Great Lakes - Best route from UC to Little Miami Trail

Does anyone know a good route from University of Cincinnati to the Little Miami bike trail?

Assuming you are going to start the Little Miami Trail at the Newtwon trailhead, this is the route I would take:

--McMillan Street East to left on Woodburn Ave to right on Madison Road.
(Alt route to the above with less traffic but sketchier neighborhood is University Ave/Lincoln Ave/DeSales St--these all connect w/o turns--to right on Fairfield Ave to left on Madison Rd)

--East on Madison through O'Bryonville and into Hyde Park; soft right onto Observatory Ave

--Observatory Ave to left on Delta Ave to Right on Erie Avenue

--Continue on Erie Avenue as it bends NE, around here it acquires (largely useless) bike lanes --Soft right onto Murray Ave near the Red Bank overpass.

--Murray Avenue has a sidepath, this will take you across a disconnected section that cars cannot use.

--Continue on Murray to Indianview/Pocohantas, follow Pocohantas to left on Wooster Pike.
(Alt Route if you want to stop for Starbucks or Graeters, take Murray to Madisonville Road to Mariemont Square (where the stuff is). Then Wooster Pike east.)

--Right on Newtown Road, you can pick up the trail on the right side by the Little Miami River bridge.

About 10 miles

I've found that this is a far more interesting route (though probably hillier) than taking Eastern Avenue/Wilmer Ave/Wooster Pike--hope you have fun!

A great online planning tool for Cincinnati biking: http://maps.oki.org/BikeRouteGuide/

Chris

A great online planning tool for Cincinnati biking: http://maps.oki.org/BikeRouteGuide/

Chris

This is fantastic. I came to this forum to look for something similar to this. :D New work routes here I come.

Thanks Chris.

You're very welcome--I'll also post this as an original thread in case others may be interested.

Chris

Thanks! Another option would be the SORTA bus. I can take 17, 18, or 39 downtown, then 28 to Milford. Does anyone have experience with taking a bike on a SORTA bus?

The 28 out of downtown to Milford will work. You can ride either to Newtown Road and start there or ride to Milford and pick the trail up there.

Putting a bike on the front of the bus made me nervous the first time but it's really a piece of cake. Exit at the front door at your destination. You could remind the driver that you need to unload when you get off, but in my experience they remember you (especially if you're carrying a helmet).

Chris

Thanks. This may be a dumb question, but do you just set the bike into the rack on the front of the bus, or do you need to secure it in some way?

You set it on to the rack with the front tire facing toward the driver side of the bus (standing in front of and facing the bus, this would be to the right). There's a spring-loaded retainer arm that you put over your front tire to secure the bike. Two other things about taking a bike: the rack will only accommodate two bicycles, and it may need to be lowered first if it's not in use--there's a lever to do that.

Also, I forgot to mention that the 28 goes all the way to Milford ONLY on weekdays. On weekends the route ends in Fairfax which means you will need to ride along Wooster Pike about 2 miles to the Newtown Road trailhead. Not really a big deal (in my opinion) but something to be aware of.

Chris

Thanks.