This is bike related, so I hope it belongs in this forum.
In Ottawa, many Sundays, a number of roads are closed to cars so that people may cycle on them.
http://www.ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places-to-visit/parks-paths/things-to-do/alcatel-lucent-sunday-bikedays
" ver 50 kilometres of parkways in Ottawa and Gatineau Park are reserved for cyclists, in-line skaters, runners and walkers."
I am trying to get a list of other communities that do something similar. Any help appreciated.
Pretty sure that one of the US bike coalition has a list of them.
I’ve done CicLAvia in Los Angeles a few times. The do it 2-4 times a year.
San Diego has done one so far, also.
Golden Gate Park in San Francisco has some areas on Sundays.
Hines Drive in Wayne County, MI.
Closed to traffic on Saturdays from Outer Drive to Ann Arbor Trail.
Some days, it’s not even flooded.
Seattle used to do that on Lake Washington Blvd, and many years ago did it on the I-5 Express Lanes. Not sure if they still do… Tacoma has Point Defiance Park closed to vehicles until noon on… Sundays I believe, for walkers and cyclists.
Hines Drive in Wayne County, MI.
Closed to traffic on Saturdays from Outer Drive to Ann Arbor Trail.
Some days, it’s not even flooded.
+1. The downside is it’s almost more dangerous with all the recreational riders, than during normal times when it’s an alternate expressway. They really, really need the get the speed limit dropped to 30mph so the road stops being an alternate commuter highway.
The cool thing is that I think most all the traffic lights are timed and if you hit certain mph targets you can hit green lights. Great way to build your FTP. I’m looking forward to visiting my family after Steelhead and see what kind of paces I can hit this summer at the peak of my fitness.
Sorry, just remembering one of the few highlights of training in the metro Detroit area. Otherwise, training is a lot better where I’m at now in rural Iowa. It’s a lot windier and hillier too… and colder in winter and a LOT hotter in summer, but with a much longer spring/summer/fall season and less rain.
I’m not sure these closed roads are actually better for training. I think the best option is waking up early, getting a headlight and hitting the roads before 5AM. It’s basically a closed road at that time anyway. By mid summer that’s actually some light that early and you don’t need a headlight that much.
Central Park on weekends
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Madison’s version is called “Ride the Drive” and runs twice a year.
http://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/ridethedrive/
I wouldn’t see it as much of a training opportunity, but it’s a good day to take the kids out for a ride.
Philly closes MLK Drive (formerly West River Drive) to vehicular traffic on weekends from 6am-5pm, April-October, but they reopen the section from Sweetbriar Drive to the Art Museum to vehicular traffic at noon.
As nice as it is to be able to ride without cars/trucks around, the only downside is that it’s next to impossible to find a published list of events that may be taking place on MLK Drive during those times, so you run the risk of winding up in the middle of a random 5k/charity walk. You’d think that the city would maintain a list of events for which they’ve issued permits, and publish that on their website, but apparently that’s way too much to expect.
The Open Streets Project should have links to most of the US ones: http://openstreetsproject.org/
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Following up on that…
Belle Isle in Detroit proper. It’s open to traffic but the road is wide and cars are only allowed to drive counterclockwise at 25mph, so it may as well be closed.
Definitely the place if you want a real, hardcore, FTP workout.
Seattle used to do that on Lake Washington Blvd, and many years ago did it on the I-5 Express Lanes. Not sure if they still do… Tacoma has Point Defiance Park closed to vehicles until noon on… Sundays I believe, for walkers and cyclists.
They did two summers ago, probably still do. I was training on Lake WA blvd and happened to get there as it was closed for traffic. It was pretty cool. On my way back home later that day I happened to catch up with the city truck pulling the orange cones and reopening the street.
They close I-5 express lanes for races. Seafair tri, Seattle marathon, and Escape From The Rock, that I know of.
Edit: spelling
This is great. Thanks every one.