Who all uses the Greenway Trails? I just rode some today for the first time and was pretty impressed.

How safe are they? Any sections that are less safe than others? I went under a number of overpasses and tunnels today and since nobody was on the trails due to the rain I got a little sketched out (North Raleigh/Crabtree trails)

Also has anyone rode around the new House Creek Trail? It's supposed to open this month.

http://www.raleighnc.gov/arts/content/PRecDesignDevelop/Articles/CapitalAreaGreenwayTrailSystem.html

http://www.raleighnc.gov/content/PRecDesignDevelop/Documents/Maps/SystemMaps/CapitalAreaGreenwaySystemMap.pdf

This map is pretty outdated but I still found it helpful in conjunction with the other. - http://dotw-xfer01.dot.state.nc.us/gisdot/DOTBikeMaps/Urban%20Maps/bikeped_maps_raleigh-full.pdf

6/11/2012 9:57:11 PM

Ive walked/ran/ridden the Crabtree Creek trail around crabtree valley mall many times. Longest Ive gone is from the Golden Corral HQ to Shelley Lake and back. Never worried about my safety, but there have been some sketch people under overpasses and "chillin" on the trail.

6/11/2012 10:22:08 PM

I think they had a problem with rapes happening around the Crabtree / Lake Lynn area a while back. I wouldn't recommend for females to go running alone at dawn or dusk on any of the trails, but that area is especially sketchy.

6/11/2012 10:30:04 PM

i regularly use the trail that runs from longstreet/bent creek down to shelley lake and the shelley lake trail. never had a problem.

6/12/2012 1:43:48 PM

^that's my neck of the woods too.

never had any problems

6/12/2012 2:00:49 PM

I guess my concerns are mostly the Crabtree area...

6/12/2012 2:14:22 PM

I hate the greeway trails as they seem to be poorly built and completely unmaintained. They stink because they follow the sewer lines. There are tree roots growing under the asphalt. They're covered in pine needles and cones, leaves, sand, and/or berries most of the time.

6/12/2012 2:15:26 PM

lol, i hate nature b/c its all naturey.

a single female probably shouldn't be using the greenways close to/after dark, but other than that i don't really see much danger...Even potential muggers must expect that people running/riding on the greenway aren't gonna have much money on em.

6/12/2012 2:28:44 PM

Eh. I know one girl who was jogging and a guy cruised up on a scooter and knocked her down. He kept driving to make sure that no one was coming from the other direction then looped back towards her.

Fortunately she escaped into the woods. It's not terribly common, but carrying some pepper spray couldn't hurt.

6/12/2012 2:33:59 PM

Quote :

"I hate the greeway trails as they seem to be poorly built and completely unmaintained. They stink because they follow the sewer lines. There are tree roots growing under the asphalt. They're covered in pine needles and cones, leaves, sand, and/or berries most of the time."

Almost none of that was true the last time I rode on them (about a month ago). There were some berries every once in a while, but I'm not worried about that. I did a 25 mile ride with a couple friends, so we covered a lot of ground on the system.

6/12/2012 3:52:43 PM

Info on the house creek greenway, apparently opening in September now.

http://www.markturner.net/2012/06/05/house-creek-greenway-opening-in-september-now/

Quote :

"I hate the greeway trails as they seem to be poorly built and completely unmaintained. They stink because they follow the sewer lines. There are tree roots growing under the asphalt. They're covered in pine needles and cones, leaves, sand, and/or berries most of the time."

Depends on the greenway. The worst I've seen recently is the greenway around Lake Johnson. One section has many roots growing up under the asphalt and another section has a lot of debris on the pavement. Most other greenways I frequent are actually maintained better than I'd expect them to be.

The smell for the greenways that trace sewer lines is hit and miss, mostly miss though. I suppose you have to hit the right conditions. I'll bet last night's downpour has dredged up some smells.

6/13/2012 8:25:03 AM

I saw that post last night, but the House Creek project plan still says this month for some reason...

http://www.raleighnc.gov/arts/content/PRecDesignDevelop/Articles/ParkAndGreenwayPlanningAndDevelopment.html

6/13/2012 8:49:41 AM

Crabtree Mall to Shelley isn't bad. I think there's only one section with the tall sewer pipes, but maybe not.

Really wish they'd clean up the goose poop gauntlet on Shelley. Every time I see people feeding geese I want to run by and snatch their bread away. Canadian Geese are nasty animals

6/13/2012 9:22:29 AM

I've done Crabtree Mall to Raleigh Blvd. several times. It's about 7mi one way.

6/13/2012 11:36:56 AM

I grew up in the Shelly lake area and was not allowed to be out there past dark. One time my mom and I got caught out there after dark and she was flipping shit. not sure how I feel as an adult, but I'd err away just to be safe. I also lived around Lake Lynn for a while and that was some sketch shit at night. Now I live OFF KAPLAN and I've been thinking about biking from the trail entrance at Gorman/Avent Ferry down to my parents house in North Raleigh - I guess I'd get off at Long Street. Not sure how far/doable this is but I'd like to try.

6/13/2012 7:30:31 PM

Not a fan of running on any trail when its dark. Just a really creepy feeling all the time. The bigger crazies run at Umstead in the middle of the night and play 'avoid the park ranger'. Not sure if I'd do that more then once :p

Is the trail that connects crabtree to the art museum done? I think most of its paved, but haven't tried it yet.

6/14/2012 4:01:10 PM

^Yes. Rode it about a month ago. It's not a trail though. Reedy Creek Lake Trail empties into an extra wide sidewalk/greenway that goes up the length of Reedy Creek Road. There's a tunnel going under Edwards Mill but you can optionally wait at the light if you want to avoid going down to it.

Gotta wait for the light for the Blue Ridge Crossing, after that it continues on to the main entrance to Meredith.



[Edited on June 14, 2012 at 4:54 PM. Reason : -]

6/14/2012 4:52:56 PM

Ah yeah meant greenway. I live in Trinity Park and that tunnel isn't bad. Unless it rains and it's flooded pretty much all the time. Do you go down Reedy Creek to the art museum and go up Ridge to around Martin Middle? Or is there a shorter path?

6/15/2012 1:48:14 PM

Quote :

"I grew up in the Shelly lake area and was not allowed to be out there past dark. One time my mom and I got caught out there after dark and she was flipping shit."

Yeah Shelly Lake used to be pretty infamous for being rape central. Don't know if that's still the case.

6/15/2012 1:51:53 PM