Commuting - How to get from Kelly Drive to the path along Wissahickon Creek

OK I've attached a picture. The fat purple line is of course Google's car route.

The thin red line is where I came South. You can see I started from a bike path in the park, next to Wissahickon Creek. Turned onto Ridge Ave, rode a block, turned right onto Kelly Drive (or a lane that becomes Kelly Drive anyway). It is one-way from there all the way to where the red line meets the purple line.

The problem is, now I want to reverse the route, starting from Kelly Drive I want to get onto that path. The only way I can see (from the map) is to stay in the road, riding up and over the overpasses and following the lane that merges onto Ridge ave, then turn right onto the path. I drew that in light blue where it diverges from Google's line.

Anyone know a better way?

Hi EJ -

Alot of folks hop onto Ridge at the East Falls Bridge - coming north (west?) on Kelly Drive, turn
right onto Falls Bridge Road, then turn left onto Ridge; fight the traffic for a while, then turn onto the bike path
at the bus stop :D

Edit: - I think that the connecting street is called Calumet (according to Google Maps).

OK I've attached a picture. The fat purple line is of course Google's car route.

The thin red line is where I came South. You can see I started from a bike path in the park, next to Wissahickon Creek. Turned onto Ridge Ave, rode a block, turned right onto Kelly Drive (or a lane that becomes Kelly Drive anyway). It is one-way from there all the way to where the red line meets the purple line.

The problem is, now I want to reverse the route, starting from Kelly Drive I want to get onto that path. The only way I can see (from the map) is to stay in the road, riding up and over the overpasses and following the lane that merges onto Ridge ave, then turn right onto the path. I drew that in light blue where it diverges from Google's line.

Anyone know a better way?
Going South When I reach the end of the connecting trail at Ridge Ave I walk across Ridge at the light, ride the sidewalk for about a block and turn right on to the sidewalk trail leading to Kelly Drive. Is that your red line on the map? The narrow section and the right turn do require caution and discretion around cyclists/pedestrians if present. Going back should be the reverse. I don't know that there is any need to ride on overpasses or into merge lanes. IMO, the lesser of the two evils for that Ridge Ave/Kelly Drive area is the sidewalk path. The few pedestrians and cyclists I encountered were all cooperative about sharing the path.

A word of caution about that connecting trail between Forbidden Drive and Ridge Avenue. I learned last weekend that wet wood planking on the bridge near Forbidden Drive is more slippery than goose poop.

That's what I'm talking about ILTB, but I didn't remember 100% whether even the sidewalk went the whole way. The actual MUP/bikepath/whatever definitely ends well before you get to Ridge so the only option left is to ride along the regular sidewalk facing the traffic. Not high on my list of great ideas, but definitely the simplest.

That's what I'm talking about ILTB, but I didn't remember 100% whether even the sidewalk went the whole way. The actual MUP/bikepath/whatever definitely ends well before you get to Ridge so the only option left is to ride along the regular sidewalk facing the traffic. Not high on my list of great ideas, but definitely the simplest.
Simplest, probably safest and least stressful if not riding foolisly. I agree not the high point but better than the alternatives and it is only a short distance. Just like the beat up 1/2 mile or so of the connecting trail as it approaches Riidge Ave. It requires some caution but far superior than tangling with traffic on the lower end of the Wissahickon Drive (AKA Lincoln Drive).

Maybe I'll see you a week from Thursday or so. I'll be back in Philadelphia from the 14th thru the 18th for my daughter's graduation. I left an extra bike (A Schwinn World Tourist with a derailler and hand brakes no less) at my sister's house in Glenside just for cycling back to my old haunts in Phila.

either ride the sidewalk (what i do everyday, two way traffic is common and there is enough room for two bikes side by side).

or take a right at the green lane bridge and then make your first left. that road will also take you to he same spot.

the second option seems to be favored by roadies as the sidewalk is a little rough in spots but nothing a bike can't handle.

related topic #1: i also see people out riding in trafic on kelly all the time, me i think that is crazy...

related topic #2: if you didn't know, they cloes mlk blvd (the road on the otherside of the river) to vehicles on weekends in the summer.

related topic #1: i also see people out riding in trafic on kelly all the time, me i think that is crazy...

??? What's wrong with Kelly? I rode down it on Sunday and had no problems (I took the road until the MUP showed up, then I got on the path). There was some traffic passing me but it was nothing compared to what I'm used to.


related topic #2: if you didn't know, they cloes mlk blvd (the road on the otherside of the river) to vehicles on weekends in the summer.

I did not know. Cool! Hey someone mentioned "dragon boat" races on the river? Do you know anything about that?


I left an extra bike (A Schwinn World Tourist with a derailler and hand brakes no less) at my sister's house in Glenside just for cycling back to my old haunts in Phila.

Heh, that's an awesome cooincidence... My fixie is a World Tourist, no derailler any more but I kept the brakes. I think I may have seen you mention before that you had a World Tourist though. Does yours have the Front Freewheel System?

??? What's wrong with Kelly? I rode down it on Sunday and had no problems (I took the road until the MUP showed up, then I got on the path). There was some traffic passing me but it was nothing compared to what I'm used to.


cool, your totally allowed to do that (i usually hop on the sidewalk right after the bus stop). sometimes people will continue on down kelly after the MUP starts. i think THAT is kinda crazy; lots of blind turns.

??? What's wrong with Kelly? I rode down it on Sunday and had no problems (I took the road until the MUP showed up, then I got on the path). There was some traffic passing me but it was nothing compared to what I'm used to.


I presume Max is talking about riding on Kelly Drive where the MUP does exist, from Falls Bridge to the Art Museum and especially on workdays or in darkness.


Heh, that's an awesome cooincidence... My fixie is a World Tourist, no derailler any more but I kept the brakes. I think I may have seen you mention before that you had a World Tourist though. Does yours have the Front Freewheel System?
Yes it does have the FFS. Makes shifting easy for a derailler novice like myself. The gearing is more than adequate for climbing out of Valley Green. Pretty nice bike with an upright riding position and full fenders. I changed the saddle to a Turkish knock off of a Brooks B33 that I bought at the Frankfurt Flea market for 5DM about 7 or 8 years ago. I prefer my German internal hub coaster bikes, but I found out last year that transporting 2 bikes on a rear bike rack knocked 8 MPG off my Nissan Sentra for the 990 mile one way trip. I figured it would be cheaper to buy a used bike in Phila and leave it at my sister's house. Couldn't do the logistics of a remote sale in advance so I dissassembled the Schwinnto transport it to Phila in the back seat. Got my mileage up to its normal 32 MPG at Interstate speed. The Schwinn was just taking up space in my garage so it is better to let it take up space in my sister's garage awaiting my occasional visits to the City of Brotherly Love.

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/1125/worldtouristright27rg.th.jpg (http://img109.imageshack.us/my.php?image=worldtouristright27rg.jpg)

I really can't tell from the picture... What angle do you have the handlebars at? I noticed last night that the back of my palms seemed to hurt while riding, the part at the very end of the bars. I have the bars angled so the parts you put your hands on are exactly horizontal, I think maybe I need to angle them down in the back a little bit, so that my hands are on them fairly evenly instead of more pressure at the back (since my arms are not coming from straight above, but from behind and above).

Another thing I noticed was that I really miss a straight section of handlebars... Hitting potholes and bumps really wants to jar my hands off the bars. I'm inclined to go with actual mustache bars instead of the town-style bars the bike came with.

I think maybe I need to angle them down in the back a little bit, so that my hands are on them fairly evenly instead of more pressure at the back (since my arms are not coming from straight above, but from behind and above).

Another thing I noticed was that I really miss a straight section of handlebars... Hitting potholes and bumps really wants to jar my hands off the bars. I'm inclined to go with actual mustache bars instead of the town-style bars the bike came with.
Since I took the picture I have customized the handlebars like my regular commuting bikes and have added about 6" of foam pipe insulation to each grip. Cost - about 25¢. Works for me. I don't have that problem with myhands getting jarred off but I am used to this type of handlebar and cycling posture.

Edit: I have added a few more pictures for clarification of the shape angle of the handlebars. Click to enlarge, also applies to previously posted picture.

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/1230/worldtouristleft22fa.th.jpg (http://img172.imageshack.us/my.php?image=worldtouristleft22fa.jpg)

Hey someone mentioned "dragon boat" races on the river? Do you know anything about that?

I raced in the event last year (Drexel Dragons I), and will probably do it again this year. It was oodles of fun. Here is the official website:

http://www.philadragonboatfestival.com

Anyone can come watch, but you have to be on a registered team to compete. PM me if you want more details.

More info and pictures on commuting in Philadelphia on Schwinn World Tourist.

Taken today. At about 0930. I have added a mirror, bell, and rear blinkie from my spare parts bin. Also added a rear rack that I previously got at a garage sale for $1. Also changed out the dry rotted original 27 x 1 3/8 for two new 27 1 1/4 tires that cost $10 each which was more than I paid for the bike. But peace of mind is priceless.

click to enlarge
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/2877/dscf16611ba.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf16611ba.jpg)

Traffic was light on the Forbidden Drive and East River Drive MUP. A bit crowded at Boat House Row otherwise mostly joggers. Picture below was as busy as I encountered from 0830-1030.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9499/dscf16537nb.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf16537nb.jpg) http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9348/dscf16525fp.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf16525fp.jpg)