Anyone ride in Greenville, SC on roadways?
#1
20+mph Commuter
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Location: Greenville. SC USA
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Anyone ride in Greenville, SC on roadways?
UPDATE: Definitely moving to GVL. House is being built, money spent.
Thinking about relocating to Greenville SC. Spent 2 weeks there and does NOT look like a place to depend on a bicycle to get around. Anyone care to change my mind?
I am not interested in recreational cycling on trails or weekend warrior rides. Strictly utilitarian bike transport.
UPDATE Sept 2023. I discovered a very useful tool for exploring a new location virtually. This is a Strava Global Heatmap of Greenville, SC (brightest spot near center). The brighter the line the more Strava passes on that road by cyclists. This will show you every goat trail that cyclists use - much more than Google Maps, although Google is a great companion to this.
Thinking about relocating to Greenville SC. Spent 2 weeks there and does NOT look like a place to depend on a bicycle to get around. Anyone care to change my mind?
I am not interested in recreational cycling on trails or weekend warrior rides. Strictly utilitarian bike transport.
UPDATE Sept 2023. I discovered a very useful tool for exploring a new location virtually. This is a Strava Global Heatmap of Greenville, SC (brightest spot near center). The brighter the line the more Strava passes on that road by cyclists. This will show you every goat trail that cyclists use - much more than Google Maps, although Google is a great companion to this.
Last edited by JoeyBike; 09-17-23 at 12:43 PM.
#2
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#3
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One last thought: Living even a 10-15 minute drive outside of town (in a car) compounds the problem. Steady flows of traffic on narrow 2-lane highways or 6-8 lane arterials with hundreds of driveways to stores and eateries. I saw ZERO cyclists on those types of roads. Some used sidewalks and I can't disagree. Also saw ZERO cyclists cued up at traffic lights along with auto traffic. I'm never taking a lane doing 6mph up a long, steep hill in a 45mph zone with no room for vehicles to pass. Traffic was already frustrating without some dude on a bike making it worse.
The link is much appreciated! It kinda confirmed what I observed. Even on Strava I can't find any cyclists who commute Greenville. That is a bad sign also.
Last edited by JoeyBike; 04-27-23 at 09:46 AM.
#4
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So "A work in progress" but without the progress. I drove and walked around Greenville for two weeks. The steep hills, narrow streets, 2-lane highways, or 8-lane arterials, loooong traffic lights (90-120 seconds), heavy traffic, and very few bike lanes did not make me hopeful. Also, many neighborhoods are cul-de-sacs so wiggling around back streets would be impossible or add a hundred years to any commute. I know the Walgreens where they began the race and that route. E.North does have a "bike lane" - basically a sharrow stuck to the gutter as an afterthought, and from Walgreens it's mostly downhill to Park St. In fact, most of the cyclist's route was downhill. Also, I stayed on E. North for a week and noticed most casual cyclists using the sidewalks as that "bike lane" would be terrifying to more leisure desiring cyclists.
One last thought: Living even a 10-15 minute drive outside of town (in a car) compounds the problem. Steady flows of traffic on narrow 2-lane highways or 6-8 lane arterials with hundreds of driveways to stores and eateries. I saw ZERO cyclists on those types of roads. Some used sidewalks and I can't disagree. Also saw ZERO cyclists cued up at traffic lights along with auto traffic. I'm never taking a lane doing 6mph up a long, steep hill in a 45mph zone with no room for vehicles to pass. Traffic was already frustrating without some dude on a bike making it worse.
The link is much appreciated! It kinda confirmed what I observed. Even on Strava I can't find any cyclists who commute Greenville. That is a bad sign also.
One last thought: Living even a 10-15 minute drive outside of town (in a car) compounds the problem. Steady flows of traffic on narrow 2-lane highways or 6-8 lane arterials with hundreds of driveways to stores and eateries. I saw ZERO cyclists on those types of roads. Some used sidewalks and I can't disagree. Also saw ZERO cyclists cued up at traffic lights along with auto traffic. I'm never taking a lane doing 6mph up a long, steep hill in a 45mph zone with no room for vehicles to pass. Traffic was already frustrating without some dude on a bike making it worse.
The link is much appreciated! It kinda confirmed what I observed. Even on Strava I can't find any cyclists who commute Greenville. That is a bad sign also.
So, the downtown area might not be as friendly for commuting as you would like, but there is a huge bike community in that entire area due to its country roads and varied terrain. Yes, it does get hilly. Been there, ridden there quite a few times.
john
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#5
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Thinking about relocating to Greenville SC. Spent 2 weeks there and does NOT look like a place to depend on a bicycle to get around. Anyone care to change my mind?
I am not interested in recreational cycling on trails or weekend warrior rides. Strictly utilitarian bike transport.
I am not interested in recreational cycling on trails or weekend warrior rides. Strictly utilitarian bike transport.
#6
20+mph Commuter
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Greenville. SC USA
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Bikes: Surly LHT, Surly Lowside, a Breezer Itzy, and a Vintage Steel Jamis Explorer.
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As someone who lives in SC and often goes to Greenville, I would not recommend biking as a means of transport in this state. Bad drivers, bad roads and little respect for alternative thought or means of transportation make this state a death trap for cyclists and pedestrians.
#7
Newbie
I live in Simpsonville, which is next town over from Greenville. And no, i don’t think Greenville is a commute by bike city. It’s a great area for recreational cycling, but as you requested commuting info, I’d say no. Almost no bike lanes and where there are some, they don’t last long and don’t connect anything to anywhere. The exception would be if you were to live some where close to the Swamp Rabbit Trail. You could live as far north as Travelers Rest or south as far as the north side of Mauldin and if you’d had access to the SRT, you could commute into downtown. Just depends on where you are going from and to. But overall, no i would not say it’s a very bike commute friendly area.
#8
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We're moving Jan 2024. Our development is down Fork Shoals road but north of the Tollway. If they just add shoulders or even sidewalks to ONE MILE of that road I would be GOLDEN! There is a big grammar school, and a church, along with crazy amounts of new home developments between me and some easy cycling and access to Conestee from the south. From there I can get anywhere, especially if I use a few sidewalks no one walks on. I would think that road would at least get a sidewalk near the school. My Surly Lowside can handle riding on grassy shoulders, dry ditches, just about anything not under water, and I'm kinda nuts, so it might work out.
Much appreciated Glenn!
#9
Senior Member
Our development is down Fork Shoals road but north of the Tollway. If they just add shoulders or even sidewalks to ONE MILE of that road I would be GOLDEN! There is a big grammar school, and a church, along with crazy amounts of new home developments between me and some easy cycling and access to Conestee from the south. From there I can get anywhere, especially if I use a few sidewalks no one walks on. I would think that road would at least get a sidewalk near the school.
#10
20+mph Commuter
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Greenville. SC USA
Posts: 7,571
Bikes: Surly LHT, Surly Lowside, a Breezer Itzy, and a Vintage Steel Jamis Explorer.
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Yeah, I'm not subjecting myself to Fork Shoals Road for 3 miles. One mile may be too many until that road gets improved. I have nothing to prove. I'll throw a bike on the car rack and go somewhere better for cycling. I've researched that road on Strava and other bicycle apps and NOBODY rides that stretch of road, not even the pros who live there.
Maybe you could try it and fill me in. I've only driven that route and studied traffic patterns on Google Maps and Google Earth. Let me know how you do.
Last edited by JoeyBike; 07-14-23 at 01:34 PM.
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