Travelers should prepare for delays and stay alert on roadways
OLYMPIA – Drivers should plan for extra travel time Saturday, July 15, and Sunday, July 16, and everyday bicycle riders will find they have a lot of company on two wheels as 5,000 bicyclists ride western Washington’s state highways and local roads for the 2023 Kaiser Permanente Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic.
The Washington State Department of Transportation asks motorists to observe the rules of the road for safe driving around people on bikes and to prepare for travel delays during the popular recreational ride. As state driving laws periodically change, drivers may want to review the state driver guide and the driving among bicyclists section.
Bicyclists should also be aware of their responsibility to follow Washington’s bicycle rules of the road. The Cascade Bicycle Club distributes a free pocket guide about state bike laws with support from the Share the Road license plate sales. To request a copy of the guide, email: info@cascadebicycleclub.org.
The Washington portion of the STP route follows state highways and local roads in these areas:
- State Route 513 – University of Washington parking lot on Montlake Boulevard to Northeast Pacific Place
- SR 181 – West Valley Highway in Kent
- Puyallup area county roads and city streets
- SR 7 – near Spanaway
- SR 507 and SR 7 junction - Roy
- SR 507 and Third Street – Yelm
- SR 507 and Mosman Avenue – Yelm
- Centralia and Chehalis city streets
- County roads – Napavine to Winlock to Vader
- SR 506 – Vader area
- West Side Highway (becomes SR 411) – Vader to Castle Rock area
- SR 411 (also known as West Side Highway) – Castle Rock to Longview
- SR 432 – Longview industrial area
- SR 433 – Crossing Lewis and Clark Bridge into Oregon
For more information, visit the Cascade Bicycle Club STP page, which includes a route map.
Based on previous STP rides, congestion and delays are expected:
- Early morning Saturday, July 15, on SR 7 in Pierce County.
- Midmorning to afternoon, Saturday, July 15, on SR 507 in Thurston and Lewis counties.
- Early Sunday, July 16, on SR 411 from Castle Rock to Kelso.
- All day Sunday, July 16, near the SR 432 and SR 433 Lewis and Clark Bridge.
STP organizers, WSDOT and law enforcement will work together to direct bicyclists, drivers, and pedestrian traffic at the following locations:
Saturday, July 15
- SR 507/Third Street in Yelm (law enforcement directing traffic).
- SR 507/Mosman Avenue in Yelm (law enforcement directing traffic).
- SR 507/Tenino Trail crossing (police officers or certified flaggers directing traffic).
Sunday, July 16
- SR 411/Lexington/Riverside County Park area (police officers directing traffic at SR 411 and Riverside County Park).
- SR 432/SR 433 in Longview at the Lewis and Clark Bridge (Washington State Patrol, flaggers and motorcycle escort).
Drivers on SR 432 can expect delays of up to 20 minutes from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Sunday, July 16. WSP and flaggers will stop southbound drivers on SR 433 so STP riders can cross the Lewis and Clark Bridge, escorted by Gold Wing motorcycle club members. Riders crossing the bridge on Saturday will not have a bridge escort and are expected to ride with traffic.