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BEST TWO DAY TRIP OPTION


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SNAKECOUNTYBIKER from ANDERSON, MO on 7/15/2007 5:23:39 PM:
A couple of buddies and I are planning a two day trail trip in the next few weeks. We'll be biking one way and taking train back. Just wondering what you guys think the best trip is...scenic and town wise.
#1 Sedalia to Jeff City
#2 jeff city to Washington

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks


 
Norm from Raymore, MO on 7/15/2007 7:49:20 PM:
#1 Sedalia to Jefferson City is my reccomendation based on the scenery you'll find, especially from Rocheport to Jefferson City. Although I haven't personally visited the bed and breakfasts in this stretch you'll find a lot of praise for them in this forum. Rocheport has a lot of attraction, including the winery up on the hill. For a really small town Pilot Grove also gets lots of word-of-mouth kudos. Have fun!

 
Trek Biker from St. Joseph, MO on 7/16/2007 11:10:26 AM:
Sedalia to North Jefferson is a good trip and probably more scenic although both trips you mentioned make for a good ride. If you are going to camp, check out the Katy Roundhouse in New Franklin. No need to haul a tent as you can rent the site and a tent very reasonable. A Thermarest mattress pad rolls up small and is worth taking though.

If you ride the bridge into Jefferson City……know that there is no bike lane for the southbound traffic. There is wide shoulder for northbound traffic…..but by Missouri law, it is not legal to ride against traffic flow.

Herman is a good side trip on your second choice……The Riverfront restaurant and the ice cream shop/deli downtown are welcome stops on a hot day.

 
Jim on 7/16/2007 2:21:49 PM:
My understanding was that the "shoulder" on the north-bound bridge is designated as a pedestrian and cycling lane so the statute regarding riding against traffic doesn't apply.

 
Trek Biker from St. Joseph, MO on 7/16/2007 2:41:32 PM:
Response to my email to MODOT to clarify this issue a time back resulted in the following:

Hello ………,

The current southbound bridge was originally designed to accommodate pedestrian traffic and included two sidewalks. Those were later removed to provide space for an additional travel lane. When the northbound bridge was constructed, two five-foot shoulders were included. These were later reconfigured as a seven-foot outside shoulder and a three-foot inside shoulder to provide space for bicyclists to ride north on the seven-foot part.

See State Statute 307.191 regarding bicyclists riding against traffic in the travel lane and on the adjacent shoulder...

It reads as follows:

307.191. Shoulder Riding, Allowed But Not Required For Bicyclist Operators(1) A person operating a bicycle at less than the posted speed or slower than the flow of traffic upon a street or highway may operate as described in section 307.190, or may operate on the shoulder adjacent to the roadway. (2) A bicycle operated on a roadway, or the shoulder adjacent to a roadway, shall be operated in the same direction as vehicles are required to be driven upon the roadway. (3) For purposes of this section and section 307.190, “roadway,” means that portion of a street or highway ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder.

There is currently local effort to construct a separate bridge attachment along the northbound bridge to accommodate for two-way bicycle and pedestrian travel across the river.

Caryn Giarratano, Ph.D.
Transportation Planning Specialist
State Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Coordinator 573-522-9297, caryn.giarratano@modot.mo.gov POB 270, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0270

 
Jim on 7/16/2007 3:26:24 PM:
I stand corrected........that being said I think I will take my chances being arrested for biking against traffic over having 70 mph tractor-trailers on my backside.