Biking and Greenways

[mad fiddler]

Originally Posted by Been There B4

Yeah, I know, these greenways are a ways off from Madison, but might be worth the drive to experience. It is nice to see the progressiveness of these outlying cities with respect to greenways. They have done an excellent job in getting folks outdoors and moving.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

And though I'm thankful for the greenways, I wish it were easier to run errands by bike. I live within a couple of miles of stores and restaurant, but it's just too dangerous to ride to most of them. Almost all of the main roads here have very narrow shoulders, and the interstate broke up residential streets. Add to that an almost total lack of bike lanes (though Metro's working on that in some areas). It's no wonder there's some tension between bikers and drivers.

Things are getting better quickly for recreational riders. But for those who'd like to bike rather than use a car for short trips, progress is much slower.

[Been There B4]

Originally Posted by mad fiddler

Thanks for all the suggestions!

And though I'm thankful for the greenways, I wish it were easier to run errands by bike. I live within a couple of miles of stores and restaurant, but it's just too dangerous to ride to most of them.

Sadly, this is a tune played way too often in most American cities.
City leaders just cannot seem to grasp the significance of bike lanes and the overall benefits they offer.

In Hendersonville, a town that is NOT bike friendly, a greenway and bikeway master plan has been in the works for years that is supposed to tie in with Drakes Creek Park and the Indian Lake commercial and residential developments,,, and beyond. (How neat would it be to be able to use a bicycle to shop, run errands, and dine, without having to fire up the automobile?) We'll see (optimistically) what actually becomes of it. I know that some of the H'ville powers-that-be have not exactly been jumping up and down to see it happen anytime soon.

[TNNative]

White House also has a greenway that runs all the way around the city. Nice shady areas with elevation and a short distance from Gallatin if you're looking for a change.

[Been There B4]

Originally Posted by TNNative

White House also has a greenway that runs all the way around the city. Nice shady areas with elevation and a short distance from Gallatin if you're looking for a change.

Thanks for the 2nd on the WH greenway, but it should be noted that the path that routes around much of the city's core, as described on the trailhead kiosk maps, has not been completed into a loop. It is still an "out and back" ride until the roughly 9 o'clock to 12 o'clock stretch of the greenway - someday - gets cleared and paved.

[mad fiddler]

Made it out to Peeler Park in Madison this afternoon for some biking. It's a new park at the end of Neely's Bend.

Very nice. The trail loops about three miles, with only short hills but otherwise little changes in elevation. Lots of wildlife -- we saw wild turkeys and deer on the trail. A few people were out walking, a couple of horseback riders, but no other bikers but us.

We'll definitely be going out there again.