Puget Sound area bicycle commuters — some riding to work for the first time — awoke to clear skies and warm temperatures for Friday's annual Bike to Work Day in the Seattle area.
At commuter stations in Bellevue, the better than normal weather in the Pacific Northwest meant a much better turnout than last year.
Michael Ingram, a senior planner in the city's transportation department, said that 500 bicyclists passed through the commute station at the base of the I-90 bridge (above) over Lake Washington between 6 and 9 a.m.
That's about 200 more than last year (and he didn't count the cyclists who came through early this morning while he was setting up). The bike commute station at the Commuter Connection (below) in downtown Bellevue also was busier than last year, reporting 176 visitors.
The story was the same throughout the region, where the Cascade Bicycle Club helped set up more than 40 commute stations for Bike to Work Day. Cascade reported 19,404 people were counted on Friday, a 43% increase over 13,568 counted last year.
Tom Fucoloro at Seattle Bike Blog said bicyclists were lined up shoulder-to-shoulder at the Fremont commute station.
While those commute stations are basically a morning thing, a Bike to Work Day Party is happening from 4 to 7 p.m. at near Bergen Place Park in Ballard. See the Bike to Work Day calendar for details.
Update: Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood writes at blog that Bike to Work Day demonstrates benefits of bicycling
More photos from Bike to Work Day in Bellevue:
Some bicycle commuters just rolled through the commuter station at the base of the I-90 bridge over Lake Washington.
Others stopped for water bottles, free drinks and snacks, and expert adjustment and repair services offered by Jason Goodman of Montlake Bicycles.
Free doughnuts from Top Pot in Bellevue were on the menu at the Commuter Connection at downtown Bellevue's transit center.
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