Fix the Burke Gilman
KEEPING RIDERS SAFE
- Advance registration required for all participants. If you decide not to ride, please click Cancel My Registration below to open space for others. (How to cancel)
- Attendance at the pre-ride safety briefing is required to participate in the ride.
- If you have tested positive for COVID or have been exposed to someone with COVID, follow the quarantine and isolation guidelines. In general, if you have COVID or are displaying COVID symptoms, or if you are sick with the flu or a cold, you should not participate in group rides.
- Carry a face covering in case a business or public transit requires their use.
- Please, no spitting or “snot-rockets” while participating.
- A CPSC certified helmet is required to be worn to participate.
If you are new, please read our newcomer information.
Fix the Burke Gilman : We will ride north on the Burke-Gilman Trail to the Welcome to Seattle sign. From there we will proceed south on the trail until 40th Ave NE near the Metropolitan Market before returning to Matthews Beach. During the trip south the group will review the fixes made this past year and report those that were not completed in 2023. There will be a number of stops and each of them will take about 5 minutes or more.
Even if you can't attend the ride in person, please register for this ride to show your support for the need to fix the Burke Gilman. Please consider using the comments section to enter your personal experience with the rough trail, how it impacts you, and why you'd like to see it fixed.
Special Instructions Please have the Find It/Fix it app installed on your phone if you want to submit an issue. Please follow Fix The Burke Gilman on Facebook for background information and to stay up to date on repairs and Park Board of Commissioner meetings.
Route: Come and help document maintenance issues on the north Seattle portion of the Burke Gilman Trail. The terrain is flat.
Cue sheets: No cue sheets provided. Stay together ride.
Fenders: If the riding surfaces are wet, please come equipped with fenders long enough to keep the person riding behind you dry or be the caboose.
Ride start: We meet at the Matthews Beach parking lot. Please be ready to ride at 11:30 . We will start with a required safety briefing and roll out when that's done. If you miss the briefing you will not be able to ride with the group. Note: Water and restrooms are available at the start. Be prepared if you have a mechanical problem e.g. flat tire.
Register: Advanced registration is required to join the ride. Click on the “Register Now” button at the top of this page (right below the ride title) and enter your information. Register even if you can't ride but would like to demonstrate your support.
Parking: Free parking at Matthews Beach parking lot.
Weather cancelation: If weather conditions meet the weather cancelation criterion listed above or if there are unforeseen hazardous riding conditions or other unexpected events, the Ride Leader will post a ride-canceled note in the Comments section below at least two hours prior to the start and Ride Leader(s) will not be at the start location.
If you have questions, please contact the Ride Leader.
Comments
My Testimony and Example.
I lead FGRs using the Burke-Gilman frequently. The complaint I hear most is that the trail is so rough that it is dangerous and not pleasant to ride on. Another problem is cracked and sunken edges that further shrink what is already a pretty narrow trail for the amount of traffic on it.
I frequently attend the Park Board of Commissioner monthly meetings and provide public comment on the issues with the lack of maintenance on the Burke-Gilman managed by Seattle Parks and Rec. I would gladly welcome some additional folks to add support to this issue.
I would urge you to add to your testimony as a comment on the ride. I will provide all of this to Seattle Parks and Rec to continue to move them forward to do a more comprehensive repair of this precious resource.
Fix Burke-Gilman
I am a frequent user of Burke-Gilman bike trail. Compared to most of the trails around, this one is very bumpy and not as well kept. For instance, there is a noticeable difference between the trail as I enter Lake Forest Park section compared to the portion city of Seattle is responsible for. Seattle side has enough potholes and tree root bumps, not to mention the relatively narrow width to make it unpleasant to ride on. This popular, well used trail deserves some maintenance work. I very much appreciate your attention to this issue. Thank you.
Fix Burke-Gilman
I am a frequent user of Burke-Gilman bike trail. Compared to most of the trails around, this one is very bumpy and not as well kept. For instance, there is a noticeable difference between the trail as I enter Lake Forest Park section compared to the portion city of Seattle is responsible for. Seattle side has enough potholes and tree root bumps, not to mention the relatively narrow width to make it unpleasant to ride on. This popular, well used trail deserves some maintenance work. I very much appreciate your attention to this issue. Thank you.
Fix the Burke-Gilman
We ride a the Burke-Gilman from Ballard to Fremont for the Pedaling Relief Project and it's dicey! Going over bumps with a trailer loaded with food isn't fun (I even had my trailer turn over once)! For a trail that is in the Rails-to-Trails Hall of Fame, the upkeep of the trail is a disgrace. Seattle needs to do better!
Fix the Burke-Gilman
I agree with Sundar's comment above in the noticeable difference in the quality of the Burke in Lake Forest Park and Seattle City proper. Two years ago I took a serious fall on the Burke-Gilman near Google in Fremont. That area is full of bumps and lumps and so much traffic. The bump I fell on was repaired but since more have evolved. With increased population our parks and trails are seriously over-crowded and in need or regular maintenance and repair. Thank you Peter, for bringing this to the Park Board's attention and for organizing this ride.
If one of you will give me
If one of you will give me ride from MB I'll try and make a meeting to fix the trail. Yes I realize, the more bikers at a meeting the more attention we get. Ric
Fix the Burke-Gilman
I live in the UDistrict and am a frequent rider of the trail east and west of where I live. I am also a CBC ride leader. I have knowledge of 4 bike accidents on the trail in the last couple of years. It is a difficult trail to ride with so many tree roots, poor edges, poor drainage, cracks, holes and ruts. Seattle please repair these problems or give the responsibility to King County.
Burke-Gilman Needs the Attention!
Hey Peter, thank you for your time and efforts in bringing folks together to give the BG some attention. I am unable to ride or help that day, but I very much appreciate you bringing attention to the matter. This has to be the most highly-used trail in Seattle, and it needs some serious attention to prevent some serious accidents.
Fixing the BG
Yes, sooner or later someone is going to be crippled, maybe even a quadriplegic on the trail, costing the city millions in legal, medical and pain and suffering charges. I would think that even as expensive as repairs are it would be cost effective to keep the trail in top shape. Not to mention encouraging even more bike commuters. Keeping them from clogging the city streets and polluting the air with their exhausts.
An embarassment...
Failure to maintain a major piece of regional "green" infrastructure disgraces Seattle. I can't attend the ride, but strongly support efforts to fix the Burke.
Do better!
I've used the the trail for decades and have often wondered why the ditches closest to the hillside never seem to drain, but I am most frustrated with the hazards on the trail such as volcanic pavement eruptions and longitudinal or diagonal cracks that remain despite this past year's ad hoc repairs.
As a Seattle resident, I am embarrassed to see how poorly we maintain our portion of the Burke Gilman trail ... especially as compared to adjacent communities. Seattle needs to do a better job or hand over responsibility for maintenance to King County which does a much better job on so many more trails!
Do better!
I've used the the trail for decades and have often wondered why the ditches closest to the hillside never seem to drain, but I am most frustrated with the hazards on the trail such as volcanic pavement eruptions and longitudinal or diagonal cracks that remain despite this past year's ad hoc repairs.
As a Seattle resident, I am embarrassed to see how poorly we maintain our portion of the Burke Gilman trail ... especially as compared to adjacent communities. Seattle needs to do a better job or hand over responsibility for maintenance to King County which does a much better job on so many more trails!
This quote says it all: "This
This quote says it all: "This popular, well used trail deserves some maintenance work."
I have lived in NE Seattle since 1990 and use the BGT for commuting, errands, and recreation. I often avoid it on weekends and nice days because of the heavy use by families of all ages and beginning bicyclists. Which is not a problem, I'm just emphasizing the large and diverse population it serves! Please preserve this important resource.
Please maintain the BGT
This quote says it all: "This popular, well used trail deserves some maintenance work."
I have lived in NE Seattle since 1990 and use the BGT for commuting, errands, and recreation. I often avoid it on weekends and nice days because of the heavy use by families of all ages and beginning bicyclists. Which is not a problem, I'm just emphasizing the large and diverse population it serves! Please preserve this important resource.
Fix the Burke-Gilman
My wife and I are signed up for the ride, but will not be able to join in person. Thanks for bringing attention to the Burke-Gilman. We ride it often and it needs to be maintained better.