[Extort]

Hey guys!

I'm back again with the same stupid questions as last time, only for a new location because the last job did not pan out!

Charlotte, North Carolina


How are the people towards cyclists?
Are the roads any good (for skinny tire riding)?
Is there mountain biking trails?
What neighborhoods are less (http://www.bestplaces.net/city/Charlotte_NC-CRIME-53712000050.aspx) infected with crime?

Anything other information that you can think of would be great!!!

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[WheresWaldo]

1. They are about the same as everywhere else. There are some that will try to squeeze by you in the same lane at excessive rates of speed, some will flip you off, some will do the right thing and pass by moving into the other lane and slowing down.

2. I have been told that there are more miles of paved roads in North Carolina than in any other state in the Eastern US. My daughter told me she learned this in school. Nearly every road is narrow with little or no shoulder, and none of them go anywhere.

3. Yes, but since I don't MTB, I have never checked them out.

4. In general stay out of Mecklenburg County, too conjested and you will need to go somewhere to ride. Before suggesting where to look, you need to know where you are going to work. If it's Uptown Charlotte, University, North/South/East/West Charlotte. All areas have good communities but you will want to minimize your commute. Besides various places on the net will give you crime statistics per neighborhood/city, Google is your friend.

[Joe Dog]

We have an office in Charlotte, so I've been there a few times, but have not ridden. One thing I am eager to try out is the mountain biking out there - Charlotte has got the US Olympic Team Canoe and Kayak training facility outside of town. The place is amazing and has man made rivers to run rapids in (of course), but it also has something like 20 miles of mountain bike trails that are hilly and wooded. It looked great but we did not have time to ride when I was there. The roads look as good as anywhere. Downtown Charlotte is beautiful, too. It's got trees and surprisingly, reminds me of Portland. I think there is a pretty good riding culture there because I saw free magazines aimed at bikers in the newspaper stands as well.

Wish I had more for you, but that's what I've got.

[VegaVixen]

Hey guys!

I'm back again with the same stupid questions as last time, only for a new location because the last job did not pan out!

Charlotte, North Carolina


1. How are the people towards cyclists?
2. Are the roads any good (for skinny tire riding)?
3. Is there mountain biking trails?
4. What neighborhoods are less (http://www.bestplaces.net/city/Charlotte_NC-CRIME-53712000050.aspx) infected with crime?

Anything other information that you can think of would be great!!!

1. Probably about the same as anywhere. Most are nice, but there are always a few pricks. Don't seem to run into that when ridin' around the countryside. Generally, there are "Share The Road" signs all over the area, and drivers for the most part out in the countryside are aware of cyclists, whether or not they are always considerate. One simply has to ride as safely as possible, same as anywhere. Check out "Charlotte" on Bikely, MapItPronto, and other such sites to see known cycling areas that others have posted.

2. Roads I ride are nice for skinny tires. I'm not a commuter at this time, though, and haven't been in Charlotte. There is a great place to ride in Charlotte called the Booty Loop (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booty_loop). :) Yes, there is much Lycra to be seen. :D

3. I'm not a MTB'er (yet), but have been told that there are a lot of good trails in the area, and fantastic, nationally-known trails within decent driving distance if you don't mind makin' day-trips (mtns, Uwharrie National Forest, etc.). Plus the U.S. National Whitewater Center has some good trails. You'll see tons of cars with MTB's mounted driving in the UNCC area.

4. I live in the University area. Sometimes don't even lock my door at night, or while out ridin' or away at the store. My late husband and I once left our wooden front door open in the confusion of getting on the road to take some some friends to the airport (there is a glass storm door, but it wasn't locked). We decided to have lunch out afterward, and then ran some errands. When we returned six hours later, nothing was missing, and there was no sign that anyone had been in the house. Generally, violent crime tends to be west, northwest, and east in the Independence Blvd area. Also along Central Avenue and some parts of North Tryon Street towards town. Most outlying areas have lower crime rates, and most crime there is non-violent (larceny, cartheft, burglary, and the like).

Check out this site (http://www.charmeck.org/living/home.htm) to educate yourself about various aspects of the city/county (and surrounding towns) as far as tax rates, schools, crime, police efforts, etc.

I was born in Monroe (25 miles east), but have lived in the University area for most of the last 25 years. It's changed a lot, but, unless you live in an off-campus student neighborhood, crime is very low to non-existent....

Also, something else that has changed over my lifetime (over 40 years): lots of good cultural/arts events, festivals, community events, and great restaurants with plenty of ethnicity/diversity. Also, we have a 10-mile time-trial series (http://carolinatt.org) here at Lowe's Motor Speedway. :D If that doesn't win you over, I don't know what will. :)

Good luck with your research and job search! :beer: Hope we get to welcome you to Charlotte at some point! :)

[roadpig2001]

Charlotte is an ok area to for road biking especially in the northern part of mecklenburg county. The mountain biking is really good, check out www.tarheeltrailblazers.com for a buttload of trails in the area.

[jschen]

I don't know what Charlotte is like, but I'll report back in a bit over a week, Extort.

[Extort]

Thanks for all the input!

I hope to have an answer back from the client by the end of the week, and then I'll be able to post an actual location and timeframe for me to be out there... right now it looks to be a 18-24 month contract starting January 7th with a large company designing software. I am assuming a more centralized downtown (or Uptown as is the case with Charlotte) location.