Biking on Beacon: Family biking to Columbia City

I was at The Station the other night having a drink with some friends (Thanks Luis!), and we got to discussing Columbia City and how much it has changed over the past 10 years.  Today, there are a number of great destinations there including Empire Espresso on Edmunds (best latte in Seattle, though they can’t touch The Station’s Mexican mochas); Columbia City Cinema (now playing: Black Swan and a couple movies about hornets); Tutta Bella (a stopgap until we get our own brick oven pizza place); Full Tilt (old school video games and small batch ice cream… ’nuff said); a bakery, bar, toy store, etc.; and—of course—Bike Works!

Bike Works was established in the mid ’90s with the goal of promoting cycling in the underserved communities of Southeast Seattle.  When the bike shop went in, it was the only one between Capitol Hill and Renton!  They currently run the earn a bike program for kids and are generally bicycle angels in our midst. I biked there with my kids a few months ago to get some hand grips for Kai’s bike.  It was Malia’s longest ride and she did great (we took the light rail to get back).  The key to getting to Columbia City safely on a bike is Renton Ave. S. which runs between MLK and Rainier.  You can see our mapped route with videos here.

There are many reasons why Columbia City has changed so much while Beacon Hill has not (topography, demographics, arterial access) and I am sure the next 10 years will bring similar change to our community. This will, of course, have complex ramifications: some good, some bad.  One good one, that my kids will appreciate, is that our bike rides will get a little easier.

Beacon Hill to Columbia City (SAFE ROUTE) at EveryTrail

2 thoughts on “Biking on Beacon: Family biking to Columbia City”

  1. Thanks for calling us angels, Dylan! You and your family and your cohort at Beacon Bikes are the angels!
    FWIW, we also hold regular volunteer repair events where adults of ALL skill, experience and confidence levels can work together on bikes, do some service, eat some snacks and get their hands dirty.
    Its fun! http://bikeworks.org/support_involved.php
    Awl-sow, we’ve got a rad warehouse sale coming up this weekend! All “as is” bikes will be on sale. All sorts of used parts and accessories will be on sale too, like rims, wheels, handlebars, tires, automobile bike racks, unicycles, bike jerseys and shorts, cycling shoes, and much more! Sunday, January 30, from 11am to 4pm. Please join us.

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