twobikes

Would it be possible to ride a bike safely on the side of Campbell Station in Farragut. I know it is a heavily traveled road. Is there room at the side to stay out of traffic? I would want to go from Hardin Valley Road to Concord and down Concord to an address on Turkey Creek. Thanks.

HandsomeRyan

Farragut is my old stomping grounds. (Farragut High School, Class of 03') I've ridden Campbell Station from Yarnell Rd. to Kingston Pike. It can be done but I reccomend choosing an off-peak traffic time and wearing lots of reflective clothing. The road is a narrow 2 lane that winds through some farmland and woods before reaching the suburb of Farragut. From Hardin Valler to the interstate should be okay other than the road being kind of narrow with no shoulder. You will be facing quite a bit of traffic after crossing under I-40/I-75 until you reach Kingston Pike. I believe there is a sidewalk you can ride on (riding on sidewalks is legal here and there are not many pedistrians in this area so the sidewalk is probably safer than the road) once you reach South Campbell Station/Concord/Turkey Creek.

If you have more specific questions feel free to PM me. I grew up in that area and my parents/inlaws still live over there so I'm out that way quite often.

My inlaws live in a neighborhood off Turkey Creek, it's a pretty area over there.

twobikes

Thanks, HandsomeRyan. I have driven on Campbell Station from I-40 south, but never gave thought to riding a bike on it. Our kids live in Knoxville. Around Memorial Day we will be there when one daughter hosts a baby shower for the other daughter at an address on Turkey Creek. My wife bought a condo in Devonshire off of Lovell Road just about a quarter mile east of Pellissippi Parkway. I have a Trek 7.2 FX stored there and like to ride whenever possible. I can brave Lovell Road between traffic surges for a tenth of a mile east to Thompson and go north to Hardin Valley. It has very wide shoulders where I can stay out of traffic. I figured I might be able to go west on Hardin Valley to N. Campbell Station Road and then south on it and Concord to the Turkey Creek address. Thanks for the tip on the sidewalk.

Velo Vol 

Coincidentally, I just rode this route on Saturday. I didn't get run over, so it is possible to do it safely.

To add to what HandsomeRyan said, part of Campbell Station between I-40/75 and Kingston has a small shoulder/sidewalk alternative, but part of it doesn't. South of Kingston Pike there is a sidewalk if you want to ride it. The road is fairly straight with room for vehicles to pass. If you are comfortable riding with traffic, it's doable.

North of I 40/75, traffic is dramatically lower. But there's no shoulder and there's more curves (worse visibility). Moreover, you have to climb over a ridge. So there's a good chance you'll have a truck or two roar by you as you plod up the hill. Sometimes that kind of riding feels more dangerous than high-traffic roads.

HandsomeRyan

If you are planning to be in town for a couple days in May and you want to go for a ride in let me know. I ride almost exclusivly on the local greenway trails because I don't like traffic. The greenways in Knoxville connect to allow you to see a lot of parts of the city (Worlds Fair Park, the river front, UT's Trial Gardens, Market Square, etc.) all by bicycle.

twobikes

Thank you both for your suggestions and information. We arrive in Knoxville late the evening of May 22 and leave early in the morning on May 28. I believe the baby shower is the afternoon of May 25. Ryan, I would be open to a ride with you. Thank you for the offer. We do not have a land line, but I could give you my cell phone in a private message. Also, I usually bring a laptop. Sometimes I can piggyback on an unsecured WiFi system in the neighborhood. Or, I can go to Panera Bread off of Cedar Bluff to check my e-mail. When we are in Knoxville it seems we are always running to Lowe's or Home Depot over that way.