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Toledo Talk   (musing about Lake Erie West and beyond)
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Bike Paths in Toledo

I took a bike ride from Point Place to downtown today. The ride took me down the bike trail that goes along Greenbelt Parkway. See the route here. It was actually a pretty decent ride. Smooth pavement the whole way, and when I was on a road, it was wide enough that cars weren't running me over. If I worked downtown I would consider taking the path in to work.

My wife and I have also been on the Summit St. bike path lately quite a bit too. We like that one but wish it was longer.

I wasn't living in Toledo when the whole "Carty's Bike Path" thing was big news. I remember hearing about it but I didn't know where the paths were or when they were to be built, etc. Are these two paths some of the paths that were proposed a few years ago? Do many people use them? Now that they're built, what do people think of them?

created by CaptainLance on Aug 10, 2008 at 03:26:14 pm     Comments: 19

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Comments ... #

More bones tossed to the yuppie contingent. More things that won't help the town a damn bit.

posted by Darkseid on Aug 10, 2008 at 03:37:26 pm     #



It would be very nice to get some jobs.

posted by Darkseid on Aug 10, 2008 at 03:43:37 pm     #



Wasn't there some organized event recently encouraging people to bike to work and getting a group to test the routes to downtown?

If I lived in the Point, I'd consider biking to work. (At least I wouldn't have to squeeze in time to go to the gym later.)

But I live clear out by Pacesetter Park/Centennial Terrace, and biking to my office in downtown Toledo just wouldn't be practical.

posted by mom2 on Aug 10, 2008 at 09:20:41 pm     #



I bike from the Old West End to Perrysburg for work, you wienies.

posted by thetoledowire_com on Aug 10, 2008 at 09:27:07 pm     #



I could physically handle a bike commute from Sylvania to downtown.

It just wouldn't be practical time wise - not when I need to coordinate getting 2 young kids to/from school, cooking dinner for a family of 4 (yes...I actually make homecooked "real" dinners vs. prepackaged or takeout stuff), other assorted household tasks, getting our dog his exercise in the mornings/evenings, etc.

If I only had myself to worry about and all of my time outside work was actually "mine," sure...I might consider it. :)

posted by mom2 on Aug 10, 2008 at 09:55:47 pm     #



You can just ride through the grass and make a dirt path to wherever you wish. Hard packed dirt rides just as fast as pavement. Depending on the temperature, sometimes faster.

The pain is navigating traffic which has little respect for people on 2 wheeled contraptions.

posted by charlatan on Aug 10, 2008 at 10:14:35 pm     #



I rode the same path yesterday with my husband. My only real issue is that once the trail ends, you either need to turn back or brave the terrible condition of the sidewalks around town. It is pitiful how the city just allows this to continue with no repairs. I heard once about the proposed bike path and even thought they were turning the old 280 bridge into a bike/walking trail to the new marina district. Any word on that ever happening? Plus, if you ever want to see downtown turn around, you need to "throw a bone to the yuppie contingent" - They're the ones that will live there and spend money there as well.

posted by Newbie on Aug 11, 2008 at 04:17:50 pm     #



We need to worry about ALL of the town, and not just Block's white-collar only dreams of 'downtown'. jobsjobsjobsjobs safestreets lowertaxes onandonandon

posted by Darkseid on Aug 11, 2008 at 04:23:18 pm     #



I didn't find the sidewalks bad at all. But then, I'm from the east side so my opinion is probably warped.

posted by CaptainLance on Aug 11, 2008 at 08:36:03 pm     #



White-collar workers make more money, thus pay more taxes. They also are the ones investing more of that income in the community and creating the blue-collar jobs. So yeah Darkseid, we should cater to the white collar worker. If they leave because there is nothing to keep them here, your blue-collar job goes away too. Then how are you gonna buy your smokes?

posted by muddyriverduck on Aug 11, 2008 at 09:26:46 pm     #



Yeah, that's true, you prick, I forgot-white-collar types are superior life forms. BTW, I'm retired. Last job I held was white-collar. I did both throughout my life.

posted by Darkseid on Aug 12, 2008 at 12:12:57 am     #



Just got back from Denver where bike lanes are everywhere. No wonder people in Denver are top of the list health-wise. Carty, take note!

posted by jhostetler on Aug 12, 2008 at 10:16:40 am     #



I see people using the path in The Point all the time. Seems like that one is a success at least.

I can’t ride to work because 1.) I carry too much stuff and B.) Don’t want to. 

posted by Ryan on Aug 12, 2008 at 11:05:28 am     #



How do you get a secretary to bicycle to work wearing a required business suit on the day it's her turn to pick up the office donuts and it's raining? Ain't gonna happen unless there is a paradigm shift in the working world to accomodate the rider's requirements, like lockers so employees can change attire if they need to as well as secure places to stow your bike. Business could take a proactive role here in encouraging employees to bicycle and work with government so that each can do their part to make it acceptable, safer and more comfortable. Lets see some big copporation start off the "Bike To Work" initiative with meaningful incentives, like lower health care co-pays for regular bikers. Business and government have to sing onto this to make it work. Otherwise it's just talk.

posted by holland on Aug 12, 2008 at 01:23:58 pm     #



That secretary can do it exactly how thousands of others across the country do it. They bring a change of clothes. We do need more bike racks, and safer riding conditions (see "bike lanes").

posted by jhostetler on Aug 12, 2008 at 02:02:31 pm     #



What if “that secretary” doesn’t have access to a shower at her work? What does she do then? Stink all day?

Or maybe Carty can buy her one for $9,999.99?!?!?!?!

posted by Ryan on Aug 12, 2008 at 02:12:10 pm     #



"Just got back from Denver where bike lanes are everywhere. No wonder people in Denver are top of the list health-wise."

Here is possibly one of those senseless rankings: Men's Health magazine's The Best and Worst Cities for Men 2008. Toledo is last, ranking 100 out of 100.

Toledo's rankings :

  • Overall Rank 100
  • Fitness Rank 94
  • Life Rank 93
  • Health Rank 99

In the Fitness category, Denver ranked #9, and Denver had an overall ranking of #26.

The 10 Best Cities for Men

  1. Raleigh, NC
  2. San Jose, CA
  3. Madison, WI
  4. Boise, ID
  5. Salt Lake City, UT
  6. Fargo, ND
  7. Austin, TX
  8. Seattle, WA
  9. Anchorage, AK
  10. Honolulu, HI

The 10 Worst Cities for Men

91. Tampa, FL
92. Memphis, TN
93. St. Louis, MO
94. Miami, FL
95. Philadelphia, PA
96. Birmingham, AL
97. Detroit, MI
98. Cleveland, OH
99. Charleston, WV
100. Toledo, OH

posted by jr on Aug 12, 2008 at 04:52:06 pm     #



As a memember of TMACOG's Bicyclist [commuting]/ Pedestrian Committee, I commend the just revised Regional Bike Guide http://www.tmacog.org/Transportation/bike_guide_08_09.pdf

We're working on one for urban commuters.

posted by robertbrundage on Aug 12, 2008 at 05:44:31 pm     #



Sure, I'll just wad up my $300.00 Kenneth Cole suit in a brown paper bag, bungie tie it to the luggage rack on the back of the bike and change in a restroom stall when I get to work. Use a couple of towellets to sop up the perspiration, shake out my hair and fresh as a daisy I'm ready for the workday. Yuk.

posted by holland on Aug 12, 2008 at 08:57:50 pm     #