Cycling on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. LEGALY and safely.

[scott L R]

Look at www.piketobike.org Scroll down and click on the JOIN US icon to see pics. I am thinking about trying to organize a group ride there. It's open to the public but you need your own lights as 1 tunell is over a mile long. Anyone interested?

[chalkdusty]

Scott,

Thanks for the link. I was raised in Bedford County. Mom still has the home church newsletter sent out to me here in the St. Louis area. I noticed a piece in the last newsletter about the church cycling group riding the pike near Breezewood, but I hadn't bothered to google for any more information. I'm intriqued enough to take the hybrid with me next summer during the annual pilgrimmage home. Looks a little rough for the skinny tire bike, but the hybrid should do nicely.

chalkdusty

[ken cummings]

I went thru those tunnels in 1954 and 1958 as a kid on vacation. They had the old low-pressure sodium lights that made your skin look purple-green. Fun.

Marin County on the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge has an old military tunnel that carries traffic between Sausalito and the GG Natl. seashore park. One way traffic alternates in each direction each 5-10 minutes. Open to bicycles. The cars go in and you sprint for the other end after them. Dark and damp. If you are slow cars now going the other way have just enough room to pass you. E-maail if you ae in the area.

[scott L R]

I have been in area before, I have seen the south portal of the tunnel, but I was driving a tractor-trailer. I haven't been back to Ca. since. I miss it, I loved my winter weekends off in the sun.

[baj32161]

Ive checked that out and it looks like alot of fun. The rest of the rides put on out there at Grouseland look pretty cool too. I wish I lived closer.

[BroMax]

It has been a while since anyone has mentioned the Turnpike, unless I've missed a later thread.

Does anyone have a ride report?

Some members of a railroad club are interested in biking on the old Turnpike, because much of the right of way, particularly the old tunnels, was originally constructed with Vanderbuilt capital for a railroad he never completed.

[DieselDan]

I'd love to do that one day.

[edtrek]

I rode this recently, it was a blast. You want to have GOOD lights with fresh batteries, it's absolutely light-sucking pitch black scary/freaky dark in the longer tunnel - which curves and climbs, and for a stretch you can't see either end.

This link:
http://www.thirdwave-websites.com/bike/pa-turnpike-bike-trail.cfm
will take you to my trip report.

I engaged a local trail advocate to give me a guided tour of the trail, tunnels, and some of the non-public areas, and that was the icing on the cake. If you're ever going to be driving through Breezewood with your bicycle, this is a great way to split up a car trip.