Lakeside Path Extension Opens With a Sunset Ribbon Cutting

A new mile of the lakeside path opened on Tuesday, connecting downtown to the north beaches without a single road crossing. City officials, neighbors and a long line of cyclists gathered at the new trailhead near the water for a sunset ribbon cutting, and moments after the ribbon fell, the first riders rolled north along freshly paved asphalt with the lake glowing beside them. The extension closes one of the most frustrating gaps in the city’s bike network and gives walkers, runners and families a continuous route along the shoreline for the first time. For people who have spent years dodging traffic to reach the beaches, the change is a big one.

What’s new

A wider path, new lighting, benches and two bike repair stations. The rebuilt section replaces a narrow, patched stretch of trail that ended abruptly near a busy intersection, forcing users onto a road shoulder for nearly half a mile before the path resumed.

According to the city’s public works department, the extension includes:

• A path widened to 12 feet, with a painted center line to separate directions of travel
• Energy-efficient LED lighting along the full mile, angled down to reduce glare over the water
• Eight new benches, several facing west toward the lake and the mountains
• Two bike repair stations with tire pumps and basic tools on cables
• A new underpass beneath the rail line, which removes the last road crossing
• Drinking fountains, including one with a lower bowl for dogs

The underpass was the most expensive and complicated piece of the project, officials said, requiring coordination with the rail line’s owner and several weeks of overnight work. It is lit day and night, with wide sight lines so users can see the other end as they approach.

A long-awaited link

The gap has been a source of complaints for as long as the path has existed. Cyclists described the old route as stressful, with fast-moving traffic, a narrow shoulder and a blind curve near the intersection. Parents said they avoided taking children north of downtown by bike altogether.

You can now ride from the ferry dock to the beach without touching a car lane.

Raymond Cole, city public works director

Cole told the crowd that the project had been on the city’s list for more than a decade. “Every year we’d look at it, and every year it was too complicated or too expensive,” he said. “This year, the funding lined up, the rail agreement came through and our crews made it happen.”

The project cost about $4.8 million, according to the city. Roughly two-thirds came from a federal transportation grant administered by the state, with the rest drawn from a voter-approved parks and paths fund and a smaller contribution from a local foundation. Construction began last fall and paused over the winter before resuming in April.

Voices from the opening

Among the first to ride the new section was Helen Ortiz, who commutes by bike from the New North End to a job downtown. “I’ve been riding this route for nine years, and that half mile on the road was the worst part of my day,” she said. “Today I rode the whole thing with a smile on my face.”

Others brought their families. Derek Lam, riding with his two young daughters on a cargo bike, said the family plans to try the full route to the beach this weekend. “Before, I wouldn’t have dreamed of taking the girls up here,” he said. “Now we can make a day of it.”

Protecting the shoreline

Building along the lake required careful work to protect the shoreline and water quality. Crews used fencing and silt barriers during construction to keep soil out of the lake, and the path was designed so that rainwater drains into planted strips rather than running straight into the water. The city also planted more than 200 native shrubs and trees along the new section, chosen to stabilize the bank and provide habitat for birds and pollinators.

A small section near the old rail yard was shifted slightly inland after surveys found a nesting area used by shorebirds. Signs there now ask visitors to stay on the path during the spring nesting season. Environmental groups that had raised concerns early in the planning process said they were pleased with the final design, though they plan to monitor the area over the next few years.

How people are using it

Within a day of opening, the new section was busy with a mix of commuters, recreational cyclists, runners, dog walkers and families with strollers. City officials said they would install automated counters this month to track use and help plan future improvements.

With more people sharing the path, the city is reminding users of a few basic courtesies:

1. Keep right except to pass, and pass on the left.
2. Give a friendly bell or a clear “on your left” before passing.
3. Ride at a comfortable speed, especially near benches and the underpass.
4. Keep dogs on a short leash and to the side of the path.
5. Step off the path when stopping to take photos or chat.

E-bikes are permitted on the path, though the city’s posted speed guidance applies to all users. Electric scooters from the city’s shared program are also allowed, and parking zones for them have been marked near both ends of the new section.

Key takeaway: The new mile runs from downtown to the north beaches with no road crossings, and it is open daily from dawn to 11 p.m., when the lights dim to a lower setting.

Still to come

A pedestrian bridge over the creek is planned for 2027. The bridge would connect the north beaches to a neighborhood park on the other side of the creek, where the path currently ends at a gravel turnaround. City engineers are finishing early designs, and public meetings to review options are expected this winter.

Officials also said they are studying additional improvements along the full length of the path, including more shade trees, wayfinding signs showing distances to key destinations and a second restroom near the north beaches. Some residents at the ribbon cutting asked for more trash and recycling bins, and Cole said the city would add several before the end of the month.

Plan your ride

The new section is easy to reach from several points. From downtown, follow the path north from the waterfront park past the boathouse and the ferry dock. The extension begins just beyond the old rail yard and continues to the north beaches. Free bike parking is available at both ends, and the city’s bike share has stations near the ferry dock and the main beach entrance.

Riders who want to make a longer trip can continue past the north beaches on quieter neighborhood streets, or head south from the waterfront toward the parks and beaches on the other side of downtown. A printable map of the full path, including restrooms, water fountains and repair stations, is available on the parks department website.

As the light faded on Tuesday evening, riders kept coming. Some stopped at the new benches to watch the last of the sunset over the water, while others pushed on toward the beaches in the cooling air. For a city that has long loved its waterfront, the new mile makes it a little easier to enjoy, without a single car lane in the way.