Young family, Working at Amazon, Biking to the office? (Seattle: 2013, renting)

[OnMyWay]

Hi all,

I'll know in a few weeks whether I'll be relocating my family to Seattle for a new job with Amazon, and had a few questions:

1. How hilly is the city (particularly Magnolia) for biking to the office?

2. Is it legal to bike over Route 5 from, say, Fremont, Phinney, Wallingford, or the University District? Are Aurora and/or the University Bridge friendlier options?

3. Will rain interfere much with a biking commute? I've heard the total rainfall isn't so bad, but there are just a lot of misty drizzles, which seem bikeable.

4. Is Seattle a biking-friendly city in general?

5. Neighborhood-wise, I was considering Queen Anne, Magnolia, or even South Lake Union, which all appear close to Amazon Headquarters. Or, depending on the answers to the biking questions above, some of the neighborhoods on the north side of the bridge, up as far as Green Lake (I guess up to 90th or so?). I've heard the school situation is fluid, in that you don't necessarily go to school in the area you live, and that there can be waiting lists for the good schools even if you're in the district. My older son won't be starting elementary school til the fall of 2013, but it's something worth planning for. We're a young family, with 4-year-old and 2-year-old boys, and would love to live somewhere extremely walkable, with restaurants, little shops, parks and playgrounds nearby. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance for your replies!

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by OnMyWay

1. How hilly is the city (particularly Magnolia) for biking to the office?

Well, Seattle is one of the hilliest metros in the US (up there with SF and Pittsburgh)... definitely hills upon hills. If you're focusing on Magnolia, then you're using Elliot Ave, which won't be so bad, but definitely some hills to contend with here and there.

2. Is it legal to bike over Route 5 from, say, Fremont, Phinney, Wallingford, or the University District? Are Aurora and/or the University Bridge friendlier options?

I'm not sure what "Route 5" is... are you talking about i5? No, you can't bike on i5, but at the same time why would you use i5 if you're coming from Fremont, Phinney Ridge, Wallingford, U-District? (It would be more of an inconvenience to use i5 from these areas.) I haven't really seen bikers on Aurora bridge too often (not really safe, given how narrow the lanes are and reckless people can be), but have seen on University bridge and the 15th Ave bridge.

3. Will rain interfere much with a biking commute? I've heard the total rainfall isn't so bad, but there are just a lot of misty drizzles, which seem bikeable.

For those days where it is raining hard, our buses have bike racks if you decide you don't want to stick it out.

4. Is Seattle a biking-friendly city in general?

Yes, we have lots of bike lanes with plans for more. Our ... mayor... supports such designs.

5. Neighborhood-wise, I was considering Queen Anne, Magnolia, or even South Lake Union, which all appear close to Amazon Headquarters. Or, depending on the answers to the biking questions above, some of the neighborhoods on the north side of the bridge, up as far as Green Lake (I guess up to 90th or so?). I've heard the school situation is fluid, in that you don't necessarily go to school in the area you live, and that there can be waiting lists for the good schools even if you're in the district. My older son won't be starting elementary school til the fall of 2013, but it's something worth planning for. We're a young family, with 4-year-old and 2-year-old boys, and would love to live somewhere extremely walkable, with restaurants, little shops, parks and playgrounds nearby. Thoughts?

Well, if you're aiming for North Seattle, you wouldn't have to worry about the schools anyways. All of the Seattle Public schools up there are pretty good. You're looking in the right direction. Also be sure to include Ravenna (which however be more quiet, but definitely close to the action).

[OnMyWay]

Thanks for the thorough reply!

Yes, I meant Interstate 5. We call highways "routes" out this way Just looking at the map makes it seem as though that would be closest coming from the UW area.

Yup, Ravenna was on the list, too. I'll be flying out for my in-person interview soon, and will hopefully have time to check out a bunch of neighborhoods while I'm there.

[SitoUK]

There's bike storage, showers and lockers at all the new Amazon buildings in SLU, so you're covered in that respect. The rain will never make biking impossible, you should just be comfortable with biking in the wet and dress accordingly.

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by OnMyWay

Yes, I meant Interstate 5. We call highways "routes" out this way Just looking at the map makes it seem as though that would be closest coming from the UW area.

Ah... well when you see i5 in person, you'll see its not so convenient.

Use the Google street view to get an idea. Pinpoint yourself on Eastlake Ave E and E. Allison St-- that big concrete thing up in the sky is i5 (that's pretty the view you'll have when you are in Wallingford, south of 40th st). i5 is pretty much "walled" away from DT Seattle. Using the other bridges would be better and definitely safer.

[OnMyWay]

Thanks SitoUK, that's great to know! So I can actually keep work clothes at work where they belong

And thanks again Inkpoe. Yeah, that doesn't look very bike-friendly

[tobester]

Biking is easy in Seattle. If coming from the U District, look into the Burke-Gilman trail. Once on the trail, take the University Bridge, go down Eastlake and you're in SLU. The rain is not a real deterrent to bike commuting. The big deterrent for me is the very short days in the winter. I don't like biking in the dark.

[SitoUK]

Originally Posted by OnMyWay

Thanks SitoUK, that's great to know! So I can actually keep work clothes at work where they belong

And thanks again Inkpoe. Yeah, that doesn't look very bike-friendly

Well, yeah, I think the lockers are only for day use, so you're supposed to empty them in the evening but I guess you can still keep your clothes at your desk :-)

[sean98125]

Your kid's school will be based on your address, and with the current reactive management of the school district your assignment could potentially change even if you don't move. The boundaries for the very popular Stanford elementary school are changing this year, for example. There are a few elementary schools in the north end that are not very good - Olympic Hills and Northgate, for example. Just be careful where you land and check the Seattle Schools website to see what school you'd be assigned to for a given address.

You can still get into one of the alternative schools, but those tend to have long waiting lists and it may not be worth the gamble to choose to live near a poorer school hoping to make it into the alternative school you really want to get into.

[carroll4628]

How about Montlake? I lived there and went "around the hill" to work on Lake Union - Boyer to Eastlake to Fairview Ave. I had co-workers who rode in from West Seattle and a few from Green Lake. Where there's a will, there's a way. Im not sure if it's in the same price range as Magnolia as I was only renting. Also, over there you would be close to the arboretum and across the bridge from the Burke Gilman.