Canal cycling in Las Cruces (lease, mall, car)

[SmellyBacon]

Cycling in and around LC is a mixed experience. There's the flatness, but then there are certain drivers. There's the stout winds, but then there's the flatness.

The roads are okay for riding, not wonderful. The best bet is to use your map skills and find a route that doesn't involve arterial roads, but that's true of most cities.

The big bonus for riders in the valley is the canal system. It's worth having a bike that can handle mildly to moderately bumpy conditions to use this alternative road system. You will seldom encounter a car except at a road crossing. Mostly the only people I see are a few fellow cyclists and people out for a walk.

If you get to know the canal system a little, you can get anywhere in the valley. The trick is knowing which roads are which when there aren't signs. Part of that comes with experimentation, but I've done a few maps at Bikely. Here's my favorite, with notes on how the Leaseburg Canal + tributaries connects to some of the major roads.

[url=http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Taylor-Rd-to-Downtown-Mall-along-canal-Las-Cruces]Bicycle Path - Taylor Rd. to Downtown Mall along canal, Las Cruces at Bikely.com][/url]

If you're a rider here, do you use the canal system? What are your experiences?

[tecpatl]

you can also ride the levee roads along the Rio Grande

[RedAppleNM]

Another canal cyclist here. I ride my road bike along the canal levees - you don't necessarily need an off-road bike to do it, but it's probably comfier and easier on the bike. Most of the levees are relatively smooth and well packed (no gravel or loose dirt). Most of my riding experience is around the west side of town and I have yet to navigate the canals east of Main Street.

For some time I've been wanting to put together a website mapping out good cycling routes around Doña Ana County. The cycling map that the city put out is "ok", but kind of generic. Personally, I have found routes that are better using side streets and canal levees.

If there are other urban cyclists who are interested in collaborating on mapping out the best bike routes around Las Cruces please respond on this thread and we can discuss it further.