Without the South Park bridge, we’re all adjusting to how to get to and from South Park. The county has created some resources for figuring out your routes. King County’s “Getting Around Without The Bridge” page includes a PDF map, which you can also pick up at the Info Center. Metro buses have been rerouted — you can find the updates here.
If you are biking from South Park:
From the library at 8th and Cloverdale, follow the 132 bus route north on 8th Ave. There are now “sharrows” aka bike symbols showing you the way along the street the entire way. Hop on the Duwamish bike trail at West Marginal and Holden, then take the 1st Ave bridge over the river. When you come to the end of the bridge, follow 1st Ave to then take a right on Front Street. At the stop sign, turn left onto East Marginal, hope onto the sidewalk, and follow the sidewalk around the corner to First Avenue. You can then get all the way downtown on first — be careful around the construction at Spokane. Here’s a google map of how to get from the library to Macrina Bakery on First, just as an example.
Going to Georgetown is easy — when you get across the first Ave bridge, take hard right at the bottom of the ramp and follow Michigan east (it’s busy, be careful!). You can then turn left on 6th, Corson, or go all the way to Airport Way.
If you are biking to downtown, you can also follow the Duwamish trail — a separated bike path! — to the lower West Seattle Bridge and then go up north on Alaskan Way (or skip the bridge and bike to Alki!). This is fairly safe (watch for trucks around the port and for suicidal rabbits dashing across the bike path along the river park) and, while a mile and a half longer, you can ride faster because there are fewer lights.
The new city bike map will help you plan your route — find it here.
Google Maps also has directions for bikes now, which is an ok starting place for planning a trip — it appears to incorporate all the city’s bike routes. You might cross-check it with the city bike map to be sure before you head out.
This map shows community locations in South Park:
