Free Group Ride
Fix the Burke Gilman - Seattle Board of Park Commissioners Meeting (Leisurely)
Ride Contact
... of 20 spots remaining
Registration deadline was 7/9/2026 2:30pm
Fix the Burke Gilman : We will ride from Matthews Beach Park to the Seattle Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners meeting at 100 Dexter Ave North. Public comment usually starts at 6:05 pm. We want to be there plenty early to get bicycles parked and everyone in place without being a disruption to the meeting.
Special Instructions To make public comment sign up ahead of time by emailing PKS_BPRC@seattle.gov before 5:00 pm on the day of the meeting. You are not required to make a public comment. Please copy the ride leader on the email to Benjamin so we know how many people plan to make comments.
Route: We will ride south on the Burke-Gilman Trail to Gas Works Park. From there we will join up with other bicycling advocates and proceed on 34th Ave, the Fremont Bridge, then south on West Lake Union Cycle path and 9th Ave N until we reach 100 Dexter Ave for the meeting.
Fenders: If the riding surfaces are wet, please come equipped with fenders long enough to keep the person riding behind you dry or may be asked to ride at the rear of the group, behind those who do have fenders.
Ride start: We meet at the Matthews Beach parking lot. Please be ready to ride at 4:30 pm. We will start with the required safety briefing and roll out when that's done. All riders must attend the safety briefing to participate. Note: Water and restrooms are available at the start. Be prepared if you have a mechanical problem (e.g. ready to fix a flat tire.)
Parking: Free parking at Matthews Beach parking lot.
Weather cancellation: If weather conditions meet the weather cancelation criterion listed in the Weather Status 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.
What to Know Before You Go
- Advance registration required. Cancel if unable to attend, to open space for others.
- Must be present at safety briefing to participate.
- Helmets required.
- Riders under 18 years old require parental consent & approval from the Ride Leader.
Event Announcements
Here are the public comments that I have sent in and will be giving in person on Thursday. I encourage you to send in comments to PKS_BPRC@seattle.gov and register to speak.
Good evening, members of the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners
My name is Peter Breyfogle, and I am a resident of the View Ridge neighborhood in Seattle. I am the leader of “Fix the Burke-Gilma” a partner project of the Seattle Parks Foundation.
I am here today to remind the Board that there is a local, regionally and nationally significant bicycle facility managed by Seattle Parks and Recreation. The Burke-Gilman Trail was one of the first urban rails to trails conversions 50 years ago! Unfortunately, it has not received adequate capital Improvement funding for the northernmost four miles of the Burke-Gilman Trail.
This critical four-mile stretch suffers from years of deferred maintenance. We are currently facing drainage issues, severe root intrusion, crumbling asphalt, and inadequate separation between cyclists and pedestrians. These are no longer just minor inconveniences; they are active safety hazards. In the winter months, poor drainage leads to dangerous pooling and black ice, making the trail unsafe for wheeled users, including children and elderly residents. The edge is deteriorated, over hung by vegetation, is slippery, and masks a deep ditch.
Patchwork maintenance is no longer enough. We need a comprehensive capital upgrade: full repaving, modern root barriers, structural drainage fixes, and safer edges with demarcation.
Seattle Parks and Recreation has the responsibility and the resources to fund a capital improvement project for the Burke-Gilman. Please do not let the north end of this historic trail deteriorate further.
The current repaving and root repair efforts need to continue as well. The repaving should be better funded and use a more continuous approach for a quality repair that is not so patchwork. Finally, the edge along the whole trail needs to be consistently graveled. Next year’s project should focus on the spilt in the trail next to the Princeton Ave underpass.
Thank you for your time, your leadership, and your commitment to safer, more connected Seattle.
https://cascade.org/rides-events/89964
For those of you that would rather start at Gas Works there is now an official ride for that.
If you want to use that option, please cancel from this ride and register for that ride.
Thanks to Sundar for scheduling and leading it. We will meet up for the ride to the meeting.
Be sure to wear your BG50 jersey if you have one.
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