GSOKurt

Had a thought about relocating to VT, how are the bike lanes/facilities in Burlington?

Thanks!

maximusvt

Above average I guess. Some of the roads have pothole issues. Most of them are plenty wide though, and there's a good stock of bike lanes. Nice big hills but not too big. Some kick ass trails out here too!

al-wagner

It all depends on what part of Burlington you will be riding. I live in the south end and ride to rt 116 and I have no problems. Path and road a pretty good. The bike paths in South Burlington are more spread out then in Burlington. Burlington bike path is along the lake. It is of very little use to most commuters.

cyccommute 

It's been a few years since I was in Burlington but the area wasn't bad for bicycling. Not a whole lot of off street paths (not innerconnected anyway) but the traffic is pretty mellow. Also be prepared for lots of climbing! Don't expect to have any road be straight nor to run for more than a mile or so before they change the name on it. Coming from Denver where all of the roads (except those in Downtown) are oriented to the compass points and the same street has the same name all the way across the Metro area, it was frustrating to find anything in the whole Burlington/Essex Junction/Winooski/etc area. But then we do have the world's longest named street (Colfax Ave) which is a bit over 40 miles long That's about half as long as Vermont is wide!

bike2math

Haha! Former New Englander here. There is a method to the madness though, eg. In the Boston area: Waltham Road in Watertown becomes Watertown Road in Waltham.

I'm a bit biased, but I think you'll find the people in Vermont to be more courteous and mellow than elsewhere. Expect to have the right of way yielded to you constantly. There are some beautiful road rides out in the countryside as well. It's been way to long since I biked there so I can't really address the bicycle specific services.

There is no better fuel than waffles drowned in Real Vt. Maple Syrup and smothered in Maine blueberries.

al-wagner

"There is no better fuel than waffles drowned in Real Vt. Maple Syrup and smothered in Maine blueberries."

And topped with one of Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavors..

bmike

I'll be moving to Burlington from southern VT this August.
I work from home - but the bike is primary transit, aside from my car for work (travel, etc.)

Lots of cyclists. Lots of folks out and about - running, walking, etc. (even in the snow)
Downtown is ped and bike friendly. Church Street is closed to autos, a large ped mall - very lively even in the middle of winter.

The area I am moving to (north of the north end) appears to be very bike friendly, with a bike path into town at my doorstep, and not far from the path that runs along the lake. (I'm about 4 miles north-ish) I prefer city streets to paths... but the paths appear well used and well kept.

Several streets have painted bike lanes. Fairly courteous drivers (throughout VT).
I've spent plenty of time in Burlington sans bike - but just now starting to take note of cycling stuff... and I'm excited to not have to haul my bikes upstairs when I get home - just roll right into the garage... (townhouse style)

cyccommute 

I'll agree with the madness part I worked down in the Interval at the McNeil plant for a couple of summers. The first summer I was there (the first week actually), I rode out of the plant and down the Interval towards the bikeway along the lake. I ended up crossing the Winooski and went up to Colchester and then on around towards where I was staying in Essex Junction. Since I had never been that way before, I wasn't sure of where I was going and it was getting dark. The road from Colchester around to Mallet's Bay and on around to Essex Junction changes names 6 times (I swear!) and they only mark the name on the road once. Just about the time it got too dark to ride and I was comtemplating eating birch bark for dinner, I hove into view of the hotel!

That was the day I found out that I really, really like grids! And street signs.

maximusvt

No lie, I have had to figure out ways to deal with the frustration of coming to a complete stop at a stop sign, only to have a driver wave me across the street.

Watch out for all the dudebros in dad's Audi, though.

maximusvt

I should also mention my LBS, Old Spokes Home. They have some excellent deals on used bikes, they work fast and their staff couldn't be more helpful.

cyccommute 

Stop it or you guys are going to get me all verklempt! I'm sitting here right now pining for a sandwich from Waf's or a Red Onion from the Red Onion! It's been nearly 5 years! Have a heart!

maximusvt

Waf's?

cyccommute 

Waf's Westside Deli/Pizza. It's over on Allen Street in Winooski. The guys I worked with at the gasifier loved the place. And Waf is a cool guy.

vtjim

Hey, hi there. Yeah, traffic is generally pretty good with cyclists. The yielding-to-bikes-at-all-costs thing... They mean well, but it can get irritating.

Yesterday on my ride home some old lady stopped without a stop sign. I stopped at my stop sign. She rolled down her window and said in a friendly old lady voice, "Go ahead!" I looked at her. Then I looked to my left at the jeep that was NOT stopping (because it didn't have to), and shook my head no at her.

Anyway, the commute depends on where you live. I'm fortunate to live in Colchester at about lake level, and most of my ride is on the long MUP (hardly used during rush hours) that follows the lake. No hills to climb except for a block or two up College Street from the lake.

Old Spokes Home is good. I like North Star in Burlington, too. They're convenient to my work location, and they always seem to drop what they're doing to help me out.

Cheers

al-wagner

"I like North Star in Burlington, too."

Jay is the best.the owner...

-=(8)=-

Wow Mike !
What brings you to the big city ??
How is the 925 ???

To stay on topic.....
Im South Central area, R0Tland is my closest 'big' town... ditto what everyone
else says...
My ride is idylic, cars mostly very friendly. Im starting a new job far
away from me and wont be able to bicycle commute anymore. I still
havent been able to come to grips with this ugly reality
Im hoping its the final impetus I need to work for myself !!

bmike

OT - Significant other bought a townhouse in Burlington... and I'm moving in with her.
Like it here in S. VT, but N. VT is my fav. I've got friends in B-town and Montpelier.
Looking forward to "city" life again. (or "urban light" as my brother from NYC calls it)
...and riding out from Burlington to the mountains - both Mansfield area and down south a bit to the Mad River Valley and I've got dreams for a round the lake over to the Lake Placid trips...

925 is great. Love it for around town. Going to enjoy it evne more when I move north - gorceries and the bank and "services" will be a bit further from home. (right now I'm about 2 miles from everything I need... - looking for excuses to utility ride more.


I found that working for "myself" (long story - but I'm not technically "self" employed) leads to all sorts of riding possibilites. The one thing it doesn't afford me is to "commute" - as in Burlington my commute will be from the bedroom to the office, 1 room over.

vtjim

You can do that (easily) when Local Motion is running their Bike Ferry across the cut in the causeway at South Hero, you know.

https://www.localmotion.org/islandline/ferry.htm

Or just take the Burlington-Port Kent ferry if you want to "cheat" a little.

bmike

Nice!
I rode part of the lake trail a few montsh ago - went over the nice ped / bike bridge. Wished the rail causeway was paved - I flatted on some really nasty rocks, so I turned around and walked out.

maximusvt

Yeah parts of that causeway are a little rough. Not bad on a mountain bike though. I got painted with the swarms of no-see-em's, that sucked.
When we were there, there was a little unattended rowboat tied up at one end of the causeway. I was tempted to toss the bike in and row across to South Hero... That little gap can't be too hard to get across.
BTW, if any of you burlington area folks haven't tried the trail behind the intervale (cycle the city I think?) you should definitely do it. It's a gorgeous ride.

bmike

So, B-town commuters and cyclists:

This is close to where I'll be moving (the GF is already moved in...)

I noticed a MUP near 127 - does that run into town? Where else does it go?
Whats the best way to get over to Essex Jct. - I like the ride to the back side of Smugglers Notch - just don't know how to get there from here...

...and - what would be the nicest way to Church St. via SS or Fixed gear from here (MUP or Road - but I tend to prefer road to baby carriages and wanderers)? I've driven different routes when I helped the GF move in - but haven't explored on bike yet.

chinitonorte

The Champlain Valley is awesome for cycling.

Burlington can be an urban nightmare, but OK for cycling in general. Really depends on your route.

Champlainbikeways.org

The only difficulty for commuting would be WINTER.

vtjim

That MUP does go into town, but you have to deal with a big climb before you get there. It comes out on Manhattan Drive. Also, to get to the MUP, you'd have to go down North Ave which isn't exactly bike friendly. 4 lanes, no shoulder (cement curb), lotta traffic (relative to this area.)

The other MUP, the one I use, is actually easier for you to find and goes to the Burlington waterfront and beyond. It also goes out to the causeway in the lake. It's a nicer ride. On the map in your link, find Starr Farm Road and head west. That road intersects with the MUP after Pleasant Ave (you can see the MUP in the hybrid view if you zoom in a bit.) It's not bad during rush hours, but on weekends it's, um, MUPpy.

The intervale trails are fun. Earlier this year they were under water! MTB or hybrids only, by the way.

And Colchester is working on fixing the causeway bike path. The lake was so high that waves were crashing over it and exposing a lot of big rocks and stuff.

To answer your Essex & Church St. questions... By car, you'd have to go on 127 through Colchester out to Suzy Wilson, then take the "circ highway" to Essex. Better to let someone show you the way first.

Church Street... Take the MUP I described above, from Starr Farm Road, if you want to. Then just turn left at "Echo" at the Burlington Waterfront and go up College Street to Church. That, or battle North Ave cagers into the city and turn left on Pearl, Cherry, or College.

GSOKurt

Wow, lots of cycling advocates in the Burlington area, nice to see! I live in Greensboro, NC now, 250,000 people and very few commuters, though I did help start the first bike advocacy group last August (www.bikegso.org).

My other question is what about snow? I have ridden in snow before, but for fun and grins, not to get anywhere. I have three bikes, my nice roadie for racing and long rides, a wider-tire clunker commuter and my Giant Iguana mountain bike. I am guessing the clunker with the wider tires would be best, no?

Cheers,
Kurt

maximusvt

Yeah I know! I got stuck out there a few weeks ago and hit this one puddle I absolutely could not pass.

Parts of North Ave have a bike lane. There are also big sidewalks that no one ever uses out there, so I'll ride on them when I have to. But high speed traffic and yeah, North Ave sucks.

bmike, the intervale trail opens up onto ethan allen pkwy and I think it runs along 127 for awhile (or maybe that end of the trail is the MUP jim was talking about)- there are probably other exits further toward your end. The other end of that trail is onto intervale road, but then you have a HUUUGE hill before you hit riverside ave. Once you're there, it's pretty much flat to get to downtown. If I were you biking downtown, I might hit the waterfront path on the way in and the intervale trail on the way back.

One observation about the MUPs, I've never seen a soul on the 127 path, and on the waterfront path, the only folks who mill about aimlessly tend to do it in a larger area where they are easy to avoid/run off the path.

I haven't tried riding in winter yet but I am gonna this year!