Plan Your Bike Route With Our Snohomish County Bike Map

Whether you want to commute to work or ride for fun on the weekends, Snohomish County has a bike route for you! 

From recreational paved trails to city roadways, our Snohomish County Bike Map will help get you to work or play. We've noted which roadways have a dedicated shoulder or bike lane and where to connect to Park & Rides and Transit Centers for easy connections to transit.

There are also two main recreational trails that bisect the area for safe, scenic adventures perfect for the whole family: 

• The Centennial Trail is 29 miles of paved trails that run along abandoned rail lines from Snohomish to the Skagit County line, connecting communities to parks and shopping districts. 

• The Interurban Trail runs from Seattle to Everett, with over 15 miles of paved trails in Snohomish County. While most of the path travels through parks and greenbelts, the trail does parallel Interstate 5 with easy access to several Park & Rides, making it a great choice for commuters, too!

• The North Creek Trail links the communities of Bothell, Mill Creek, and Everett. The trail also provides access to the Sammamish River Trail and the Burke-Gilman Trail.

Before you get rolling, know the Rules of the Road for a safe ride:

Where is cycling prohibited?
Bicycling is not allowed on I-5 from Marysville south to Pierce County. Everett doesn't allow cyclists on the sidewalks in its downtown business district. In Snohomish County, sidewalk riding in residential and other areas is typically legal, but not recommended for adults traveling faster than 10 mph.

Is there a helmet law?
Cyclists of all ages are required to wear a helmet when riding in the city of Lynwood and if you cross over into King County. Children under 18 are required to wear helmets in Lake Stevens. Cyclists in other parts of Snohomish County wear helmets because they save lives.

How do I get the light to turn green?
Traffic signals detect vehicles with either a magnetic loop under the pavement or an optical detector. In both cases, positioning your bicycle is important. Look for a white pavement marking or cuts in the pavement to mark the placement of loop detectors, and position your pedals over these marks. For optical detectors position yourself in the front center of the line.

What equipment is required at night?
A white front headlight (not a reflector) visible for 500 feet and a red rear reflector are required. A flashing red rear light is also recommended, along with bright, reflective clothing.

Download a copy of Community Transit's Snohomish County Bike Map and plan your next urban adventure! 

For more great resources on biking, check out:

Community Transit's Bike Web Page
Community Transit's Centennial Trail Map
Community Transit's Interurban Trail Map
B.I.K.E.S. Club of Snohomish County
Cascade Bicycle Club
Google Maps - Bikes

Spring into Gear: Tips for New Bike Commuters

Today marks the first day of national Bike Month and now is a great time to pull your bicycle out of the garage and give biking to work or school a try.  Biking is a great way to avoid traffic stress and the costs of driving.  It’s also a great way to combine your commute with your workout!

For a new bike commuter, here are just a few tips to help you get started:

1.    Plan your route in advance. Usually there are several ways to get from your house to the office. Consider taking the easiest route with the least amount of traffic even if it is longer.  

• Download the newly updated Snohomish County Bike Map to find bike friendly routes from your home or work.
• Visit Google Maps biking feature to input your starting point and destination and get suggested routes.

2.    Try a practice run on the weekend and pay attention to how much time it takes so you can avoid being late to work.

3.    Know the proper turn signals so that you can alert drivers, pedestrians and other bikers of your actions:

• Right turn signal - either hold your right arm out, or hold your left arm up, with bent elbow. You don’t have to keep your arm out through the turn – you may need both hands on the handlebars to keep control of your bicycle.
• Left turn signal - left hand straight out
• Brake signal - left hand pointed down bend at the elbow at a 45 degree angle

4.    Get a light.  A simple headlight or flashing light on your bike or person can make you more visible to drivers.  Bike lights can be purchased at most bicycle shops and sports stores for as little as $5.

5.    Wear a helmet.  Not only is it the law in Washington State, but a helmet can protect you if something unexpected happens.

6.    Be prepared for weather.  Be sure to check out the forecast before you leave the house and make sure you have the right gear with you including sunglasses (hopefully!), rain gear or gloves.

7.    Bring in clothes, lunches and other items you need to bring from home to work for the week in on the weekend so you don’t have to worry about them on your ride.  If you need to bring items with you each day, consider purchasing a bike bag or rack which can be purchased at most bicycle shops and sport stores.

8.    Find out ahead of time where you can park your bike at your workplace and where you can store any bike gear.

9.    Keep up on bike maintenance and cleaning for a smoother ride and to make sure you catch any problems early.

10.  Remember, if you have a long commute to work you don’t have to bike the whole way.  Check out if there are transit routes that can get you near work or home and you can bike the rest of the way.  All regional buses and trains are equipped with bike racks and many transit centers and park & rides have bike lockers or racks for you to park your bike.

• Visit our website for more information on biking and busing.

Community Transit is supporting bike activities all month long throughout Snohomish County. To learn more about Bike Month events and resources, visit our Bike Month webpage.  

Navigating Snohomish County by Bike

Whether you bike as part of your commute or just for fun, Snohomish County offers a lot of great options for getting around and enjoying the beauty of this region.  Here are just a few of the routes that make this a great area for biking.

Snohomish County bicyclist, Jason Wilsey, enjoying the trails!

Centennial Trail – Spanning 30 miles from Snohomish to the Skagit County line, this paved recreational trail provides great opportunities to ride for both beginners and more advanced riders.  The trail connects Snohomish, Lake Stevens and Arlington with parking lots, restrooms and picnic areas located at points between.

Interurban Trail – This 15.1 mile, paved trail is great for commuting and recreational biking.   While most of the trail is separated from traffic, there are several places where the trail is a designated bike route on the road shoulder.  The trail is located next to or near the South Everett Park and Ride, Mariner Park and Ride, McCollum Park Park and Ride, Ash Way Park and Ride, Edmonds Park and Ride and the Lynnwood Transit Center for easy connections to transit.

To find other bike routes in Snohomish County, download a copy of Community Transit’s Snohomish County Bike Map.  Also, check out these other great resources for more information on biking:

Community Transit Bike Webpage

Community Transit’s Centennial Trail Map

Community Transit’s Interurban Trail Map

B.I.K.E.S Club of Snohomish County

Cascade Bicycle Club

Google Maps - Bike

Spring Into Gear, Bike Month Is Here

Today marks the first day of national Bike Month and Community Transit is encouraging people to get out there and ride a bike to work, to a transit center or just for fun. Whether it is your first time on a bike or you have a closet full of padded shorts and spandex, there are many benefits you can get from riding a bike. Here are a few good reasons to spring into gear this month and get riding.


"Oxy Gene supports bikes and buses. "Oh yeaahh!"

  

It is cheaper than driving.

According to AAA, the average cost of operating a car in 2012 was 58.5 cents per mile. For many drivers that can add up to thousands of dollars each year. An article in Forbes Magazine in 2012 stated the annual cost of operating a bike was just $308 – accounting for a huge savings over driving each day.

 

For people with longer trips, combining biking with transit is another great way to keep costs down. Check out our cost calculator to see what your savings could be.

It supports a healthy lifestyle.
Biking is one of the best activities for improving your overall health, including:
• Improved cardiovascular health and a decrease in coronary heart diseases
• Increased coordination, balance and flexibility
• Improved muscle tone and strength
• Increased endurance and stamina
• Decreased obesity and weight-related diseases
• Strengthened  immune system

It gets you out of traffic.
Americans spend more than 25 minutes driving to work each day according to the 2010 U.S Census. By avoiding congestion, cycling could help you get there faster and avoid sitting in traffic.

It connects you to transit.
Biking is a great way to connect to local and regional transit near your home or work. Community Transit encourages bus riders to incorporate bikes into their daily commute. Every Community Transit bus is equipped with a two-bike rack in the front. Swift buses have three interior bike racks so riders can quickly roll their bikes right onto the buses. Bus riders can also store their bikes at bike lockers located at park & rides throughout the county. Learn more at www.communitytransit.org/bikes.

It is a free gym on wheels.
By combining your daily workout with your commute or errands, you can save yourself a trip to the gym and free up more time to do other things you enjoy. 

It makes your community better.
There are many benefits to the community when people choose to ride their bikes regularly:
• It reduces congestion on roadways by removing cars
• It removes greenhouse gas emissions
• The more bicycles on the road, the safer it becomes because drivers are more aware of their surroundings
• It encourages local spending and engagement

And the last reason to ride your bike this May and all year long: It’s Fun!

Community Transit is supporting bike activities all month long throughout Snohomish County. To learn more, visit Cascade Bicycle Club’s Bike Month website.