By Pat Lafleur
As of last Friday, it is officially summer, and — in that spirit
— here’s an Alt. Rte. post devoted to getting you pedaling over to one of
Cincinnati’s most beloved, most historic summer destinations: Coney Island.
I only made this trip for the first time last Friday, on the
first evening of summer, giving me plenty of lingering sunlight to ride safely
back to KY after 9:00 PM. In a way, this was serendipitous because this route
is not one you want to take after nightfall. While generally flat, the route
has a wide variety of road and traffic conditions that should be considered.
By the time you get to Coney, though, you’ll be satisfied and
ready to ride some rides or take a dip in Sunlight Pool.
BIKE ROUTE*: Ft. Thomas to
Coney Island
*These instructions are only meant for those who
feel comfortable riding a bike on the road with auto traffic (as the law
requires), and who take proper safety precautions (including helmet, and lights
if at night). The notes and ratings for the route are intended for those with
little in the way of gear or gadgets.
1.
Take Highland Ave. west toward
Grand.
2.
Make a right onto Grand Ave., heading north toward
Newport.
3.
Pass under I-471 overpass.
4.
Make right into Newport Pavilion. Take the roadway (or CAREFULLY ride through the shopping center parking lots) toward the
10th St. exit.
5.
Make left onto 10th St.
6.
From 10th St., make right onto Washington Ave.
7.
Make left
onto 3rd St.
8.
Cross the Purple
People Bridge.
9.
Make a right
onto Pete Rose Way.
10.
Cross
under the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge.
11.
Continue
on to Riverside Dr.
12.
Continue
on to Kellogg Ave.
13. Destination will be on the
right, just after the I-275 overpass.
For notes on steps 1-7, leading you from Ft. Thomas through
Newport, please see Alt. Rte.
4/23/13.
Pete Rose Way/Riverside Dr.
Once you’ve reached Pete Rose Way, it’s fairly smooth sailing for
roughly 5 miles. There is some current road construction, particularly once you
reach the portion of Riverside Dr. adjacent to the Columbia-Tusculum district.
There is, however, a bike lane established for the majority of the whole of
this stretch, with plenty of signage preparing drivers for the possibility of
your presence on the road. This makes all the difference in the world when
you’re on a major thoroughfare like this one. For the most part, it’s two lanes
(dropping to one as you pass under the occasional overpass) and a generally
pleasant ride, with intermittent views of the Ohio River peppered throughout.
Watch for slight inclines here and there.
Kellogg Avenue
While this ride is, overall, one of the most enjoyable I’ve made
in NKY, I’d be remiss if I didn’t say: don’t get too comfortable on Riverside
Dr. because Kellogg Ave. packs a punch. The road itself is roughly the same
size as Riverside Dr., but the traffic — Kellogg being a more industrial
roadway — is somewhat heavier, with larger vehicles, higher speeds, and less
bike-tolerant drivers (for tips on how to assimilate into auto-traffic on bike,
see “5 Simple Rules to Sharing the Roads in NKY”).
On top of the traffic (or, rather, underneath), the pavement conditions are
treacherous in some spots, the asphalt having suffered under the weight of
several types of industrial vehicle. There is also a bridge, crossing the
Little Miami River, that offers some coarse concrete. The inclines are also of
a higher grade, so, while you’ll remain in the same gear for the majority of
Riverside Dr., this will not be the case here.
Overall, this ride — especially for a beginner cyclist — can be
very fulfilling (nearly 10 miles, regardless of where you start in NKY) if
approached with the proper amount of preparation and caution on the road. Be
sure to give your tires a full top-off with air before embarking, wear your
helmet, be patient with intolerant drivers, and — in the event that you don’t
have the longest day of the year to shed light on the situation — make sure
your lights are fully charged.
