The Emerald’s premiere location at Second and Stewart places you in the center of downtown Seattle with dozens of public transportation options, from light rail to buses and electric bikes, it’s an ideal place to live surrounded by the city’s best culinary and cultural destinations. And it just got easier to get around on two wheels!
The new 4th Avenue protected bike lane through downtown Seattle is officially complete. Crews completed the final sections of the new protected bike lane with connections to the broader Center City Bike Network in and around downtown Seattle. This protected bike lane now runs uninterrupted along 4th Avenue from Vine Street in Belltown down to Yesler Way in Pioneer Square. The protected bike lane not only separates people biking from moving vehicles, but it also separates the signal phases for all users, meaning drivers won’t need to yield across people walking and biking to make left turns.
“This change will help reduce collisions and make the walking, biking, and driving experience more comfortable and predictable,” SDOT states on its blog.
There is a bicycle-specific green light with a green bike icon to let bikers know when to go, but SDOT says they should still look both ways before rolling through the intersection. Drivers will have a red “no turn” arrow when it’s green for bikers.
Future plans include connecting a new 2-way bike path along the Seattle waterfront near The Emerald that will serve commuters, visitors and families. The bike path will have raised buffers on both sides to separate people biking from people walking and driving, and it will include accessible traffic signals at pedestrian crossings to ensure a safe experience for all. People riding bikes on the existing Elliott Bay Trail near the Olympic Sculpture Park can join the waterfront bike path at Bell St, continuing down to join the existing Elliott Bay Trail at S. King Street.
The Emerald offers secured space to store your bicycles. Located on parking level 1 (P1), residents will enjoy 92 bike spaces just beyond the elevators which require a key fob for entry. Want to utilize the new bike lanes but don’t have a bike? BikeShare lets you borrow a bike for a quick errand, a trip to Link light rail, an all-day adventure, and everything in between. You pick up the bike-share bike closest to you, ride it to where you want to go, and leave the bike for the next person to ride. Bike share in Seattle is currently run by one private vendor, Jump. The fastest way to start riding is to download the company’s app, and follow the instructions provided.
Hop on two wheels and enjoy a bike ride from The Emerald to these inviting spots:
Take a 1.3 miles bike ride over to Climate Pledge Arena on the protected bike lanes and utilize the safe bike lockers inside the 1st Avenue N. Garage, which you can access using your BikeLink Card. There are also 170 short-term bike racks on the arena plaza and nearby.
Enjoy the quick ~3-minute trip to Westlake Park, located at 4th Avenue and Pine Street, which features a fountain, games, open seating, and rotating food trucks.
Looking for a longer scenic ride? Layer up and take 4th Avenue about a mile down to Olympic Sculpture Park, popping into La Parisienne for a treat on the way.
Follow the Elliott Bay Trail through Myrtle Edwards Park as you try to spot eagles, gulls, and crows, through Centennial Park taking in views of Elliott Bay, Mount Rainier, and Olympic Mountains.
For a longer ride pedal all the way to Elliott Bay Marina at Smith Cove Park – a great spot to take in seasonal colors. In the autumn, crimson trees are brilliant against the turquoise waters and Seattle’s skyline shines.
You can bike there! Come explore life at The Emerald and see for yourself why so many have decided to make our prime location their home. Residences are move-in ready, we invite you to contact us to schedule your private in-person or virtual tour.
