bigdufstuff

I am looking for a little bit of route advice. My friend and I would like to ride from Midtown Atlanta (really close to Piedmont Park) and get on the Silver Comet Trail. We are looking for a route that works best for traffic and road conditions. We are looking for a fun, relaxing, day of exercise. This is not a training ride or anything of that nature. If it makes a difference we both ride road bikes.

I searched this forum and all over route slip but couldn't find anything.

Any advice?

Pedal Wench

I've taken Paces Ferry all the way from Buckhead over to Cumberland to the East West connector, and there's a little traffic, but wide lanes so it wasn't an issue. I know -- it's not from Piedmont Park, but if you can get up to Buckhead, that's an option

FastFreddy

Here’s how I get from my house in Virginia-Highland to Buckhead:

North on N. Highland Ave. until it forks – take the left fork (Lenox Rd.)

Where Lenox Rd. dead-ends into Cheshire Bridge Rd. cross Cheshire Bridge (at the Waffle House) onto Alco St.

Take Alco one block until it dead-ends into Melante Dr. – right onto Melante.

Go about 50 feet on Melante and take the first left onto Northrope Dr.

Take Northrope a couple blocks until it dead-ends into Lindbergh Dr. – left onto Lindbergh.

Take Lindbergh for about a mile or two to a side street called Acorn Ave. – take a right onto Acorn. (Note: the section on Lindbergh – specifically heading west on Lindbergh going under I-85 -- is the only part of the route where the traffic can be hairy. The idea behind the jog through Alco, Melante and Northrope is to minimize the time spent on Lindbergh. Acorn is part of the Garden Hills neighborhood – usually considered part of Buckhead.)

Acorn crosses West Wesley Rd. which is a pretty good road for cycling and it will take you all the way to the west side of town – where you can pick up Paces Ferry. There are probably other, better ways of getting over there – and I’m interested in hearing about it

bigdufstuff

route

I made a route using some of the advice given. I wanted to get some feedback about what others thought. Also, is my end point where the trail starts? I have never been there and am going by a website.

TimArchy

You could cut off a big chunk of distance by going through town on Marietta St. Past the dome and Centennial park until Marietta Blvd turns right. (There's very little signage, but if you pass the MARTA bus depot on your left, you've gone too far).

Marietta Blvd has a lot of heavy truck traffic, but the only scary place is where it crosses the river, and you've got to do that anyway.

Another way to get across the river is to continue straight past Marietta Blvd and the MARTA depot (the road becomes Perry Blvd.). You'll go down a hill and up a big one. At the top is the high school featured in the blockbuster movie ATL, and also where I did my student teaching. Take Perry until it dead ends into Hollywood Rd. Turn right on hollywood and in a mile or so you'll see Bolton Rd slide in on the left (1st stoplight I think). Make a hard left and then the 1st stoplight should be James Jackson Pkwy. Take a right and this turns into South Cobb Dr. after it crosses the river. This is also a fast road, but fewer big trucks and a better surface. Plus you get to see the city's incinerator on your right as you cross the river.

I've ridden in this area many times at all hours of the day, actually mostly late at night. I like it because people are generally more laid back. Also, if you're up for a challenge, one of the steepest hills in atlanta is on Mary George, which cuts off of Perry to the left at the top of the long hill and rejoins it after the high school (about 1/2 mile before it hits Hollywood). Be careful though. Steep run-in with a stop sign halfway down.

It's fun being able to look down at the tops of street lights that are 100m away.

bigdufstuff

new route

I made a route using your advice. What do you think about this one?

FastFreddy

That’s an interesting route and I’d like to try it some time. However, I can’t see how it reduces mileage. The destination is North West of the start point and going through Downtown Atlanta takes you South for a couple of miles – so just eye-balling the route (using bigdufstuff’s map) it sure looks like going via Downtown adds mileage.

Anyway, here’s my favorite route from Virginia-Highland to Downtown:

Head South on N. Highland to the Carter Presidential Center and take a right on the “Path”. There are some nice views of the Atlanta skyline and since there’s no traffic, one can enjoy them.

Where the “Path” dead-ends into Jackson St., take a left.

Take Jackson to the intersection with Auburn Ave. – take a right onto Auburn. Note historic Ebenezer Baptist church at the intersection.

Take Auburn to Peachtree Rd. – take a left onto Peachtree (at Woodruff Park).

You can then go about two blocks and pick up Marietta Street.

bigdufstuff

Yeah, I decided to skip going to downtown. I ride through tech often to get near Marietta, so I thought I'd do the same for this route. Going downtown isn't a big deal, but just seems out of the way for no benefit (unless you want extra miles and scenery of course).

bigdufstuff

We finally got a chance to take this ride. I'd say it is a good way to get to the SCT from midtown. Take a look at the actual route: https://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Midtown-to-SCT.


The only part that I wish I could find an alternative to is the one mile one 280, but even that wasn't so bad. Thanks for all the advice.

crispx

bigdufstuff --
I never ride in town, but this might be of interest to you..
One of the local groups just assembled a route for the Georgia Rides to the Capitol.

https://www.mapmytri.com/workout/unit...etta/403194925

This route is starting in Marietta, but they are hooking up with another group that is leaving from the start of the Silver Comet Trail (SCT).

You can pickup their thread here:
https://atlbike.org/modules.php?op=mo...&p=26580#26580

HTH
Chris