bicycle trails

[happythoughts 0]

In Florida, a man whose child was killed while riding a bicycle started a bicycle advisory committee for the county. The county also had 34 miles of abandoned railroad track. The govt took the abandoned railroad track, pulled the rails, paved a bicycle trail over it. As a result, a lot of counties have miles of continuous bicycle trails that wind from rural areas through the downtown areas.

Yesterday, I went for 12 miles in one direction (it goes for a lot long than that). We were riding into a strong wind so we tired pretty fast. The ride back was effortless. Most of the time we sat up and coasted, that let the wind push us.

Since the trail goes through a variety of areas, there are places to stop and buy food or dine at outdoor cafes. We haul our own water bottles. Generally, the plan is to ride for an hour and a half, stop for lunch, then come back.

The trails get a huge amount of use. It seems like an almost maintenance-free recreational facility and people of all ages can use it. Families can use it as a group also.

I think it is a great idea.

[mailin 0]

They did they same thing up here in Rhode Island - http://www.rigreenways.org/. I ride those trails alot - they go right along the blackstone river, some of the most beautiful sceanery around. It sure is nice to see those abandoned areas put to good use huh?

Now I just need to get a good bike and the rides will be even more fun!


Jen

Arianna Frances

[Thunderbow 1]

We've got a couple of those here in the north suburbs of Detroit. We rode one way for about 10 miles last year and didn't come close to reaching the end and that was only going south, it continues a long way going north too. My wife and I both bought Trek comfort bikes a few years ago. I never knew what it was like to own a real bike. Not a Huffy.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Lord, let me be the person my dog thinks I am.

[sunshine 2]

I have an awesome bike trail close to my apartment. i love riding.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[Kris 0]

We've got a great 10-mile loop around Lake Hefner here in OKC. Also located next to the lake is an amazing 4-mile mountain bike run that's broken up into 4 different types of terrain, along with several different firetrails in the surrounding forest.

Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and
Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

[slug 1]

The trails & the mild climate in the seattle metro plex is almost ideal for Human powered activities.

Multi use is where it's at
We have county wide maps available on the net of the trails available here. Some are on abandonded RR tracks, Power line RW, river levy's (Green River).
Etc.

Multi use can really work even in heavily populated area's as long as everyone plays nice.

Glad to see that some good came out of the tragic death of a child. At lest it can give the family some peace and save some more lives.

R.I.P.

[PhreeZone 20]

The Rails to Trails program is active up here too. They are turning the old RR tracks next to the DZ into a trail too it looks like. Less then 100 yards from the DZ. If I lived there thats how I'd travel to the DZ

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[Dagny 0]

Where is the bike trail? I'm moving to Clearwater/Largo in June and I love being on my bikes. I looked up some cycling clubs in the area that I'm going to join for the group rides, but I get nervous riding alone on the streets. (it gets a little scary and I fell once...luckily away from the street and into the gravel on the side of the road)

Some paved bike paths would be awesome!

How busy is it on the path? Can you ride 18-20mph without mowing down small kids?

Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic.
-Salvador Dali

[aerohaga 0]

WV has a great Rail-Trail system. Plus a lot of mountain biking trails too---
New River Trails-
http://www.nps.gov/neri/pdf/biketrl3.pdf
Snowshoe Mountain Stuff-
http://ride.snowshoemtn.com

For my part, I know nothing with any certainty,
But the sight of the stars makes me dream.
-Vincent Van Gogh

[happythoughts 0]

Pinellas Trail

There is a map on the link that shows the layout.
Largo/Clearwater is the northern part of Pinellas County. I was in Palm Harbor last weekend, which is north of Clearwater. It was a 12 mile ride down to Clearwater.

They have a 20mph speed limit, but it is pointless to go that fast because there is frequent street crossings. Most are lightly used roads, so it is not much of a problem.

I passed many other people on bicycles and rollerblades, but it was not crowded. Having other people around is ok with me, just for safety reasons.

For shorter stuff, there is a park at the beach that I rollerblade at. A 4-mile loop back to my cooler and a sandwich.

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[Ron 10]

Ive done.

Suncoast Parkway (I have done 40 miles on it...It goes much farther)

Flatwoods (7mile loop)

Withilachoci (SP/) (I have done 40 miles, again it keeps going)

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[JohnMitchell 16]

Cool thing. We live right on a 12 mile bike trail here in Washington. About 4 miles parallel to the highway, runs thru town, and then it follows the Carbon River after that. It is a beautiful ride any time of year. We're very lucky to have it so close by.

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[marcandalysse 0]

They've been talking for years about extending the Rails Bike Trail through Sarasota County....having legal issues with the railroad owners, but eventually it will happen.....

For all the Chicago area people, do you know the forest preserve trails west of town? I used to rollerblade for 40 miles round trip all the way through Morton Grove, Skokie, Glenview up to the Botanic Gardens in Highland Park....it is forested all the way....see deer wondering around at sunsets....and winter time it makes a great XCountry Ski trail....(brrr....)

marc