Go Back  Bike Forums > Community Connections > Regional Discussions > Southeast
Reload this Page >

job offer in Raleigh - bike friendly?

Notices
Southeast Alabama | Arkansas | Florida | Georgia | Kentucky | Louisiana | Mississippi | North Carolina | South Carolina | Tennessee | Virginia

job offer in Raleigh - bike friendly?

Old 08-24-09, 11:55 PM
  #1  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sunny South Florida
Posts: 283

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL7 / S-Works Crux / BMC Kaius 01

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
job offer in Raleigh - bike friendly?

I currently live in pembroke pines fl. lots of bike lanes or shoulders. Ive lived here for 15 years so i am very confortable w the area and the roads.

I recently got in to cycling and I am hooked! Now I am about to fly to raleigh for a job interview which would mean relocation. I ride road and was thinking of getting a TT bike also. One of my concerns in the bike shops, and safety to ride of the roads and friendly groups to ride with on the weekends or during the week.

In addition, the office is in raleigh downtown, what is a nice place city comparable to "pembroke pines" to move into? I would be renting at first.

Thanks,
Profoxcg is offline  
Old 08-25-09, 07:13 AM
  #2  
Rawwrrrrrrrrr!
 
wolfpack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Clayton, NC
Posts: 2,730

Bikes: 2009 Specialized Ruby Sworks SL w/SRAM Red; 2006 Fuji Team RC; 2008 Felt F1x; 1980's Lotus Excelle; Mangusta FG/SS; Rossin (yet to be built up)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
check out TriangleCycling, make a post about moving to htis area and you will get lots of info...Raleigh is a pretty nice area, but actual bike lanes are few and far between around here, unfortunately.

of course, there are a few BF members from this area on here too....
__________________
wolfpackcycles
skiffrun: Enjoy the ride. Ride for the enjoyment.
wolfpack is offline  
Old 08-25-09, 10:43 AM
  #3  
car dodger
 
norskagent's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: garner/raleigh nc
Posts: 3,490
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Liked 146 Times in 61 Posts
You can pretty much bike anywhere around downtown raleigh. There are parallel streets, fairly wide quieter streets, and neighborhood streets that can get you around. Rent is mostly cheaper south and east. There may be some cheapish rents near NCSU also, which is ~2miles west of downtown proper.
__________________
1989 Schwinn Paramount OS
1980 Mclean/Silk Hope Sport Touring
1983 Bianchi pista
1976 Fuji Feather track
1979 raleigh track
"I've consulted my sources and I'm pretty sure your derailleur does not exist"
norskagent is offline  
Old 08-25-09, 11:09 AM
  #4  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sunny South Florida
Posts: 283

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL7 / S-Works Crux / BMC Kaius 01

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
south and east = low income ?
Profoxcg is offline  
Old 08-25-09, 11:25 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
skiffrun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 809
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 39 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Inner city south and west, lower income, probably answer "yes" to that.

Farther out, lower income, probably answer "no" to that. It is just that everyone thinks that the incomes south and east aren't quite as high as north. Possibly some reason to think that, but not much reason.

But gas tends to cost about 10 cents more per gallon on the north side of town than the south side of town. I never have understood why.

There are nice places near downtown. And there are very nice places near downtown -- with prices to go with. There are also some not-so-nice places near downtown.

In other words, it is pretty much a polyglot mix, much as most anywhere in the continental U.S..
skiffrun is offline  
Old 08-25-09, 11:36 AM
  #6  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sunny South Florida
Posts: 283

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL7 / S-Works Crux / BMC Kaius 01

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
so if i wanted to live in a nice area let's us the term "up-scale" where my car or apt is not going to be broken into and i can ride my bike, where would I look into?
Profoxcg is offline  
Old 08-25-09, 11:52 AM
  #7  
car dodger
 
norskagent's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: garner/raleigh nc
Posts: 3,490
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Liked 146 Times in 61 Posts
Most anywhere inside the "beltline" (440/I-40 loop) except just east and just south of downtown. Even those areas have nice pockets of neighborhoods. Anywhere around cameron village, five points / glenwood ave., oakwood (mostly), north hills, boylan heights (mostly), west raleigh will have what you are looking for, and will be an easy bike ride to downtown. If you have $$$, you can get an uber-trendy condo downtown, there are plenty available I believe. I live in Garner, it's cheaper / better value, not sketchy, but no real culture to speak of. It's ~ 8 miles from downtown.
__________________
1989 Schwinn Paramount OS
1980 Mclean/Silk Hope Sport Touring
1983 Bianchi pista
1976 Fuji Feather track
1979 raleigh track
"I've consulted my sources and I'm pretty sure your derailleur does not exist"
norskagent is offline  
Old 08-26-09, 12:29 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
skiffrun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 809
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 39 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
^

To help clarify the immediate above, "inside the 'Beltline'", pretty much means "close to downtown" by local "close" standards.

I'm confident "norskagent" is not implying that there are no "upscale" or "nice" outside the Beltline. (Garner is outside the Beltline, and (mostly) qualifies as "nice", but with "no real culture to speak of".)
skiffrun is offline  
Old 08-26-09, 02:57 AM
  #9  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sunny South Florida
Posts: 283

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL7 / S-Works Crux / BMC Kaius 01

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I have been reading alot abou this "no cluture" what does that mean?
Profoxcg is offline  
Old 08-26-09, 02:58 AM
  #10  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sunny South Florida
Posts: 283

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL7 / S-Works Crux / BMC Kaius 01

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
How is crime in N raleigh?
Profoxcg is offline  
Old 08-26-09, 05:31 AM
  #11  
car dodger
 
norskagent's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: garner/raleigh nc
Posts: 3,490
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Liked 146 Times in 61 Posts
Crime in north raleigh is no higher or lower than anywhere else in raleigh imo, it's mostly suburbs, shopping centers and office complexes. "No culture" in garner, to me, means very few non-chain restaurants, many car parts stores, big box stores, no cool places to hang out. Downtown has good indy restaurants, some unique stores (father&son), a few cool coffee shops (morning times, helios), plus pubs like boylan st. bridge, busy bee, raleigh times, and a microscopic big city feel (if you stand in the right place).
__________________
1989 Schwinn Paramount OS
1980 Mclean/Silk Hope Sport Touring
1983 Bianchi pista
1976 Fuji Feather track
1979 raleigh track
"I've consulted my sources and I'm pretty sure your derailleur does not exist"
norskagent is offline  
Old 08-27-09, 06:39 AM
  #12  
DMD
Nothing but junk miles.
 
DMD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Who's hiring?
DMD is offline  
Old 08-27-09, 09:17 AM
  #13  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sunny South Florida
Posts: 283

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL7 / S-Works Crux / BMC Kaius 01

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
^ burger king
Profoxcg is offline  
Old 08-30-09, 06:40 AM
  #14  
Newbie
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 1

Bikes: Trek 2300

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
First post (normally lurk), but I thought I'd add my two cents. I lived in the Raleigh area for 10 years, 3 in Holly Springs (south west) and 7 in Cary (west). Job moved me away in 2003, but it's a great place to live. I recommend the west side of the metro area near RTP; the highway 55 corridor is a booming area. Cary has "greenways" that allow bikes, but I always felt I had to dodge too many joggers and people walking their dogs. Few bike lanes, but if you stay on the fringes of the developed areas, you can get out in the country pretty quick for some nice rides.

Be aware that this metro area is one of the most expensive in the southeast if not the most expensive. Negotiate a good salary!
snsmith86 is offline  
Old 08-30-09, 11:40 AM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
piper_chuck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 562
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I lived in the Raleigh area for 27 years before recently moving to Columbia, SC. As with most other places, bike friendliness, depending on the type of riding you want to do, increases as you get further from pockets of civilization. If you want to be able to ride from home and enjoy open roads without lots of cars, you'll have to trade off a longer commute to work. If you don't mind driving to ride, choose wherever, there are many, many group rides at all levels and in most areas. There are upscale areas inside the beltline, older traditional homes, as well as in North Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Garner, Holly Springs, and East of Raleigh. Another thing to look at is the terrain. Some areas tend to be flatter while others have valleys created by the streams that dot the area.
piper_chuck is offline  
Old 08-31-09, 09:06 PM
  #16  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sunny South Florida
Posts: 283

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL7 / S-Works Crux / BMC Kaius 01

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I went to raleigh for a visit. i really liked it
Profoxcg is offline  
Old 09-01-09, 01:01 AM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
skiffrun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 809
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 39 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by snsmith86
. . . . I recommend the west side of the metro area near RTP; the highway 55 corridor is a booming area. . . . .
That is an interesting comment / take. Last time I checked, the gummit acknowledges one metro area around RTP, that is, the entire triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill). The "west side of the metro area near RTP" would actually be more like the "middle of the metro area near RTP". The space between Raleigh and Durham is filling in fast. Some would say it is filled in, and is now just becoming crowded. Sorta' depends on what one is used to.

As an example, I will note that it is almost impossible to follow Bike Route #1 from north of Raleigh to south of Raleigh any more. There has been so much road destruction and housing and commercial development / destruction that roads are not where they used to be, there are additional roads, houses, commercial areas, etc., etc.. There are almost no Bike Route #1 signs remaining to help direct you past the airport area on what were nearly empty roads when BR #1 was routed through the empty space / gap thirty years ago.

However, all that noted, it is absolutely true, that with just a little clever routing, one can be away from the obnoxious congestion and into near-county in minutes, and into almost unaffected rural scenes in well under an hour (even at my slow pace). However, even the most wonderful rural roads are subject to catching the disease where houses suddenly pop up out of the middle of pastureland. (This latter phenom has slowed recently due to economic conditions, etc..)
skiffrun is offline  
Old 09-02-09, 01:55 PM
  #18  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Morrisville, NC
Posts: 68
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I have to generally concur with everyone on here. I've lived here all my life (one of the very, very few locals) and I absolutely love it. I commute 4-5 days a week by bike, and do longer rides on weekends mostly. Raleigh is certainly not the greatest place in terms of bike lanes, etc, though the greenway system is getting better. With a little creativity, you can be off the main arteries of traffic, and for the vast majority people are quite nice and polite to bikers.

I live out west in Morrisville, and you seriously can't drive half a mile on a weekend or a nice evening without seeing a cyclist. But prior to this I lived in the heart of ITB Raleigh (Cameron Village area) and still had no problems getting around by bike.

Check out the Raleigh greenway system when you get a chance. Also, if you want specific recommendations on neighborhoods, etc feel free to PM me. I used to run a couple bars/nightclubs downtown and have a pretty good feel for the different areas.
DJFlowe is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.