Living Car Free - Car Free and Hotels

I had an interesting experience on a short Christmas tour last week. I and my traveling companion, a fellow Bike Forum member, were staying in three hotels. The two I booked were in the center of their respective cities, Philadelphia and Bethlehem, PA. The one my friend booked was a number of miles outside of Doylestown. When we arrived in Doylestown, in the cold drizzle of a Pennsylvania winter, we discovered the hotel was located on a road marked "Motor Vehicles Only." Fortunately we were able to obtain other lodging, and cancel that reservation. The lesson learned is that if you are going to use a nineteenth century means of travel, do what folks in the nineteenth century did and stay in the center of town. And contact the hotel in advance about taking your bike to avoid any problems such as getting there.

Incidentally, speaking to the hotel in advance can pay off. The Hotel Bethlehem put us in a larger room when they knew we were traveling by bike. And the doorman carried my bike to my room for me!

Last time I was on an overnight trip, stayed in a motel that was advertised as being in our destination town. When we arrived, we discovered the motel was about 3 miles from the center of the small town on a busy 4-lane freeway. Fortunately, we were able to approach the hotel from the service entrance in the back.

But, I agree, it's a car-centric world.

I have often wondered about those roads that are "motor vehicles only". My wife's family lives in the West Chester PA/Wilmington Delaware area, and once you get away from the town centers, all the roads have "no walking" signs on them. The sign is a pedestrian symbol with a red slash through it. To me, the sign says, "you don't want to live around here."

I understand when you can't walk on a highway, but it just seems wrong that you can't walk down a public road. Hey, I'm preaching to the choir.

After seeing some roads that are marked to prohibit pedestrians, I usually wouldn't want to walk down them, either.

Anyway, one of the last times I stayed at a hotel on my own (that is, not for work reasons), I wheeled my bike into the lobby right up to the registration desk and took it to my room on the elevator. Nice place, too -- it was the Doubletree in Crystal City, across the river from DC.

After seeing some roads that are marked to prohibit pedestrians, I usually wouldn't want to walk down them, either.

Anyway, one of the last times I stayed at a hotel on my own (that is, not for work reasons), I wheeled my bike into the lobby right up to the registration desk and took it to my room on the elevator. Nice place, too -- it was the Doubletree in Crystal City, across the river from DC.

Been there $$$$ we usually pull strings and stay in a corporate apartment at the Lennox Club next door;) (about half the price of DT)

Aaron:)

I didn't care about price too much ;) -- I just stayed because a friend was having her birthday party at one of the murder mystery dinners performed there. I wanted to see what it was like to ride my then-new bike from home and have my own mini-vacation.