A Bike ride down the Rail Trail

Tuesday morning I took a nice long bike ride down the Rail Trail through Palmer and Bethlehem townships. The weather was just perfect and the scenery was at it's late-summer greenest.

The photo at below is of a large spider web. It was probably about 1.5 feet across.

The trail runs nearly in a loop...the only problem is there is about a 1/2 mile gap where some VERY busy, shoulder-free roads need to be traveled to make the ends meet. So what I usually do is ride what I believe is about three miles to the other end of the trail. This loops around and puts me only about 1/2 mile as the crow flies, from my house, and turn around and ride the three miles back, so I can avoid walking in traffic.

It would be nice to get active with the township and see if they can work on a plan to connect these ends so there is actually a loop. Also, a plan would be good to develop some sidewalks along William Penn Hwy.

I was at Weis this morning at the corner of William Penn and Greenwood, attempting to walk home from car dealership where I left my car for inspection. When I looked straight across William Penn AND left across Greenwood there were no pedestrian-crossing signs both ways. These were the only two ways I could possibly walk home!

So I ignored the signs, hoofed it across William Penn and down Greenway (another street with no sidewalks) until I could cut through the apartments and back to the bike path.

Honestly, I don't know how we are supposed to reduce our total dependence on oil when there really is no way to walk or bike to some places without risking your life. It's really a shame!

So that is my rant for today. Sort of got away from my point that what does exist of the bike path, especially the portion nearer the Lehigh, is very beautiful and peaceful.

View the whole Bike Path Slideshow