Road Cycling in NEPA
 

All of the highly populated areas that already have great facilities get more. Those of us off the beaten path, with enough red neck traffic to ensure a true cycling hell never get any of the cycling perks.

Anyone care to tell your congressional delegates to send some cycling money out here to the armpit of the country? We would really appreciate it.

Even a multi-use path along a gas pipeline near the Susquehanna river that I hoped would be a wonderful place to ride is a deeply rutted mud pit and requires a mountain bike, or the more common 4 wheel ATV to navigate it. I about exploded when I saw a request on FreeCycle for a helmet for another F****ing brat in Plymouth to ride his ATV on the trail... I live on one of the better cycling routes in the area, and so far this year I have seen one cyclist, and well over 100 ATVs... Once I think there was an actual parade... 25+ at one time. I am pro-helmet, but I have become anti-helmet for ATV riders... I also think they should continue to randomly crank up to full throttle to be sure and irritate those of us who live across the street from the path. Hopefully they'll flip those noisy, pollution spewing brat-mobiles and find a new way to pollute the environment elsewhere.

It is a truly sad state of affairs when more kids ride ATVs than bicycles.

While I am spewing my venom... Does anyone know if they outlawed Share the Road signs? They must have because I haven't seen one in 3 years, and was thinking of putting one on my property... But, I wouldn't want to break the law.

I knew I was getting away from ideal cycling when I moved here, but little did I know.

Oh, and I should mention too... the state put rumble strips on my formerly favorite cycling road.

I have seen information on the East Coast greenway, and if I ever want to drive 2 hours to get to the closest point (Philadelphia area), it will be fun. :) I know I am only about 1.5 hours from some really good cycling territory, but for some reason, I think 3 hours of driving to ride a bike for a couple of hours is not the makings of a regular event.

Along one of the few marked bicycle routes (which I haven't had a chance to ride, but I have driven through a portion of it) there is an interesting arrangement. Signs marking the bike route, and other signs warning about the presence of intoxicated drivers... What a wonderful place to put a bike route, right through an area so full of drunken idiots that the state has had to post signs since they apparently can't arrest them fast enough.

The only bicycle routes I see in PA are those arranged by the state, and they all basically start and end at the borders. It is like we are telling cyclists that we can't disallow them, but we can sure show them the most direct way to get out of the state... and don't let the door hit you on the way out. It takes several hours to drive across PA, and there are like 6 or 7 bike routes... seems a bit low to me... and they ALL lead out of state... I should have better understood this warning before I moved here.

Oh well, maybe it will get warm enough to ride in the next couple of weeks, and I won't have so much time to complain. ;)

Don't hold back, tell us how you really feel...

I don't think this is a state issue but more of a local level issue. Here in Central PA there are many bike lanes and bike paths put in by the local municipalities. There are roads that are a bit dangerous to ride on but there are still many others that are very safe and ridable. There are a couple rails to trails in the area as well. Check the PA DCNR websites for Rails to Trail in your area. When it comes to the local level it is the squeaky wheel gets the oil and if it squeaks loud enough people will pay attention. Are there any local bike shops in your area? They may be able to point you where it is safe to ride and some trails you may not know about yet. Good luck with it.

So you could sense my underlying frustration?

The people in my LBS know me by name, and Saturday mentioned they hadn't seen me for a while. If I can get in good enough shape to hang onto the back for their Saturday morning rides, I will give that a try this year, but as a 300+ pound 51 year old, their pace is probably faster than I can handle. I think they start in April.

The closest reasonable rail trail is between White Haven and Jim Thorpe, and it is 30-45 minute drive depending on which side I start on. There is a 2 or 3 mile long rail trail closer, but I can't imagine taking the energy to load my bike up for a 5 or 6 mile ride. The 20+ mile Lehigh Gorge is well worth the drive several times per year.

I do have a few routes to ride, but I have had my share of red neck encounters.

I love it when there are organized rides elsewhere, and have done some nice rides in Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia and Bucks County... I have even driven down to Valley Forge just for a 20 mile solo ride. (2 hours drive each way).

As far as the local area, Wilkes-Barre has a hard time repairing existing roads, let alone adding new infrastructure. Plymouth Township (where I live) I will be learning as I go. I just moved.

On the positive side, it looks like they are possibly expanding the MUP availability on the levees, and when that is complete, I should be able to make my 16 mile round trip commute to work with only about a mile on the streets exposed to red necks.

If you're in NE Pa, look into the delaware and hudson railtrail:

http://www.nepa-rail-trails.org/dandh.html

Also, parts of the D&H run from Port Jervis to Kingston NY, following RT209 and in places are all done and signed.

There's also the Lehigh Valley railtrail, a pretty popular fall destination.. Sounds like you already know about this though, as Jim Thorpe is right by the WVRT...

How about the railtrails in NW NJ, like the Sussex Branch Trail and the Paulinskill, both are like 20+ mile Railtrails that do intersect so you could ride both and back for 50+ miles RT... or combine that with some rural road riding so you don't have to repeat anything..

Jay

Thanks for the suggestions. Sometimes when I look for trails etc, I get tunnel vision and only look at PA, even though parts of NY and NJ are closer.

Darwin,

The Paulinskill Trail terminates (from my perspective) in Columbia, near the Delaware Water Gap National Park. I haven't traveled the entire length, but from what I understand, it's well maintained. If you start there, then hang a right on the Sussex Branch Trail, you'll end up in my backyard. The Sussex Branch, however, has some impassible sections that must be circumnavigated using public roads.

Hi, Darwin -

I sense a little frustration . . . ;)

As a life-long PA resident and having some involvement in local and State government, I wouldn't be looking to the PA budget to be providing improvement anytime soon. It's all our budget can handle to support the current, aging infrastructure. Add to that a governor more interested in funding alternative energy issues than repairing that aging infrastructure, and you'll find bike lanes and MUP's pretty low on the list.

Local government budgets are hamstrung. In the Susquehanna watershed, our backs are against the wall with the unfunded Chesapeake Bay Strategy. Again, money for MUP's and bike lanes is low on the list.

Private initiatives and new development might just be the best options.

And that's all I have to say about that :)

Maybe we'll see you in Lancaster again in August? Hope so!

Beth

I intend to be there this year... But I intended to be there last year too, until a better offer came up. :)

"Better offer"? Pfffffft!

See you in August ;)

Beth

I like riding with y'all, but a trip to Charleston SC with my sweetheart will win every time. :)

The southern end of the Paulinskill can get flooded and you have to dodge the horse bombs for the most part but you can actually ride into pennsy via the Paulinskill if you don't mind some rougher rides and riding or walking over the big concrete paulinskill viaduct over the delaware.

You can also combine the two rail trails as the Sussex Branch trail and the Paulinskill cross in Warbasse Junction. I've biked both trails end to end before, but I had to ride around the flooded section and do a little bushwacking to pick up the trail after I did so. I had to ride out to 206 for a section though I forget the road names I used.

Jay

I've only ridden the southern portion of the Sussex Branch, about 8 miles.

Starting from the southern end, at Waterloo Road (where there is a public toilet), at about mile 3, the trail appears to have been destroyed by widening of 206. Taking the Morris Sussex Turnpike for about .5 miles circumvents this obstacle. Then, at about mile 4.5, the trail is lost again, but if you continue directly on Railroad Ave, it's quite easy to find where it picks up again. At about mile 6.5 it passes through Kittatinny State Park, where there is a public toilet. Then, at about mile 9, it terminates at Sparta Ave. Then, a mile riding on some local roads puts you back on the trail.

I haven't ridden the northern portion, but it looks like it continues another 9 miles or so to Branchville, passing the Warbasse Junction you mention.

I've mapped the Sussex Branch on MapMyRide. Interestingly, it marks the Sussex Branch as a trail (it appears) but it marks the Paulinskill as existing railway.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...hope/954192549

I've rode around the Shickshinny area a lot and most of the roads are pretty good out here. As long as one follows the rules of the road they should be fine. I've rode on Route 11 around Shickshinny and Nanticoke areas. It is decent and not too shabby as long as one follows the rules of the road with turn signals and such.

I feel pretty safe on those back roads and highways.

Darwin,
First off let me say that all ATV riders are not bad. I have one and ride it every so often and really love being in the woods on it.

As for cycling in the area you could always ride on the Levee in Kingston and Forty Fort. I think it is between 10 -12 miles long. Also the saturday morning rides that leave from around town bikes are great and the pace is not that fast. Don't get me wrong the guys at the front are fast but those of at the back avg 14 - 15 mph. Up in mountain top where I do all of my weekday rides there are some nice back roads that are lightly traveled. There is also a bike lane on 309 but it is only a few miles long.

Gosh, it is nice to see an old thread pop up once in a while. :)

First, I know not all ATV riders are bad, but those that are sure make themselves obvious. ;)

Also, I do like riding route 11... It is part of why I bought the house I did.

And, I hang out at Around Town bikes, not as much as I used to before I bought my house (gosh the house and yard are a lot of work) but even the 14 or 15 mph at the back end is above my pace... I will have to just stick to the line I thought was the case last year... maybe next year. :)

A couple of weeks ago I was making a trip to the dump and it was a weekend when I think the ATB group was scheduled to ride past my house, and I did see a couple of clusters of riders ride by... I'll bet it was the trailing couple of groups from the Saturday morning ride.

The levees are fun to ride (if you hit them at the right time)... but to be honest, my biggest hurdle right now is me. I seem to be finding obstacles right and left, and I just need to slot a coupld of hours for riding on my calendar, and just do it. If it is raining, then get on the trainer, or get wet... but just get out and do it.

Thanks for all of the ideas.