Seattle Bike Route Safety Map

Seattle has some of the best trail infrastructure on the West Coast — the 27-mile Burke-Gilman Trail, the Elliott Bay Trail along the downtown waterfront, the Westlake protected bike path, the Mountains to Sound Trail — stitched together with a steadily expanding network of downtown protected lanes and neighborhood greenways. But Seattle's grades are genuine, its rain is real, and a handful of high-speed arterials concentrate a disproportionate share of serious cyclist injuries. The safety of any given ride depends on how well your route uses the trail network. Brakeaway scores every route in Seattle from 0 to 100 based on protected infrastructure, intersection risk, hills, traffic, and surface quality. Paste a Google Maps link, upload a GPX, or connect Strava. The score appears in about 10 seconds.

How Brakeaway scores a Seattle route

Every route you submit is analyzed across five factors. The factor weights are calibrated to Seattle's specific conditions — a flagship multi-use trail spine, a growing but still incomplete downtown protected network, serious topographic differentials between districts, and the ongoing Waterfront Seattle build-out that's rewriting the central city's bike geography.

1. Protected infrastructure. What share of your route is on a separated multi-use trail (Burke-Gilman, Elliott Bay, Interurban, Mountains to Sound, Alki, Ship Canal segments), a concrete-protected bike lane (2nd Avenue, parts of 4th, the Westlake path, Dexter), or a neighborhood greenway? Protected miles score near the top of this factor; conventional bike lanes score in the middle; unmarked streets on steep grades or high-traffic arterials score at the bottom.
2. Intersection risk. Seattle's arterial crossings — Denny, Mercer, NE 45th, NE 65th, Rainier, MLK, 15th, Aurora — concentrate serious crashes. Brakeaway penalizes unprotected crossings of high-speed arterials and flags right-hook risk segments where bike lanes merge with turning traffic.
3. Traffic volume and speed. Seattle's neighborhood greenways and residential streets typically carry under 1,500 vehicles per day at 20–25 mph. Major arterials run 20,000–45,000 per day at 30–35 mph posted. SDOT publishes traffic counts that Brakeaway uses where available; elsewhere it defaults to OSM classifications.
4. Hills and gradient. Seattle's grades are a primary differentiator — Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, Beacon Hill, First Hill, and the Phinney/Greenwood ridge all include segments above 12–15%. Brakeaway penalizes steep descents on narrow streets where driver sightlines are short and cyclist speed control is harder. The flat routes (Burke-Gilman, Elliott Bay, Westlake, the Interurban) score disproportionately well in part because they avoid the climbs entirely.
5. Surface quality and rail hazards. Seattle's pavement is mixed — some corridors have been rebuilt recently (the Waterfront, Westlake, parts of Dexter), others haven't been repaved in decades. Brakeaway flags metal grating on bridge decks (especially the Fremont and Ballard bridges), light-rail tracks crossing at oblique angles on MLK and in SODO, and known rough patches. Seattle's wet-season wet-metal grate slickness is a real hazard that scores appropriately.

Best-scored Seattle bike routes

These are the routes that consistently score highest across Brakeaway's five factors. Each one is a good first ride, a good repeat ride, or both.

Burke-Gilman Trail (Ballard to Bothell, 27 miles)

The flagship Seattle bike route and one of the great urban rail-trails in the country. Paved, fully separated, and now essentially continuous from Ballard through Fremont, Gas Works Park, the University of Washington, past Lake Washington, through Kenmore, and into Bothell where it links to the Sammamish River Trail. Scores 95–100 end-to-end. The newly completed Ballard Missing Link resolves decades of delay. A good ride for first-timers and a steady commute corridor for thousands of Seattle cyclists daily.

Elliott Bay Trail + Myrtle Edwards Park (downtown waterfront to Smith Cove)

The Elliott Bay Trail runs along Seattle's western shoreline from Pier 70 through Myrtle Edwards Park and Centennial Park up to Smith Cove near Interbay. Fully paved, fully separated, with postcard views of the Olympics. Scores in the 90s end-to-end. The southern connection to the emerging Waterfront Seattle protected corridor continues through downtown; the northern extension connects to the Terminal 91 path toward Magnolia.

Westlake Cycle Track (South Lake Union to Fremont)

One of Seattle's best pieces of protected infrastructure — a curb-separated two-way cycle track running along the east shore of Lake Union from South Lake Union through Westlake Park up to the Fremont Bridge. Scores in the high 80s to mid-90s. Connects directly to the Burke-Gilman at Fremont and to the Dexter Avenue corridor into downtown.

2nd Avenue PBL (downtown Seattle)

Seattle's gold-standard downtown protected lane, running north–south through the central business district with bike-specific signal phases at every major intersection. Scores in the high 80s. Connects to the Pike/Pine bike infrastructure heading east and to the Elliott Bay/Waterfront corridors heading west. The 4th Avenue PBL adds a parallel north–south option during the ongoing downtown bike-lane build-out.

Alki Trail (Alki Beach, West Seattle)

The waterfront trail along Alki Beach is a fully separated paved path with Seattle skyline and Puget Sound views. Roughly 4 miles of essentially flat, car-free riding from Alki Point through the Alki commercial district and out toward Duwamish Head. Scores in the 90s. A weekend-loop staple and the flagship West Seattle ride.

Interurban Trail + Green Lake / Ship Canal connection

The Interurban Trail North runs from Fremont up through Greenwood and Shoreline, connecting to segments that reach all the way to Everett with some on-street links. The paved sections score in the high 80s. Green Lake's internal loop and Woodland Park bike infrastructure form a car-lite network for north-end neighborhoods.

Mountains to Sound Trail + I-90 Bridge

The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail runs from Seattle's waterfront east through the International District, across the I-90 Bridge's protected bike path to Mercer Island, and continues to Bellevue, Issaquah, and the Cascades. The I-90 Bridge's separated bike path is the only dedicated Lake Washington crossing east of downtown for cyclists. Scores in the 90s on the bridge and continues strong into the eastside connections.

Neighborhood Greenways — Fremont, Wallingford, Beacon Hill, Columbia City

Seattle has built dozens of neighborhood greenways — residential streets with traffic calming, speed humps, and bike-priority intersections. The network includes 39th Ave NE (Wallingford), Stone Way N, 17th Ave NE (Roosevelt), Beacon Ave S, MLK Way segments, 35th Ave NE and many others. Scores on most greenways run in the 80s–90s. They're the Seattle equivalent of Portland's bike boulevards.

Seattle neighborhoods — what to expect

Safety scores vary widely by neighborhood. Here's what routes typically score where.

Downtown, Belltown, South Lake Union

Downtown's protected lane network has expanded significantly — 2nd Avenue, 4th Avenue, Pike, Pine, and the emerging Waterfront Seattle PBL are the backbone. South Lake Union has bike infrastructure on Westlake, Dexter, and parts of Mercer. Weak points: the Alaskan Way corridor is in flux during Waterfront Seattle construction, and 1st Avenue through the market remains a cyclist-hostile corridor. Scores on protected lanes run in the 80s; unprotected downtown streets run in the 60s–70s.

Capitol Hill, First Hill, Central District

The climb itself is the main obstacle. Once you're on the hill, Broadway has a center-running protected bike lane (the first of its kind in the Pacific Northwest) and several east–west greenways serve as quiet connectors. Weak points: the Madison BRT corridor is rebuilding, and the steep descent on Pike or Pine toward downtown requires speed control. Scores on the Broadway PBL run in the high 80s; the greenways in the 80s; arterials drop lower.

Ballard, Fremont, Wallingford, Green Lake

This zone has the densest concentration of high-scoring routes in the city. The Burke-Gilman runs through all four neighborhoods. The Ballard bridge and Fremont bridge both have bike/ped access — Fremont scores better. Stone Way, N 34th, and 39th Ave NE are strong neighborhood connectors. Weak points: 15th Ave NW/W, NE 45th east of I-5, and the Aurora bridge's no-bike-access problem. Scores on the trail and greenways run in the 90s; arterials drop.

University District, Ravenna, Laurelhurst

The Burke-Gilman runs through the U-District, connecting to the UW campus and continuing north to Sand Point. The Roosevelt / Ravenna greenway network is extensive. NE 65th has been reconfigured with protected bike lanes on some segments. Weak points: NE 45th east of 15th, Sand Point Way during peak hours, and the I-5 NE 45th interchange. Scores strong on the trail and greenways; moderate on arterials.

Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley, Columbia City, Seward Park

The Rainier Valley has one of Seattle's most-used commuter greenways (Beacon Ave / 15th Ave S). MLK Way's protected bike lane extension is a significant 2025–2026 upgrade. Seward Park's internal loop scores well. Weak points: Rainier Avenue S is the city's deadliest surface street and should be avoided except to cross at signals. Scores on the greenways and trail segments run in the 80s; Rainier Ave scores very low.

West Seattle, Alki, Delridge

The Alki Trail is the star. The West Seattle Bridge bike path is usable during off-peak hours. Delridge Way has buffered bike lanes. Harbor Ave SW connects Alki to the West Seattle Junction. Weak points: California Ave SW's arterial stretches, the climb up to the Junction, and the emergence onto SODO/Industrial across the bridges. Scores on the Alki Trail run in the 90s.

Magnolia, Queen Anne, Interbay

The Elliott Bay Trail and the Ship Canal Trail are the spines. Magnolia's internal streets are quiet but include the steep climb from Interbay. Queen Anne's hill is one of Seattle's steepest; most cyclists route around it via the waterfront or Dexter/Westlake. Interbay is flat but has heavy truck traffic on 15th Ave W and Dravus.

Seattle's Bicycle Master Plan and Vision Zero

Seattle adopted its current Bicycle Master Plan (BMP) in 2014 and updated it through the 2019 Implementation Plan, with a near-term focus on downtown protected-lane completion, neighborhood greenways, and key arterial bike infrastructure. Seattle also adopted Vision Zero in 2015. Implementation has been uneven — many planned protected lanes have been delayed or modified — but the network has grown steadily, with the Waterfront Seattle reconstruction and the 2nd/4th/Pike/Pine downtown network now more connected than at any previous point. For cyclists, scores on specific corridors can improve meaningfully after a single project opens. Brakeaway refreshes infrastructure monthly.

Ongoing 2026 projects that will change scores include the Waterfront Seattle PBL completions, Beacon Hill/MLK Way continued upgrades, additional neighborhood greenway build-outs in South Park and Georgetown, and Vision Zero corridor treatments on Rainier and Aurora.

First-time Seattle cyclist — the things nobody tells you

The Burke-Gilman is the entire city. Seattle's bike network fundamentally radiates from the Burke-Gilman Trail. Most neighborhoods that feel bikeable are bikeable because they have easy Burke-Gilman access; most that feel hostile do not. For first-time riders, planning routes that touch the Burke-Gilman even briefly is the single biggest score upgrade you can make.

The hills are not all optional. Unlike some cities where you can thread the flat parts, Seattle's geography forces elevation on many trips. E-bikes (Lime and other app services) have meaningfully changed the hill calculation. If you're evaluating a commute that includes a climb up Capitol Hill or Queen Anne, try it on an e-bike first — it may be feasible on that and impractical without.

Wet-metal bridge decks are genuinely slick. The Fremont, Ballard, University, and Montlake bridges all have metal grating deck sections that become slick in rain. Use the striped bike lanes where available, cross perpendicular to the grain, and don't brake or turn sharply on wet metal. Brakeaway flags these deck sections.

The rain is overstated but relentless. Seattle's reputation is stronger than the measurement — actual annual rainfall is lower than Miami, Boston, or New York. But Seattle rain is persistent (many days of light precipitation rather than fewer heavy ones), which matters for daily commutes. Full fenders, a breathable rain shell, and daytime-running lights are standard. Seattle cyclists who ride year-round typically keep riding through November to March with the right kit.

Transit-plus-bike is the practical answer for long trips. Sound Transit's Link light rail allows bikes at all times (space permitting), King County Metro buses have front-mounted racks on every bus, and the Bainbridge/Bremerton ferries are effectively a bike commute corridor on their own. Brakeaway scores the pedal portions of multi-modal commutes so you can evaluate the bike legs in isolation.

SODO, Georgetown, and industrial zones need care. Seattle's industrial south-side has heavy truck traffic and long gaps in bike infrastructure. The Mountains to Sound Trail and the Duwamish Trail provide the spine, but on-street detours through SODO or Georgetown score lower and should be pre-planned.

Resources

• SDOT — biking in Seattle
• Vision Zero Seattle
• Seattle Bike Blog — local news and advocacy
• Cascade Bicycle Club
• Seattle Neighborhood Greenways

Frequently asked questions

Is Brakeaway free to use for Seattle routes?

Yes. Scoring routes — in Seattle or any other city Brakeaway covers — is free. You can upload a GPX file, paste a Google Maps directions link, or connect Strava to import existing rides.

I'm new to Seattle cycling. Where should I start?

The Burke-Gilman Trail is the default first ride. Pick a 3-to-5-mile segment — Gas Works Park to University Village, or Fremont to Matthews Beach — and you have a confidence-building paved, separated path along the ship canal and Lake Washington. Add the Ballard extension (now continuous through the Missing Link) and you can ride car-free from Shilshole Bay all the way to Bothell.

Which Seattle corridors score highest?

The Burke-Gilman Trail, the Elliott Bay Trail, the Westlake protected bike path, the Mountains to Sound Trail, the Interurban Trail extension, the 2nd Avenue PBL downtown, the new MLK Way protected lane in the Rainier Valley, and Alki Trail in West Seattle all score in the 85–100 range.

How does Brakeaway handle Seattle's hills?

Yes, hills are factored into scoring. Seattle has some of the steepest grades of any major US city — the climbs up Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, Beacon Hill, and First Hill all include segments above 15%. Brakeaway penalizes steep grades on narrow streets and flags known hazard-climb streets where driver sightlines are short and cyclist descent speed is high. The Burke-Gilman, the Westlake path, and the Elliott Bay waterfront are the flat routes that let you skip most climbs; Brakeaway's routing will prefer them.

Is the Burke-Gilman Missing Link finally resolved?

After decades of legal and planning delays, the final segment of the Burke-Gilman's so-called Missing Link through Ballard — the ~1.4-mile stretch along Shilshole Avenue NW — has been in active construction and is substantially completed. Brakeaway scores the completed segments and flags any remaining temporary detours. The through-connection from Ballard Locks all the way to Bothell via the continuous Burke-Gilman is one of the single biggest improvements to Seattle's bike network in the last decade.

How does Brakeaway treat Lime and Bird e-bikes?

Seattle's docked bike-share exited the city in 2020; the current options are dockless e-bike services like Lime and app-based rentals. Brakeaway scores routes on any bike identically — the motor doesn't change the infrastructure. If you have a Strava or ride-app export of your trip, upload it as GPX and Brakeaway will score it regardless of bike type. E-bikes meaningfully reduce the effort on Seattle's grades, which makes more of the city practical for commuters.

Which Seattle streets should I avoid on a bike?

Brakeaway consistently scores the following corridors very low: Aurora Avenue N / Highway 99, Rainier Avenue S north of Columbia City, Lake City Way NE, NE 45th Street east of I-5, most of 15th Ave W/NW in Magnolia and Ballard, and the Alaskan Way corridor during the ongoing waterfront build-out. Plan around them using the Burke-Gilman, Westlake, Elliott Bay Trail, or parallel residential streets.

How often is Seattle route data updated?

Infrastructure data is refreshed monthly from SDOT open datasets, OpenStreetMap, and Vision Zero Seattle project updates. Major new protected-lane openings — including the ongoing Beacon Hill / MLK Way upgrades, Waterfront Seattle completions, and Vision Zero corridor treatments — are reflected in scores within 30 days.

Last updated: April 20, 2026.