Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen/Route 16

Also known as "Cycling Road," Routes #16, #17, and #18 are a favorite hangout for bicyclists and motorcyclists alike. It just so happens that many of these two-wheeling enthusiasts are Pokémon trainers as well, and you must fight your way down the long slope to Fuchsia City. Once there, you will have a chance to visit the Safari Zone.

Route 16

File:Pokemon FRLG Route16.png

Route 16

Before you head past the guard post, dig your Cut-trained Pokémon out of the computer in Celadon City and use him to snip away at the tree blocking the norther part of Route #16. It's here that you'll find the patch of wild grass that is your first chance to catch a Doduo, as well as a secret house containing HM 02, Fly. Use this to teleport to any city you've visited, or for a two-turn Flying-type attack that is similar to Dig. If you want to use Doduo be sure to teach him to fly.

If you haven't been working on your Pokedex, catch some Pokemon here. The aid upstairs will give you the Amulet Coin if you own at least 40 Pokemon.

Pokemon

FireRed	Level	Encounter Rate	LeafGreen	Level	Encounter Rate
Doduo	18-22	35%	Doduo	18-22	35%
Rattata	18-22	30%	Rattata	18-22	30%
Spearow	20-22	30%	Spearow	20-22	30%
Raticate	23-25	5%	Raticate	23-25	5%
Special Pokemon
Snorlax	30	One	Snorlax	30	One
Note: Only two Snorlax are found in game. One here on route 12 and one on Route 16)

Trainers

Name	1st	2nd	3rd	Money
Lea & Jed	Rapidash 29	Ninetales 29		1624
Lao	Grimer 29	Koffing 29		580
Koji	Machop 28	Mankey 28	Machop 28	672
Luke	Mankey 28	Machop 28		696
Hideo	Weezing 33			660
Ruben	Weezing 28	Koffing 28	Weezing 28	560
Camron	Mankey 29	Machop 29		696

Route 17

File:Pokemon FRLG Route17.png

Route 17

Route #17's brutal slope drags you downward unless you hold the or buttons to steady yourself. But there's no reason not to speed to the bottom.

Pokemon

FireRed	Level	Encounter Rate	LeafGreen	Level	Encounter Rate
Doduo	24-28	35%	Doduo	24-28	35%
Spearow	20-22	30%	Spearow	20-22	30%
Raticate	25-29	25%	Raticate	25-29	25%
Rattata	22	5%	Rattata	22	5%
Fearow	25-27	5%	Fearow	25-27	5%

Trainers

Name	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	Money
Isaiah	Machop 29	Machamp 29				696
Virgil	Weezing 28	Koffing 28	Weezing 28			560
Billy	Muk 33					660
Raul	Mankey 29	Primeape 29				696
Jamal	Mankey 26	Mankey 26	Machamp 26	Machop 26		624
Nikolas	Voltorb 29	Voltorb 29				580
Zeek	Machoke 33					792
Corey	Primeape 29	Machoke 29				696
Jaxon	Weezing 29	Muk 29				580
William	Koffing 25	Weezing 25	Koffing 25	Weezing 25	Koffing 25	500

Route 18

File:Pokemon FRLG Route18.png

Route 18

When you get to Route #18, don't miss the trader in the top floor of the guardpost. He'll trade you a Lickitung for a Slowbro (LeafGreen)/Golduck (FireRed). Just before you arrive at Fuchsia City via Route #18, you will find three bird keepers waiting for you on the other side of the guard house. With the help of one little electric Pokémon (you know the one), you can make short work of all three in no time.

Pokemon

FireRed	Level	Encounter Rate	LeafGreen	Level	Encounter Rate
Doduo	24-28	35%	Doduo	24-28	35%
Spearow	20-22	30%	Spearow	20-22	30%
Raticate	25-29	15%	Raticate	25-29	15%
Fearow	25-29	15%	Fearow	25-29	15%
Rattata	22	5%	Rattata	22	5%

Trainers

Name	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Money
File:Pokemon FRLG Birdkeeper.png Jacob	Spearow 26	Spearow 26	Fearow 26	Spearow 26	1624
File:Pokemon FRLG Birdkeeper.png Wilton	Spearow 29	Fearow 29			696
File:Pokemon FRLG Birdkeeper.png Ramiro	Dodrio 34				816

New Pokemon

#143 Snorlax	#108 Lickitung
You won't get far in Route 16 without defeating the giant, sleeping Snorlax blocking your path. To wake him up, use your flute, and then defend yourself against his grumpy level 30 Snorlax rage. There's only one more Snorlax in the game (at Route #12), so capture him now! He'll learn some okay attacks at level 35 and beyond, but for now he's mainly defensive. He has a ton of hit points, comes with Rest, and wakes from it quickly. After you defeat him, use the Item Finder in the place where he was to find the item Leftovers.	If you're collecting all of the Pokémon, the guard post in Route #18 is a great opportunity for players to trade a Golduck, something you can fish up fairly easily, for a rare Lickitung. But if it's utility that interests you, you're better off keeping the Golduck. Lickitung is a hearty fellow, but his array of Normal attacks are poor.
#84 Doduo
The problem with Fly is that it requires a Flying-type Pokémon. And while Fly itself is a very useful skill, you won't get any Flyer worth adding to your party (like Aerodactyl) for a little while. So you'll want to pick up a disposable flying Pokémon for the time being... Like Doduo! Doduo, which can be caught in any version, is by no means terrible. Drill Peck is a strong attack that's great against the many Fighting-type Pokémon in this area (as well as more seldom seen Grass and Bug Pokémon), but there's not a whole lot else to get excited about. The evolved form, Dodrio, which can be caught in Route #17 in Yellow only (or raised at level 31 in any version) is a fairly speedy, strong attacker that can do good damage with Normal skills like Tri Attack.