Community Bicycle Congress

Exploring transportation alternatives for Boise State University and beyond!

Getting Started as a Bicycle Commuter: Route 9

Southwest Boise Inter-modal

Southwest Boise is transected by Fivemile Creek, by several irrigation canals, and by Interstate 84. Because these features tend to be oriented diagonally across the street grid, they are bridged almost exclusively by arterial streets. Consequently, Southwest Boise presents unique challenges to the commuting bicyclist.

Route 9 helps show that difficult commutes can be made easier by traveling inter-modally. Route 9 originates at a Park-and-Ride lot and connects to a Valley Ride bus route that directly serves the Boise State campus. Bicycles are used as node-to-node shuttles. Following is the itinerary.

7:10 a.m. riders convene at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 3100 S. Five Mile Road (just south of Victory Rd.). This is a Park-n-Ride lot; please park at southeast corner of the lot, at back of church.

7:20 a.m. depart northward on Five Mile
at Victory, right turn
at Cole Road, left turn (7:32)
at Overland Road, right turn (7:38)

At this point, some riders may want to catch Valley Ride bus #29, Overland. The bus stops at Cole and Overland at 7:50 a.m., and arrives at Univeristy and Joyce at 8:05 a.m.

Anyone interested in continuing on bicycles, can use the following itinerary.

7:45 a.m. cross Overland Road using the signal at Overland Park shopping center on the sidewalk, walk bicycles one-half block eastward along Overland to Brooklawn. Take Brooklawn northward.
at Hummel, left turn
at Cameron, right turn
at Randolph, right turn
at Aurora, left turn
at Cassia, right turn (7:49)
cross Curtis Road
at Phillippi, right turn (7:53)
at Kootenai, left turn (7:55)
cross Orchard Street
cross Vista (8:05)

continue on Kootenai, joining Protest Road
cross Federal Way, descend Protest Hill
cross Boise Avenue
join Beacon Street
at Lincoln Avenue, left turn
arrive at Student Union (8:20 a.m.)

Return Options

Arrange a time to meet friends and bicycle back to the Park-and-Ride lot.
Bus #29 departs from University and Joyce at 12:15, 1:15, 2:15 and 3:15 p.m., then runs at 30-minute intervals until 6:45 p.m. Ride on the bus to Cole Road; exit the bus at this point. Use pedestrian crosswalks to cross Cole Road, and then Overland Road. Continue walking southward along Overland Road until clear of the right-turn merge. Then mount up and cycle south to Victory Road. At Victory, right turn. Continue to Five Mile Road. Remaining on the east side of Five Mile, dismount and walk bikes up to the church parking lot.

Return to Bicycle Routes to Campus page