Ice Cream on the West Side
This ride builds on rides 3 and 4—getting you familiar with those west side trails and crossings. Now, let’s think about what it takes to ride safely when the sun starts to set. Yes, even before it is fully set, you need to activate those bike lights. Your front light allows you to be seen and to see road and trail conditions ahead. Your red tail light is equally important, allowing you to be seen by approaching vehicles who you may not see or be aware of as they approach. You may have noticed experienced cyclists using their red blinking tail lights even during daylight hours. That flashing red light announces your presence on the roadway—and motorists pay attention to what they can see. So grab your lights (or get some lights) and let’s get rolling!
From the Far west side you have two options: 1. Ride on the the Melrose Ave. sidepath (wide sidewalk) or the bike lanes. Bike lanes end at Westside Drive so you may want to stick to the sidepath unless you are comfortable riding in traffic—be prepared to signal and transition to the left lane in order to turn left at Westside Drive and hop onto the bike trail. 2. Take the Willow Creek Trail, a pleasant winding route. At the south base of the trail continue onto Willow Creek Court (a very low-volume street) out to connect to the Highway One Trail or Dane’s Dairy.
From University Heights use the Melrose Avenue bike lanes that extend from city limits to the UI Law School. Turn right off of Melrose at the Law School onto the off- street trail that connects through a University parking lot to Myrtle. A short steep downhill to Riverside —make sure your brakes are working before choosing this route. At the base of the hill, position yourself in the lane to cross Riverside Drive to the Iowa River Trail.
From Manville Heights you have two options: Take River Street (a low volume street) downhill and cross Riverside Drive to the trail and head south. You will cross Burlington with the light. Another option is to take the Woolf Avenue Bridge and wind through campus and over Riverside Drive on the pedestrian bridge to connect with the trail. Remember that you are going the right direction when you see the blue MERF building (rhymes with Smurf).
From areas east of Emerald and Denbigh and West of Greenwood, Sunset Street, with its wide pavement and striped parking lane (south of Benton St.) serves as a comfortable on-street route. The Iowa City Bicycle Plan calls for the parking lane to be converted to Ride #5 bicycle lanes in 2023.
From the Far west side you have two options: 1. Ride on the the Melrose Ave. sidepath (wide sidewalk) or the bike lanes. Bike lanes end at Westside Drive so you may want to stick to the sidepath unless you are comfortable riding in traffic—be prepared to signal and transition to the left lane in order to turn left at Westside Drive and hop onto the bike trail. 2. Take the Willow Creek Trail, a pleasant winding route. At the south base of the trail continue onto Willow Creek Court (a very low-volume street) out to connect to the Highway One Trail or Dane’s Dairy.
From University Heights use the Melrose Avenue bike lanes that extend from city limits to the UI Law School. Turn right off of Melrose at the Law School onto the off- street trail that connects through a University parking lot to Myrtle. A short steep downhill to Riverside —make sure your brakes are working before choosing this route. At the base of the hill, position yourself in the lane to cross Riverside Drive to the Iowa River Trail.
From Manville Heights you have two options: Take River Street (a low volume street) downhill and cross Riverside Drive to the trail and head south. You will cross Burlington with the light. Another option is to take the Woolf Avenue Bridge and wind through campus and over Riverside Drive on the pedestrian bridge to connect with the trail. Remember that you are going the right direction when you see the blue MERF building (rhymes with Smurf).
From areas east of Emerald and Denbigh and West of Greenwood, Sunset Street, with its wide pavement and striped parking lane (south of Benton St.) serves as a comfortable on-street route. The Iowa City Bicycle Plan calls for the parking lane to be converted to Ride #5 bicycle lanes in 2023.
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