Is the green route the best way to get between 520 and I-90 on the Eastside?

[u/sirotan88]

We’re trying to do a mini lake loop from Kirkland to Seattle across 520, down Lake Washington Blvd to I-90, back across then up through Bellevue. I think I’m leaning toward taking the green route 108th and then over to Meydenbauer and Medina before returning to 520.

Any suggestions for this part of the route would be helpful!

Also, I haven’t done any of the routes on Seattle side from 520 to Lake Washington Blvd to I-90, but I assume this section is popular enough that we can just follow other cyclists?

[u/brussel_sprouts_yum]

What's your priority? Vibes or speed?

Vibes: 520 trail to Medina way, hug the water, lwb thru Bellevue to beaux arts village, hug the water all the way down

Speed/vibes: 108th all the way 

Speed: 108th/112th, hug the west side of the freeway down to i-90 trail

[u/PNW_Misanthrope]

Green is closer but still not it. Go through Beaux Arts instead of Bellevue Way.

[u/gregnyc → u/PNW_Misanthrope]

Beaux arts is absolutely lovely to ride through. To add on a little more if you branched off 520 at evergreen point road and overlake drive that is a great stretch too

[u/Memeboidad3 → u/PNW_Misanthrope]

Biking on the Bellevue way would suck, I support the above argument despite their misanthropy

[u/bridges-build-burn → u/Memeboidad3]

I always take Bellevue Way through this stretch and now i realize i should do something different. It does suck! What’s wrong with me!

[u/overlapped]

Here's a collection of loop options: https://ridewithgps.com/collections/8729571

For this section I recommend going further west along 520 to Evergreen Point and taking Evergreen Point road to Overlake Dr W to Lake Washington Blvd NE. It adds a bit of distance but following the water makes for a much nicer ride.

[u/thunderflies]

I strongly prefer to take the Eastrail down to Best Buy and then down to 116th to 114th which turns into 118th and has a nice off-street trail the rest of the way after a short road section. 

[u/gfbhwo → u/thunderflies]

Another option: after Best Buy take a right onto NE 4th and then a left on to 116th Ave NE. There is a bike lane heading south. When you get to the Master Builders Association, hop onto the sidewalk right where it ends and there is a bike path the drops you conveniently at the crosswalk of the on-ramp to 405-N which takes you on to SE 8th St just before the left turn on to 118th leaving to Mercer Slough where you can pick up the I-90 trail where it goes through the wetlands.

[u/Grreatt]

Option 1 is a decent, fairly direct route. 108th is chill. Can get more scenic if you go closer to the water. I would not recommend option 2.

[u/mcmjolnir]

1 is preferable to 2.

[u/TheGouger]

My favourite way is 520 then through Medina then down 108th (520->evergreen point->overlake->main->108th)

[u/gorillapancake]

1 northbound, 2 southbound! going south on 2 is downhill when going through Bellevue downtown so you pick up speed pretty easily.

For a loop you want to make more right turns anyways so 2 south and 1 north works

[u/msgfromside3]

I always did 2. 1 is okay except for Bellevue Way - i would avoid cars as much as possible.

[u/Triabolical_]

This is what I would recommend:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/nHbnXnnXK7mLw1qC7

If you like hills, this is my favorite. Almost no traffic and really nice views.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/1DbtND7jfbSPVeiy6

I would not do option 2.

[u/brussel_sprouts_yum → u/[deleted]]

Unfortunately it won't go the whole way until next year