Commuting - Bicycling in Fairmount Park (Philly)?

OK first off their web site has this:
"Speed Limit. All trail users shall observe a seven (7) miles per hour speed limit on all Park trails. "

Uh, they've got to be kidding... bikes don't go that slow. At least not my bikes :D.

Anyway I'm anticipating a commute through Fairmount park, and was wondering what options there were as far as the trails go? Looks like there's really only Forbidden Drive? Anyone else ride through the park much?

OK first off their web site has this:
"Speed Limit. All trail users shall observe a seven (7) miles per hour speed limit on all Park trails. "

Uh, they've got to be kidding... bikes don't go that slow. At least not my bikes :D.

Anyway I'm anticipating a commute through Fairmount park, and was wondering what options there were as far as the trails go? Looks like there's really only Forbidden Drive? Anyone else ride through the park much?
What web site, and where are you commuting to and from? If it is to or from Center City or West Philadelphia University City Area and you are going through Fairmount Park, the East or West River Drive (AKA Kelly and MLK Drives) Paths are useful and without speed limits. Weekend recreational walking cycling would and should limit your speed on those bike paths though.

If you like to wander aimlessly on your commute I imagine there are some trails somewhere in Fairmount Park but I don't know where. The Forbidden Drive (which is great cycling) is connected to the River drives with a short trail whose name I do not know. 7mph would be fast indeed if anyone is coming the other way on that connecting trail. I am in Philly right now visiting and intend to ride into town Friday and Saturday from the Northwest suburbs (Glenside) using Forbidden Drive and the East River Drive path as far as the Art Museum

http://www.fairmountpark.org/TrailsRegs.asp is the website.

I'd be heading for center city from Mt. Airy or Chestnut Hill. I was thinking I could cut west into the park, take some path(s) in the park south to about Spring Garden, and then cut over a few blocks to my office.

It's the "some path(s) in the park" part I'm trying to figure out.

BTW by "path" I mean bike path, paved MUP, low-traffic street, whatever... I'm not looking for offroading dirt tracks or something.

I am in Philly right now visiting and intend to ride into town Friday and Saturday from the Northwest suburbs (Glenside) using Forbidden Drive and the East River Drive path as far as the Art Museum

ILTB, instead of rdiing into the city, why not experience some of the sweet scenery of our less-trafficked, suburban roads? Suburban Cyclists Unlimited, one of my clubs, has this ride starting not far from Glenside on Saturday, June 3:
8:00 a.m., 14-16 mph, 50 to 60 miles +/-, Start UDHS Montgomery County Ride. Let's go exploring the tree lined back roads of Montgomery County. There will be some hills, we will regroup at the top, no one dropped. Bring food and drink. Rest stop somewhere. Rain or snow cancels. Call if unsure if ride is on.

If interested, go to the club web site (www.suburbancyclists.org), and you can get a link to a map to the start (Upper Dublin High School) and contact info for the ride leader, who is a good guy.

My other club, Central Bucks Bike Club, offers these rides this weekend: http://www.cbbikeclub.org/?body=ridelist&nav=rides&PHPSESSID=7ad0ffa7ae7327d9a8f55f8a00a88348

http://www.fairmountpark.org/TrailsRegs.asp is the website.

I'd be heading for center city from Mt. Airy or Chestnut Hill. I was thinking I could cut west into the park, take some path(s) in the park south to about Spring Garden, and then cut over a few blocks to my office.

It's the "some path(s) in the park" part I'm trying to figure out.

BTW by "path" I mean bike path, paved MUP, low-traffic street, whatever... I'm not looking for offroading dirt tracks or something.
Springfield Ave to Forbidden Drive at Valley Green restaraunt; take to the connecting trail at the end of Forbidden Drive (there are signs), connecting trail to Ridge Ave access to East River (Kelly) Drive MUP all the way into the Art Museum which is on Spring Garden Street.Atlernates are taking streets in Mt.Airy and Chestnut Hill to Midvale Ave and take that dirctly to East River (Kelly) Drive MUP and skip Forbidden Drive. An alternate to the East River (Kelly) Drive MUP is to take the Falls Bridge across the river at Midvale and go on the West River Drive, turn off before Girard Ave (The Zoo) and head down 34th if you are going to West Philadelphia, or continue all the way in on the West River Drive to the Art Museum if you are going east on Spring Garden. The only hill is Midvale Ave or the road leading out of Valley Green to Chestnut Hill. No speed restrictions except for heavy use of MUP on weekends.

i am super busy these next few weekends but if your in town and want to check it all out i am heading down to the city on my mountain bike pretty early sunday morning (i gotta go clear some trail for an upcoming ride i am doing tuesday).

we could meet at the valley green restaurant and i'll show you the lay of the land. it is very easy and pretty!

i am super busy these next few weekends but if your in town and want to check it all out i am heading down to the city on my mountain bike pretty early sunday morning (i gotta go clear some trail for an upcoming ride i am doing tuesday).

we could meet at the valley green restaurant and i'll show you the lay of the land. it is very easy and pretty!
Check your Private Message list.

I'm coming up Sunday morning, so I doubt I'd be in town before noon (and then I'll have to unload my truck). I'm not 100% sure where I'll be living so I don't know if I'll have easy access to my bike (if I don't have a way to bring it inside, I'm going to leave it in my storage unit for now).

Springfield Ave to Forbidden Drive at Valley Green restaraunt; take to the connecting trail at the end of Forbidden Drive (there are signs), connecting trail to Ridge Ave access to East River (Kelly) Drive MUP all the way into the Art Museum which is on Spring Garden Street.Atlernates are taking streets in Mt.Airy and Chestnut Hill to Midvale Ave and take that dirctly to East River (Kelly) Drive MUP and skip Forbidden Drive. An alternate to the East River (Kelly) Drive MUP is to take the Falls Bridge across the river at Midvale and go on the West River Drive, turn off before Girard Ave (The Zoo) and head down 34th if you are going to West Philadelphia, or continue all the way in on the West River Drive to the Art Museum if you are going east on Spring Garden. The only hill is Midvale Ave or the road leading out of Valley Green to Chestnut Hill. No speed restrictions except for heavy use of MUP on weekends.

+1 on the 1st option, riding through the park is great before/after work. On my commute I get to ride the entire length of Forbidden Drive (~9 miles), and then another ~7-8 miles on back roads.

-p

then this might work for you...

tuesday morning (6-6) maybe 9-9:15 i will be headed through there on my way to a mtb ride starting at the art museum. you could ride along!

maybe?

i am also home from work shingling my roof all that week so depending on how i do i MIGHT be free thursday afternoon or friday for a ride.

+1 on the 1st option, riding through the park is great before/after work. On my commute I get to ride the entire length of Forbidden Drive (~9 miles), and then another ~7-8 miles on back roads.

Pictures taken today between 1140 and 1430. Click to enlarge.

Forbidden Drive:
http://img278.imageshack.us/img278/1179/forbiddendrive6uo.th.jpg (http://img278.imageshack.us/my.php?image=forbiddendrive6uo.jpg)

MUP Traffic congestion. I think an adult can handle this big dang problem with ease.
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/3835/muptraffic1ay.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=muptraffic1ay.jpg)

West River Drive, less scenic spot:
http://img278.imageshack.us/img278/2851/westriverdrive5fq.th.jpg (http://img278.imageshack.us/my.php?image=westriverdrive5fq.jpg)

More congestion on the path. Look out for slippery stuff. Silly Geese of the Bicycling Ideologue type might be unable to safely pass.
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/4981/goosehazard2zz.th.jpg (http://img166.imageshack.us/my.php?image=goosehazard2zz.jpg)

More interesting sights on the East River Drive – A Remington Statue:
http://img290.imageshack.us/img290/8315/cowboystatue2uu.th.jpg (http://img290.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cowboystatue2uu.jpg)

Just remove the computer from the bike and go as fast as you please, safety considered.

hey, that is my afternoon commute in reverse! (cept the west river drive stuff)

stupid geese... my girlfriend thinks the young ones are cute, all i see is future path blockers.

hey, that is my afternoon commute in reverse! (cept the west river drive stuff)

stupid geese... my girlfriend thinks the young ones are cute, all i see is future path blockers.

Heh, speaking of which... the other day I was heading home on the concrete path portion between the southern-most end of Forbidden Drive (Lincoln Drive entrance) and Ridge Ave, hammering it to see how fast I could get home and ahead of me just beyond a blind bend were three CGs taking up over half of the ~4 foot-wide path. I swerved to avoid them by inches, they didn't budge! Just hissed-away at me. Those things are fearless.

Incidently max you've probably noticed they weed-wacked the hell out of that strip now so all the "bamboo" is out of the way, but now it's like a forced protein inhalation zone down there with all the gnats, heh. I nearly went blind last night. :rolleyes:

MUP Traffic congestion. I think an adult can handle this big dang problem with ease. Oh my God, this is the most organized MUP I've ever seen in my life! No, seriously, I'm jealous. Everyone is keeping to the right and no one takes up the whole path. I am much more used to something like this: http://www.toronto.ca/waterfront/images/inlineskaters_large.jpg (only throw some dog walkers into the mix and a group of six kids with a nanny blocking the way). And, um, no, nobody would yield no matter how much you ring your bell...

Oh my God, this is the most organized MUP I've ever seen in my life! No, seriously, I'm jealous. Everyone is keeping to the right and no one takes up the whole path.

nope it is just a chaotic as your path on a nice sunny day probably...

i gotta get a camera to show my favorite; two rollerbladers in love, going .2mph holding hands (red rover stlye), wobbling back and forth taking up the whole path; and of coure the are COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS to the fact that anyone else would want to pass them... :mad:

pahearn - what time do you commute? i bet we have seen/passed each other a few times! :D

I commute this route 3-5 times a week. I ride an old green Trek w. moustache handlebars so if you you see me please identify yourself so I can say hello!:) The pictures are decieving. Kelly drive (East River drive for us old folks!) can be extremely busy as well as dangerous. About a month ago I was heading home and the trail was very busy. i was doing about 15 mph when I realized about 75 feet in front of me was a jogger in my way. I started to ring my bell but she did not react so I yelled on your left, still no reaction as I came up on i saw her she had her ipod on and could not hear me! :eek: I started to go to her right beause of oncoming traffic, when suddenly she stopped dead in front of me, turned around, saw me headed to her right and immediately jumped right in front of me trying to get out of my way! :p I swerved to avoid and applied brakes but clipped her hard in the ribs w/ my handle bars. Luckily I did not go down and when I turned to see if she was ok, she had strted jogging back the opposite way holding her side! The ipod still firmly in place as I rolled up behind her I asked here three times if she was ok and she did not respond. It was then i realized from about 5 feet away I could hear her ipod and she could not hear me!:p Just be aware that nice weather compounds the number of people out on the path, many of who do not consider bicyles while they are out doing things. Converesely you also get alot of rude cyclist trying to do 25 mph plus in crowded pedestrian conditions. Beware!

pahearn - what time do you commute? i bet we have seen/passed each other a few times! :D

It varies, but I generally don't get my act together and get out of the hosue until 9-9:30a (about the time I'm on the aforementioned part of the path as I live a minute from there), and because of this my return commute is also late, I've been hitting that portion of the path anywhere between 6:30-8:30p. If you see a dark maroon road bike with black electrical tape all over it, with yellow bullhorns, say hey. ;)

16879

-p

If you see a dark maroon road bike with black electrical tape all over it, with yellow bullhorns, say hey. ;)

nope never seen you or the guy on the trek w/ moosetache bars :D

i am the opposite i am on the bike shortly after six and at work by 7-7:15

i am usually riding home by 3:30.


me and the girlfriend would be easy to spot as well. i am on a big black singlspeed crosscheck, she is on a smaller red one with gears.

nope it is just a chaotic as your path on a nice sunny day probably...
Forbidden Drive was as empty as pictured with an occasional jogger or two for the entire length yesterday on a bright sunny weekday. The West River Drive path was empty except for me and the one woman I saw bicycling through the gaggle of geese. The East River Drive was at its worse as pictured. I later drove into town on the East River Drive Road at about 630PM and saw that the MUP was busier than it was in the early afternoon, but not dangerously so (IMO). Probably more people off work. I know the MUP does get much busier on weekends, especially if an event like an organized run or crew meet is going on. But that should not affect weekday commuting choices. Especially when the alternatives are considered.

As a side note a few nights ago I was driving on the West River Drive at about 845PM headed away from town after visting my daughter at Drexel U. The well paved MUP was deserted, but I saw three seperate cyclists in full racer costume cycling at diffent points on the road where they could barely be seen by a driver looking for them. I suppose they had reasons, but I can't think of a credible one that doesn't involve stupidity.

What's MUP stand for?

-p

What's MUP stand for?

-p
Multi Use Path. Walkers, joggers, bicyclists, etc. Principal intent is to provide a means of recreation. Not intended as a racing track for those in need of "training" rides, nor intended as a speedway for those who have a problem moderating their speed to meet conditions. I have found the conditions on the path during weekdays to be suitable for speedy (but not wacky speedy) commuting. I do have 5 years of extensive bike commuting experience on the Drives from 1971-76. Wasn't a problem then, and IMO not one now. My recent experiences are limited so perhaps Max and others can provide more detailed current commuting info.

As a side note a few nights ago I was driving on the West River Drive at about 845PM headed away from town after visting my daughter at Drexel U. The well paved MUP was deserted, but I saw three seperate cyclists in full racer costume cycling at diffent points on the road where they could barely be seen by a driver looking for them. I suppose they had reasons, but I can't think of a credible one that doesn't involve stupidity.

The WRD MUP has so many blindspots that anyone going faster than a cruising speed is taking their life into their hands much more so than riding in the road.

Heh, speaking of which... the other day I was heading home on the concrete path portion between the southern-most end of Forbidden Drive (Lincoln Drive entrance) and Ridge Ave, hammering it to see how fast I could get home and ahead of me just beyond a blind bend were three CGs taking up over half of the ~4 foot-wide path. I swerved to avoid them by inches, they didn't budge! Just hissed-away at me. Those things are fearless.


When I used to use the WRD MUP, my bane was the lazy goose feeders who would park their cars in the lots as close to the path as possible, lean on the front of their car, and toss food to the geese. The damn things would congregate on the path, and sh*t all over it. Making not one but two hazards.

I am glad I don't have to use that path anymore.

The WRD MUP has so many blindspots that anyone going faster than a cruising speed is taking their life into their hands much more so than riding in the road.
I suppose you and i have a different definition of "blind spots" because I can't think of any except at the right turn on to the Falls Bridge; maybe there is one below Sweetbriar Ave (the turn off for the Zoo) but I don't recall it.

Also I don't know what you mean by the difficulty of "going faster than cruising speed" on an empty wide well paved MUP. How fast do want to go? Are you training for something?

I suppose you and i have a different definition of "blind spots" because I can't think of any except at the right turn on to the Falls Bridge; maybe there is one below Sweetbriar Ave (the turn off for the Zoo) but I don't recall it.

(Its been a while sice I have been on the road)

Well, there's that horror show of an approch sidewalk coming from the Art Museum. Hardly room for a single bicycle. Then there is that drop around one of the bridge mounts. I think that one alone has two blindspots. There are a couple near the parkng lots. You kind of lose view due to the cars and shrubs.



Also I don't know what you mean by the difficulty of "going faster than cruising speed" on an empty wide well paved MUP. How fast do want to go? Are you training for something?

No, but if I am commuting I would like to go at a decent speed.

No, but if I am commuting I would like to go at a decent speed.
I suspect those words are the kinder words mumbled by motorists who get jammed up, slam on their brakes and are otherwise very much put out by the sudden appearance of a few bicyclists tying up traffic by cycling in the roadway of the Drives in the dark or during heavy traffic.

I suspect those words are the kinder words mumbled by motorists who get jammed up, slam on their brakes and are otherwise very much put out by the sudden appearance of a few bicyclists tying up traffic by cycling in the roadway of the Drives in the dark or during heavy traffic.

They specifically dropped the speed limit on WRD, while at the same time removing the 'only one way road during rush hours' several years ago to try and turn what had become a dangerous alternative to the nearby highway. The effort has been to try and turn WRD back into a pakr road, not someones private speedway. If some speeder gets slown down on the drive, I am not crying for them.

Especially since for the vast majority of that drive, it is two lanes each way. What is the problem here? Two lanes not enough for you?