Biking, hiking and parks (Birmingham, Homewood: appointed, neighborhood, school)

[Todd4]

Hello everyone.

I may be relocating to Birmingham and was wondering if people bike around the city to get to work downtown (assuming you live close-in like southside) and if there are any lanes for bicyclists?

Also, are there parks for people to ride and hike in around town (not mountainbiking)?

In general, how is the park system especially around downtown and southside?

Thanks

[1size2smll]

Hi Todd4. I would say that you would be in a small minority if you cycle to work, but this is based on my work experience from seven years ago in the UAB area so others may have a newer observation. There are no bike lanes. There are, however, places to bike. There is a long trail alongside Lakeshore in Homewood where people bike, jog, etc. daily. I live on Shades Mountain, and while there are no bike trails per se, I see cyclists regularly in my neighborhood and also in the Homewood area. A friend of mine bikes her child to the Montessori school in Homewood.

There is a string of parks along Highland Ave. (in the southside/forest park area) for recreation, but not hiking/biking. Google Rufner Mountain and check out their trails etc.

Birminghamians love their cars! If you are looking for a place where biking to work, walking to entertainment, and hoping on public transportation are a way of life, you will be disappointed. There was a campaign several years ago to foster cooperation between Bham and the surrounding cities of Mountain Brook, Vestavia, Homewood, etc. so that the greater bham area could have a unified public transportation system, biking lanes, trails, etc. but it was defeated. Sigh. Birmingham *is* moving forward, but it is a little like watching paint dry-- slow and subtle.

L.

[Bravo35223]

Currently underway within the city limits of Birmingham, is a project to create the largest urban park in the United States - Red Mountain Park. RMP will be three times larger than Central Park in NYC and already has the land and funding in place. An Executive Director for the park is currently being recruited.

friends of Red Mountain Park :: About the Park

Also located within the city limits is Ruffner Mountain Park....

Ruffner Mountain Park - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

20 minutes south of Birmingham is Oak Mountain State Park which is a 10,000 acre state park filled with hiking and biking trails.

Alabama State Parks