Found a back alley route that skips two blocked bike lanes downtown

I got so fed up with the constant construction on 5th Street that I started looking for alternate ways through the industrial part of town near the river. After three tries, I found this narrow alley behind the old warehouse district that connects to the greenway trail without hitting a single car. It's not marked on any map because it's technically a service road for delivery trucks, but I only saw one van in there last week. The problem is the pavement is cracked in a few spots and there's gravel near the turn, so I have to slow way down. But honestly, I'll take a rough surface over getting honked at by drivers who think bike lanes don't matter. Has anyone else found a hidden shortcut that saves them time or stress around here?

2 comments

2 Comments

lee.casey20d ago

Yeah I've done the same thing around the old rail yard. Watch out for that gravel patch when it rains, it gets real slick. Found a similar route behind the auto shops that cuts off a whole traffic light.

richard11020d ago

Man that shortcut behind the auto shops is a GAME CHANGER! I've been using a similar one behind the old feed store and it saves me at least 2 minutes in the afternoon rush. What really worked for me was scoping it out on a weekend first so I knew exactly where the potholes were and where to turn. You gotta watch for the dumpsters though, they stick out pretty far and I nearly clipped one last month. Plus the pavement there is really tore up from the trucks so take it slow the first few times until you memorize the bumps.