Mountain - Plains - West Omaha to Council Bluffs

Does anyone have a good route for going to Council Bluffs Iowa from West Omaha?

Does anyone have a good route for going to Council Bluffs Iowa from West Omaha?

I'd like to figure that out too. I tried searching for maps of the trails, but it looks like the trails are pretty sparse once you get into west Omaha...

Here's the link to the Omaha Trails website if you haven't seen it already:

http://www.omahatrails.com/

I've not personally biked from West O to Council Bluffs but I can tell you how I'd do it.
If I were anywhere near the Millard/Papillion/Ralston area I'd take the Big Papio to Keystone to Grover Street to the Field Club Trail to Downtown to the Pedestrian Bridge. I've done that from Bellevue. It's a fine route. Since there is no direct trail from any other part of West O, a non-deathtrap street would be best. I've biked down the sidewalk of Dodge just fine, but if I had to choose a street to bike down I would go with Maple all the way down to NW Radial HW to Saddle Creek to Downtown (or go through North O, which isn't that bad. I feel safer with their drivers than in suburban Omaha). If you ride on the sidewalk: watch out; omaha tends to have an unpredictable non-ramped intersection in places.

Jeff

... but if I had to choose a street to bike down I would go with Maple all the way down to NW Radial HW to Saddle Creek to Downtown (or go through North O, which isn't that bad. I feel safer with their drivers than in suburban Omaha). If you ride on the sidewalk: watch out; omaha tends to have an unpredictable non-ramped intersection in places.

Jeff

I'm in SW Omaha. Rather than Maple I would ride Highway 370. It's 4 lane but has nice wide shoulders. I would ride it till you reach about 96th St where you can pick up the Walnut Lake Trail north to West Papio South to Keystone. After you reach Keystone, I'm lost for ideas.

Glenn in Omaha

Depends on where you are starting in West Omaha - I agree with heading towards the Ped Bridge - that would be easiest way across.

I've heard that Cumming isn't too bad of a route to go - maybe one of these days I'm going to look at going down Blondo from 135th to downtown for the Farmers Market on a Saturday - of course I'd get a ride back from the wife.

There's sidewalks generally everywhere in Omaha. I dunno about following a set trail. If it were up to me I'd say cruise the streets and make an adventure out of it. Although, I take Center St. to get from 144th to downtown almost daily. If you're trying to get to C. Bluffs, try taking Center to around 40th or so, then hang a left up to Dodge. You can ride the sidewalk on Dodge, straight through downtown, all the way into Council Bluffs from there I believe.

I like herbalcyclist's idea but when you reach leavenworth head east to downtown. Leavenworth is a little safer than Dodge St and there is less traffic Leavenworth will take you to the old market.

My starting point is 180th and Dodge.

I'd like to figure that out too. I tried searching for maps of the trails, but it looks like the trails are pretty sparse once you get into west Omaha...

Here's the link to the Omaha Trails website if you haven't seen it already:

http://www.omahatrails.com/

Thanks for the link. It seems our trail systems are very north/south friendly, but not so much east/west.

It seems our trail systems are very north/south friendly, but not so much east/west.

And the opposite can be said for the bus system

Check out the Omaha commuter map. There are several low traffic road and bike path combination from west O to CB.
http://www.activateomaha.org/igsbase/igstemplate.cfm?SRC=DB&SRCN=&GnavID=11&SnavID=31

Check out the Omaha commuter map. There are several low traffic road and bike path combination from west O to CB.
http://www.activateomaha.org/igsbase/igstemplate.cfm?SRC=DB&SRCN=&GnavID=11&SnavID=31

Thanks Downtown Cycles. That is exactly what I was looking for. It looks like my best bet is to start north on 192nd Street and go to Maple. Head east until 102nd Street and head south until Blondo. East on Blondo to the Keystone Trail. Can you access the Keystone Trail from Blondo? Take the Keystone Trail to Mercy Road. Take the Aksarben Route (http://www.activateomaha.org/downloads/BikeO%20Diagram%20Rev3.pdf) to Leavenworth. Take Leavenworth to 10th Street. 10th Street north to Pedestrian Bridge. I wonder if there is an easier or more direct route?