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 (STP) on Saturday, July 15, and Sunday, July 16.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) 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, WSDOT stated in a news release.
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
• State Route 181 — West Valley Highway in Kent
Puyallup area county roads and city streets
• State Route 7 — near Spanaway
• State Route 507 and state Route 7 junction — Roy
• State Route 507 and Third Street — Yelm
• State Route 507 and Mosman Avenue — Yelm
• Centralia and Chehalis city streets
• County roads — Napavine to Winlock to Vader
• State Route 506 — Vader area
• West Side Highway (becomes state Route 411) — Vader to Castle Rock area
• State Route 411 (also known as West Side Highway) — Castle Rock to Longview
• State Route 432 — Longview industrial area
• State Route 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 state Route 7 in Pierce County.
• Mid-morning to afternoon, Saturday, July 15, on state Route 507 in Thurston and Lewis counties.
• Early Sunday, July 16, on state Route 411 from Castle Rock to Kelso.
• All day Sunday, July 16, near state Route 432 and state Route 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:
• Law enforcement will direct traffic on Saturday, July 15, at the intersection of state Route 507 and Third Street in Yelm.
• Law enforcement will direct traffic on Saturday, July 15, at the intersection of state Route 507 and Mosman Avenue in Yelm.
• Law enforcement or certified flaggers will direct traffic on Saturday, July 15, at the intersection of state Route 507 and the Tenino Trail crossing in Yelm.
• Law enforcement will direct traffic in the areas of state Route 411, Lexington and Riverside County Park on Sunday, July 16.
• Washington State Patrol, flaggers and a motorcycle escort will manage traffic at state Route 432 and state Route 433 in Longview at the Lewis and Clark bridge on Sunday, July 16. Drivers on state Route 432 can expect delays of up to 20 minutes from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 16. State Patrol troopers and flaggers will stop southbound drivers on state Route 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.
