Rt 7 In Vermont

[hamm107]

I will be cycling Vermont, South to North. I will be coming up rt 30, and will hit rt 7 in the manchester area. Can I stay on rt 7 all the way to burlington VT? I know it is a rural 2 lane for a long time, but heard that there might be some more expressway like areas, even so, could I still ride on Rt. 7 all the way up? Anybody done other similar routes going S-N on the west side of Vermont State?

[Jay H]

I've done the ride from say Whitehall, NY to Quebec via the Hero islands, staying mostly by Lake champlain...

Check out lake Champlain Bikeways, they have a route on their website along Lake Champlain. You'll have to check out the areas around Manchester and from memory, I think Rt 7 down in southern VT is a divided highway. I've hiked Equinox and took Rt 7 from Bennington to Manchester and I think it's a divided highway, big shoulder but I would think there would be nicer places to cycle than Rt 7. I know places near Pittsfield, MA, Rt 7 is a nightmare, 2 lands each way, with no shoulder.

Jay

[C Law]

I will be cycling Vermont, South to North. I will be coming up rt 30, and will hit rt 7 in the manchester area. Can I stay on rt 7 all the way to burlington VT? I know it is a rural 2 lane for a long time, but heard that there might be some more expressway like areas, even so, could I still ride on Rt. 7 all the way up? Anybody done other similar routes going S-N on the west side of Vermont State?

I would take 30 straight through manchester and continue north on 22a. It parallels 7 but is a much more scenic route in my opinion. Still, there is fast traffic on these roads.

from Vergennes north to Burlington I don't have any experience with

The first 10-15 miles past Manchester would be the worst part, cycling through the Dairy Farms (the liquid fertilizer is tough to get used to;))

[Elwoodab]

I have driven Rt. 7 many times. It is rideable but the others are right, the traffic is very fast. I grew up in Burlington and I drive up Rt. 7 every year when I go up for vacation. Make sure your are very visible and good luck.

[vtc12ip]

Whatever you do stay off 22A. Think of it as a two lane Interstate with no shoulders. Everybody (including me) drives over the posted limit. The police have had a bit more presence the last few years so, the speeding is not a bad as a few years ago but still not a good place for a bike. Route 7 has two lanes but shoulders for most of it's length. If you start in Manchester, the four lane portion will be south of your start point.

If time is not pressing, IMO the best option would to stay on 7 till Brandon and then head over to Lake Champlain. The Green Moutain Bike Club has some routes posted on the website that go down in that direction. Do a connect the back country roads from Brandon to one of our routes. Would be the most scenic and much less hectic. Hope that helps.