Map of Short Cuts Through Out Lexington

I just discovered this map of short cuts.  There is a ton of good info here.  Add some yourself.

From Gardensprings/Gardenside to UK

I was talking with a friend who lives on Alexandria Dr. about his bike route to UK's campus.  The path he described included many major roads I'd rather avoid when on a bike.  Here's a map of what I imagine the route must be, based on what he told me (once again, I forgot to zoom-out before I saved the map, so you will have to zoom-out to see the entire route at one time):

http://routebuilder.org/5f6

I started this ride at the intersection of Alexandria Dr. and Lane Allen Rd. because it's the closest major intersection to his house.  You'll notice that the route has you on very busy roads the majority of the time: Harrodsburg Rd., Waller Ave., and S. Limestone.

I asked him what he thought about riding on these roads.  He replied that people driving cars just needed to get used to the idea that he will be riding on the road.  For a while now, he has been taking the same route at the same time and has had fewer and fewer issues with cars the longer he has kept at it.  I applaud his effort and patience.

However, I would not take the route he takes.  While I am all for getting people in cars used to sharing the road with bicyclers, I'd rather share the road with as few cars as possible.  With this is mind, I created a route  from the intersection of Alexandria Dr. and Lane Allen Rd. that uses roads with far less traffic than Lexington's major arteries.  Here it is:

http://routebuilder.org/5f5

For anyone who has been studiously following the routes I post, it will come as no surprise that I make use of a park and once again suggest a short cut through the hole in the fence line at the corner of Devonshire Ave. and Pyke Rd.  Actually, the "short-cut" does not actually shorten the ride.  It'd be shorter to use Unity Dr. to get to Red Mile Rd. from Addison Ave.  But that'd have you riding on the potentially busy Red Mile Rd. longer than is necessary.  However, if you do not like taking short cuts through fences, you could use Unity Dr. to get to Red Mile Rd. without adding that much busy road to your ride.

So, how do these two routes compare?  The route I suggest is clearly a more pleasant ride (assuming you find rides with just a few cars more pleasant than rides with 1000s of cars).  My friend's route is shorter (distance-wise, at least).  However, the more pleasant ride is just 1/3 of a mile longer, not a large enough distance, I think, to justify taking the shorter, but busier route.

From Gardensprings/Gardenside to Downtown

I ran into someone who claimed that she could not ride to downtown from Gardensprings (or maybe it was Gardenside), because it is too dangerous riding on Harrodsburg Road/South Broadway (HWY 68).  While there will certainly be some debate about the actual level of dangerousness of riding on HWY 68 from Gardensprings to Downtown, I think it will be agreed that it would be an unpleasant route.

The good thing is that you can get from Gardensprings to Downtown without having to use HWY 68.  Well, that's not entirely true.  You have to ride on HWY 68 for a couple of blocks.  But they are very quick blocks, and there is some semblance of a bike lane for that stretch.

Once again, the map saved in the "zoomed-in" mode. So you will have to zoom-out to see the ride all at once.

http://routebuilder.org/58s

I decided to start this ride from the intersection of Gardensprings Dr. and Alexandria Dr., just 'cause.

I have chosen the least busy streets possible.  Sometimes this adds just a bit of extra distance to the ride.  But pleasantness is worth going out of your way for.  And if the way is the goal, then you're not going out of your way at all.

Please note that this route has you going through a hole in fence at the end of Devonshire Ave.  If you do not like doing this kind of thing, then you should turn left from Addison Ave on to Unity Drive to get to Red Mile Rd.  The result is, however, that you will have to bike on a somewhat busy stretch of road for a couple of blocks.

Also note that, when you are cutting through the Red Mile Race Track Property, just before you get to South Broadway, you will need to cut through the gas station to get to the stoplight.

Enjoy.

From Golfview Estates to Good Foods

Here's the route I take to Good Foods (it saved zoomed-in, so you'll have to zoom-out to see the whole ride at one time):

http://routebuilder.org/4xo

I use the pedestrian crosswalk to get across Broadway to American Ave.  The very short left turn lane at that intersection is pretty intimidating.

The path through the field at the end of Jacana Dr. is well worn.  I think high school kids use it to get to and from school.  The only problem is that you have to cross a creek.  I simply pick up my bike and cross, using rocks as stepping stones.  This may be something you do not want to do.  It can be a bit tough if you are loaded down with groceries.  A small bridge would be very helpful here and would not cost a lot to build.  If a bridge were built here, this becomes a bike path everyone can use.  But if people do not want to cross the creek without a bridge, then they must ride on Broadway.  But who wants to do that?  The goal of a more bikable Lexington requires a bridge here.

It should also be noted that when school is not in session, you can save some time by cutting through the high school's campus.

With the exception of crossing Broadway, this is a very pleasant ride.

From Golfview Estates to Al's Bar

This is the path I take to Al's Bar.

http://routebuilder.org/4xm

Busy streets are avoided by:

1) cutting through a grassy patch and riding through a parking lot that has little to no traffic to get from Devonshire Ave to Red Mile Rd;

2) cutting through the Red Mile Track property and an adjacent field to get from Red Mile Rd. to S. Broadway;

3) choosing residential streets that parallel busy ones, here taking Mill St. and Market St. to avoid travel on Broadway and Limestone.

It should also be noted that the right lane of the two lane, one way portion of N. Limestone between Third and Sixth can be used pretty effectively as a bike lane when traffic is light.  And, while it is probably not permitted, it is possible to cut through Transy's campus to get to Fourth St., instead of turning right onto Third St. at the end of Market.