Cycling and public transport in Wilmington (Raleigh, Madison: home, live in, buses)

[ptdudeboston]

Anyone have advice about the safety and accessibility of cycling trails in WIlmington? This is a place I am thinking about moving to in addition to the Triangle area. How about the busy system? I won't be commuting by car. What do you all think? I would love to hear from fellow cycling geeks for sure as well as anyone with info.

[carolina chick]

In regards to the Triangle...

Bike review

[Ellise]

The only paved path in Wilmington that I know of is the one around Greenfield lake, it's about 5 miles long.

As for public transportation, there's a bus called Wave Transit.

Compared to Boston, though, the area is really lacking in parks, nature trails, bike paths, and public transportation.

[ptdudeboston]

thanks carolina chick, that article is helpful. I just don't get these websites touting the abundance of bike trails in the Triangle. I see them on the maps. It looks great and they sure sold me to at least coming to check it out for myself. But what the heck is going on, nobody knows about them? The Greenways system is supposed to be terific. Yet only a couple people have actually recommended that to me while most say it's impossible to bike in the triangle.

[ptdudeboston]

Boston has great public transport indeed. But trust me the idea of cycling in that city frightens even me, and I lived there for several years. There is no room. And there really is only one actual bike trail/path going out to neighboring towns. There is a couple within the city though, but overall the risks and crappy weather 5 months out of the year outweigh the benefits.

[carolina chick]

I think the Triangle had good intentions of making the city bike-friendly, but we grew bigger so quickly that those plans kind of fell to the wayside. Our public transporation in Raleigh is lame. The bus system doesn't hit all points and the wait time between buses is long. It's not like there is a bus every 15 minutes.

CAT System

[jmarquise]

my god, I can't imagine riding a bike in that city. there are a lot of horrible and aggressive drivers there and that wouldn't bode well with cyclists.

[Jimrob1]

Im glad your doing all this research, I think I have seen your name pop up on several forums. Good For you. I think u are looking in the east though Im not sure. Portland definitely has what you want, its known for its bikes and public transport, believe me the bikes are flying by my window as I type this. Unfortunately it rains here so much and is so cool and damp so much of the year I don't see the appeal in riding the bike. If you want a warmer drier climate for bikes try Lance Armstrongs home town Austin, Texas, it has miles of trails and a good place for employment, lousy transit though. Not many places have transit in this country, except where you are in the northeast, Im from there also but live in Oregon now.

[Florida15]

Wilmington is not a bike friendly town as of right now.

[ptdudeboston]

Thanks jimrob1. Ya I am trying to cover the angles before i move. Oregon is the furthest from my family and that kinda blows. Plus, weather is a MAJOR reason why I am moving. Portland seems great, except for that very thing, cold rain. Doh! Being too blind to get a drivers license makes me reliant on self or public transport. I loved Madison, WI. Great for cycling. Just wish I could transplant it further south to get the heck away from the show and cold wind!
Cheers