwelton beach, or on Swantown Road out to Joseph Whidbey State Park. But I decided to take an actual bike path that parallels the highway in Coupeville for 3.7 miles and connects with several trailheads and bus stops. I got my bike out of the shed, checked the tires, the brakes and the lights. It had been awhile since we’d spent time together. I started from Rhododendron Park. The Rhody Road through the middle of the park is a paved service road that’s accessible for anyone on wheels and it shows off the native rhododendrons in full bloom. As I took the Rhododendron Trail bike path westward I passed bright orange poppies and lush wild roses. Between Terry Road and Main Street I stopped to watch a farmer cutting hay with a swarm of eagles following to pick up the field mice. Here's a glimpse. At Main Street I crossed at the light where the bike path is called the Kettles Trail. I saw the Southbound bus turn off the highway and onto Broadway toward Coupeville. I love the transit and trail connections. See the North Whidbey connections or the South Whidbey connections. There were great views across Ebey’s Prairie to the Olympics beyond. The dark fields were framed by yellow flowers along the trail. I climbed up to Sherman Road and continued by colorful bird houses. There’s a big dip where I sped down a steep hill and on the rise I stopped at the Spur Trail that leads to the Pratt Loop Trail that connects with the Ridge Trail that leads to the Ebey’s Bluff Trail. About 30 feet from the bike path is a kiosk with a map that shows these connections. There’s a rack where you can lock up your bike as wheels are not allowed on those trails. So I continued on the bike path passing more beautiful rhododendrons, lupine and Scotch’s broom. At the end of the paved bike path, is the beginning of the dirt Kettles Trails which are popular with mountain bikes. I stopped to look at the kiosk with a map of this extensive network of trails that connect with Fort Ebey State Park. A new trailhead at Libbey Road makes it easy to bring a bike or go for a hike by bus. Buses can carry 2-3 bikes. On my ride back toward town I noticed a big tractor making giant marshmallows out of hay. I crossed the highway at Sherman Road to get a closer look. Then I rode down the side road to Broadway. Just across the street is the Kreuger Trail so I took that route through the woods coming out on North Main Street. Crossing Highway 20 on the pedestrian overpass I got a good view of the bike path. I returned to Rhododendron Park happy to be reunited with my bike. Yesterday I was in my garden when I heard someone call hello. Janet rode up on her bike followed by Laura on her electric bike pulling two toddlers in a bike trailer. They’re bike and bus aficionados determined to keep their carbon footprint small. They don’t own a car but go everywhere by bike, so for them every day is Bike Everywhere Day! Directions: This 3.7 mile bike path runs alongside Highway 20 in Coupeville. You can start at Rhododendron Park which is 1.7 miles east of the pedestrian overpass at Main Street. Or you can start at the Elementary School on South Main Street and go in either direction.
Island Transit Route 1 or Route 6 stops at Libby Road, Sherman Road, Broadway or Coupeville Elementary School on South Main Street, and the Route 1 bus will also stop at Jacobs Road, near Rhododendron Park. Wheelchairs or hand cycles may use the Kettles Trail west of Main Street as the bollards are set wide enough apart to allow access. The bollards on the Rhododendron Trail may be too close together for some wheelchair access.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Authors
Maribeth Crandell has been a hiking guide in the Pacific NW for over 20 years. She's lived on Whidbey and Fidalgo Island for decades. As a frequent bus rider she easily makes connections between trails and transit. Archives by date
April 2024
Categories
All
|