Watch: Guide to biking around the downtown light rail closure

Sound Transit's downtown light rail service restriction started this week, and people with bikes must exit trains at International District/Chinatown Station northbound and University Street Station southbound.

The good news is that SDOT completed the south downtown bike connection in time to help riders get around the closure, and it's really great. But you don't have to take my word for it. Robert Svercl created this video with friends Bri and Nick to walk you through the whole process from train to train:

People bringing a bike on the train into or through downtown will need to do this for the next ten weeks into March as Sound Transit works to connect the East Link tracks to the existing line. In order to avoid a long complete closure, Sound Transit is essentially single-tracking trains in and out of Pioneer Square Station. So trains arrive at the station, passengers cross a new temporary center platform to swap trains, the the trains reverse and go back the way they came. Bikes are banned because that center platform gets really crowded during the swap:

Great job at Pioneer Square everybody! Let's keep it up for the evening commute! #Connect2020 pic.twitter.com/TwtDhC9ZET

- Sound Transit - (@SoundTransit) January 7, 2020

Now that we are a couple days in, how is Connect 2020 going for you? Let us know in the comments below.

Biking thru @SoundTransit's #Connect2020 light rail const project? I made this video guide w @bri_cycles & @206Husky to bike btwn ID/Chinatown & Univ St stationshttps://t.co/puasy6KEvU

Runs thru mid-March - get the word out@SNGreenways @seabikeblog @BHSafeStreets #SEAbikes

- Robert Svercl (@bobco85) January 3, 2020