View Full Version : Best airports to bike to?
jamesdenver
07-04-06, 09:28 PM
While waiting for a flight recently I was snapping pics of Denver's airport signage and more interesting stuff. I realized this photo (of exiting traffic has THREE bike signs. I knew bikes are allowed on the freeway servicing the airport, but never realized it was signed this well.
I'd like to brag that Denver's airport is possibly the most bike friendly major airport? Although it's location out on the windy plains 30 miles from downtown may bring it down a few points. Any other mid to major market airports where biking is integrated? Possibly Chicago too with rail service to both airports...
Or small airports where folks bike up, meet people and head home?
http://www.jamesvandellen.com/urban0701ORIGINALS/airportsign1edit.jpg
tfahrner
07-04-06, 10:02 PM
Portland, Oregon's airport has easy bike access, signage, parking, etc., and it's an easy ride from downtown.
Mtn Mike
07-04-06, 10:54 PM
Spokane's airport is pretty easy to access by bike, and it's only about 5 miles outside of the city center. I've ridden up there a few times to rent a car, and flown out "by bike" several times as well. My only complaint is that there is no longterm bike storage option available that I know of.
Alekhine
07-04-06, 11:35 PM
Not SFO (shivers). There is a nice shuttle bus service that goes from here to there though, but that defeats the purpose of the question.
filtersweep
07-05-06, 12:41 AM
Sorry, but Denver airport is so far from the city that I thought we were crash landing... there were not city lights or anything in the area. It takes an hour to get there from Denver-- by car- and I believe it is all toll road. How do you manage to ride TO the airport?
I would ride around the Minneapolis Airport. It is quite bike friendly with the state park located nearby.
Slow Train
07-05-06, 01:34 AM
Maybe Pittsburgh airport with the opening of the new bike trail ...
...the Great Allegheny Passage, a 150 mile biking and hiking trail connecting Cumberland, MD and Pittsburgh, PA with a 52 mile branch to the Pittsburgh International Airport. We expect to have the connection between the Passage and the C & O Canal Towpath in Cumberland, MD completed in 2006, creating a continuous non-motorized corridor from near Pittsburgh to Washington, DC.
Allegheny Trail Alliance (http://www.atatrail.org/index.cfm)
chennai
07-05-06, 07:55 AM
James:
Did you figure out longterm bike parking there?
jamesdenver
07-05-06, 08:32 AM
Yes you're correct - I agree the Portland one is probably the best, ours is very bike friendly, but you'd definetely need an early start :) I've actually never biked there, but might do it some weekend and do some photos of the planes and prairies.
It's about 40 minutes from my house downtown, not a toll road but when it first opened it seemed VERY far away, now I'm used to it.
Sorry, but Denver airport is so far from the city that I thought we were crash landing... there were not city lights or anything in the area. It takes an hour to get there from Denver-- by car- and I believe it is all toll road. How do you manage to ride TO the airport?
I would ride around the Minneapolis Airport. It is quite bike friendly with the state park located nearby.
Yes you're correct - I agree the Portland one is probably the best, ours is very bike friendly, but you'd definetely need an early start :) I've actually never biked there, but might do it some weekend and do some photos of the planes and prairies.
Be careful with that camera... car free - why do you hate America?;)
Washington National is right on the bike trail. The bike racks are in the worst location unless you are a thief. They're hidden behind a wall at the parking garage where a thief can work on your lock undisturbed. What I do is lock the bike at the metro station bike racks. The metro bike racks are closer to the terminal and there is some foot traffic. Still, I have only locked junk bikes there for long term trips. So National Airport is bike friendly and close to downtown.
Sacramento International (Hah!) is easily accessible by bike. I don't know about bike racks, though. Recently my folks were flying out at the crack of dawn. They parked their car in the daily lot and a few hours later I rode out on the river road and picked up the car.
ken cummings
07-05-06, 11:14 AM
I like the John Wayne Airport in Orange County, CA 10 miles south of Disneyland. I even had fun going through there at night the day before Thanksgiving. But then I side with "Dances With Cars". For parking use the long term car lot, If you leave before 5 AM you get out free.
Dahon.Steve
07-05-06, 12:26 PM
In New Jersey, Newark Airport is practically located on an Island! You have to either pay a toll or the train but there is no way to enter that airport by bicycle. Maybe someone can prove me wrong but the train has no passenger walk way to the outside and this is by design to force people in paying.
I've heard people riding their bikes to JFK airport in New York City but that looks scary.
Frankfurt Airport has a bike path leading right up to the front door. I really must upload a good map someday showing how to get from town to Fraport.
literocola
07-05-06, 03:47 PM
Im checkin out that rock section on yander. May have to get the trials bike up there via RTD one of these days.
I bet DIA has some sick urban trials all over.
Washington National is right on the bike trail. The bike racks are in the worst location unless you are a thief. They're hidden behind a wall at the parking garage where a thief can work on your lock undisturbed. What I do is lock the bike at the metro station bike racks. The metro bike racks are closer to the terminal and there is some foot traffic. Still, I have only locked junk bikes there for long term trips. So National Airport is bike friendly and close to downtown.
Ditto on the Washington National. But I wouldn't lock my bike up there either. :(
Koffee
Port Columbus in Columbus Ohio, dunno about parking for bikes but it is quite easy to get to, and only about 8 miles from the center of the city. Hamilton rd isnt the most pleasant to ride on but ive done it, once your on the entry road though its easy. Like many of the smaller airports like KDCA mentioned above it has the same restrictions, nothing bigger than like a 757 or DC-10, so you will likely be faced with a connecting flight for long trips.
DSchlichting
07-05-06, 08:17 PM
LaGuardia Airport in New York is quite accessible by bike. Local streets run more or less alongside the airport property.
John F. Kennedy Airport has bike routes leading onto the property, however these are really for the workers in the cargo and other buildings on the north and west sides of the property. You cannot ride into the central terminal area, although you might be able to take the Airtrain from a point like Federal Circle into the terminals.
Washington National is right on the bike trail. The bike racks are in the worst location unless you are a thief. They're hidden behind a wall at the parking garage where a thief can work on your lock undisturbed. What I do is lock the bike at the metro station bike racks. The metro bike racks are closer to the terminal and there is some foot traffic. Still, I have only locked junk bikes there for long term trips. So National Airport is bike friendly and close to downtown.
Agree. Back when my airplane was based there, I would lock my bike to one of the racks in the Signature hanger. I made quite a few carfree trips all over the country. It is quite a feeling to hop on a bike and be in Cleveland a few hours later.
Paul
unkchunk
07-06-06, 09:27 AM
Cincinatti/Covington is a nice ride from downtown. 20 minutes flat ride to the Anderson ferry across the Ohio River. The boat holds maybe 10 cars maximum and is only 25 cents fare for a bike. Then maybe another 20 minutes up hill winding road to the airport entrance... where before you make it near the terminal, an airport security patrol car and his back-up unit will pull you over. The officers will ask for ID and search you backpack. As one asks you a series of questions concerning why you are in the area and where you came from and what photos are on my digital camera, the other is using the communications gear in your patrol car.
Once you have satisfactorly answered all the questions and the officer approves your asking his daughter to the prom, you allowed to promptly return via the route I described at the beginning. Only it's about a 7 minute downhill ride to the ferry this time. There is the all required documentation in a file cainet somewhere in the security office to prove it.
I think I was the first and last person to have ridden a bike there.
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