knifeyspoony

Hi,

I'll be leaving Danville for Berkeley at about 9 PM on a weekday. I could ride to Dublin/Pleasanton or Walnut Creek BART stations. All else being equal, my plan is to take the trail to Walnut Creek. That station is closer to Danville. It's also a quicker and cheaper ride to Berkeley from there.

I did bike the entire trail once, in late afternoon. (I vowed to wear a gas mask through that gnat-infested northern section next time!) But I'm unfamiliar with the territory at night. Are lighting and other safety conditions particularly worse north of Danville than south? Or should I forgo the trail entirely and take Danville Blvd, which I've never taken before? Or is the County Connection bus the way to go at night?

Thanks,
ks

P.S. Should anyone be seeking a ticket to the Andre Dubus event at Rakestraw Books, or a riding partner for this Thursday night, I'm your man!

chickenfried

Ive only been on the trail a little past sunset. So I'm not much help. But one thing crossed my mind I remember there being a lot of parallel cracks on the IHT. No problem on a mountain bike but I'm always wary of getting my skinny road tire caught in them. Even with a bike light might be hard to see them.

prathmann

Don't remember any real issues with the trail at night, but the section north of Danville has lots of road crossings, some of which have significant bumps at the curb. So I tend to use Danville Blvd. instead and only use the trail south of Danville and north from Walnut Creek. For getting to BART I'd be inclined to use the Lafayette station instead: Danville Blvd. - Castle Hill - Lancaster - Newell - Olympic - trail - Hawthorn - Moraga - Diablo Blvd - BART

cccorlew

Man up, ride the Danville Highway to WC and have fun. No big deal. Heck, it's even slightly downhill!

colinmcnamara

I 2nd the suggestion to just take san ramon valley blvd. Wide bike lanes are much better then random crap on the trail.

knifeyspoony

San Ramon Valley Blvd, Danville Highway... Do you both mean Danville Blvd?

colinmcnamara

Yes, the road changes name something like 5 times on it's way starting in sunol, going through pleasanton, dublin, san ramon, danville, alamo, pleasant hill, pachecho, etc.

Same road, different names depending on where you are.

DiabloScott

Danville Blvd to Rudgear, then IHT but go to Pleasant Hill BART - it's only a little farther but a lot easier since it's RIGHT on the trail - no dealing with the streets around WC BART.

The trail from Rudgear to WC is pretty good, with some whoop-dedoos near the flood control channel. The trail from WC to PH is very good. Watch out for hard to see pedestrians but other than that it's a great route.

gpelpel

You will be much faster on Danville Blvd. than on the trail. The trail has too many cross streets with stop signs to go through. And at 9pm I would rather be on the streets than on the trail that will be very dark in some places between Danville and Rudgear. I wouldn't worry about people on the trail at night but crossing animals could be a hazard.
As far as which BART station to aim to that's your call, try both and decide which one you like the best.

cccorlew

That is a better idea. PH is much less goofy to approach. Plus, you get to go over the almost-new bike-ped bridge!

I usually turn on Rudger from the Danville Hwy, then just take South Broadway instead of the trail until I get to Newell, just because that part of the trail is so bumpy and the road is nice. I hop on teh trail there and take the easy shot to PH BART.