Traffic On Bainbridge Island
One of the true joys of living on Bainbridge is the general lack of traffic. Most of the time you can consistently rely on the standard “10-15 minutes to get anywhere” rule. Traffic is generally reliable and COBI does a nice job of texting out and alerting you of any new developments (accidents, trees down). That said, the island is not without its spots and it can be helpful to learn them and plan around them. The most significant area is definitely 305, though there are also a couple of other sites that are worth noting.
305
Ooohhh 305. It is the great love/hate of Bainbridge transportation. On the one hand it is the essential artery to island linking the ferry, Winslow and all points Bainbridge to Agate Bridge and the world beyond. On the other hand there are times when it is an all too frustrating reminder of what you wanted to leave behind when you moved here. And there are few things more frustrating when driving on the island than the dreaded “left hand turn” on to 305 during rush hour. Some of the frustration lies in the overall paucity of traffic on the island and general ease with getting up north and over the bridge. But look to head downtown at 8:00 am or try to journey to Poulsbo on a weekday afternoon 30 minutes after a ferry lands and you will have ample opportunity to sit and wonder if you made the correct decision. Likewise, if you were thinking of getting off-island via the bridge just a little early on Friday that holiday weekend you may want to plan around the inevitable back up.
Winslow Way
Given its heavy shopping and tourist bent, it is no surprise that the road can back up as people scramble and wait for passing foot traffic and for the coveted parking opportunity. Normally the flow through downtown Winslow is not that bad but it can be stress inducing to those in a hurry.
Another area of significance along Winslow Way is the ferry access. Whether headed eastbound or westbound, turning on to 305 into the ferry terminal is prohibited at high traffic times. This seems only fair that you wouldn’t be able to cut in front of those lined up the shoulder of the highway waiting for an hour or so. Unfortunately, there is no access on to 305 apart from heading all the way up to High School Rd. So even if there are only a few cars waiting you will have to make the trek up there to get to the back of the line. If you are looking to make a boat on a sunny summer Sunday afternoon your likely least stressful option is to assume that it is closed and go on up there to begin with. Much better that than get stuck in Winslow Way traffic only to find out later that you need to head anyways, scratching your head the whole way north wondering (again) why there isn’t a more convenient turn on as certainly EVERYONE has made this mistake as often as you have.
305 and Miller / Day Rd.
The traffic light here can be a bottleneck on 305 and often backs up during weekday rush hours along the highway. In the mid to late afternoon the intersection can also back up down Miller (as well as Day) as the local businesses let out and the overall 305 traffic picks up. The timing and extent of the backup can be a little unpredictable but it is something to be aware of if you are in a hurry.
Madison Rd at High School Rd.
This circle generally functions well and keep things moving. However, it can become a hot spot when things are active around the high school, most notably during the 3 p.m. hour as the masses get out of school and make their way to their cars, Safeway, Starbucks, etc. At those times the pedestrian traffic can slow the circle down and back up traffic in all directions as drivers wait for students to cross the street in predictably variable levels of urgency depending on how engrossed they are in their conversation with their classmates. Similarly, traffic along High School in front of the school will back up at these times. Generally, if you are able to remember this and find a bypass route it may save some time and stress.
Sportsman Club Rd.
As with the Madison / High School Rd circle, traffic along this road is school dependent and can come to a standstill as the children are let out around 3:30. Some of the backup comes from students crossing the road to Copper Top or other locations down the road but most just comes from the increase in car traffic and busses leaving for pickup. It only takes a few times to get stuck along this normally dependable cross-over route to remind yourself to avoid it if possible in that half-hour block.
Key Takeaways:
Going North after the ferry gets out can be a challenge—and true locals know to check the schedule to see when the boat unloads- this is especially true on Fridays afternoons during the summer months when the bulk of ferry go-ers are headed to their weekend cabins.
An individual commute generally includes quiet, meandering roads. That said- if you get behind a school bus on a 2-lane road— you could be in for a slow go— buses on Bainbridge generally stop at every corner for students and without the ability to pass, you are definitely going to want to be ahead of the bus route.
No Left Turns! When coming to town from NE parts of the island, you may find yourself with a tricky left turn to get onto 305— this is true especially for Reitan, Dolphin, Agatewood and West Port Madison in the afternoons and evenings. WSDOT has two planned roundabouts in the works which will ultimately improve this for residents.
Bikers and Pedestrians. They are numerous on Bainbridge. Generally speaking, there are some good areas where we have decent shoulders for bikers and pedestrians— but Bainbridge is definitely a place that has a deep appreciation for getting outside and sharing the road. Keep that in mind when traveling— you are almost always sharing the road.
