In 2001 The Blue Ridge Parkway started the multi-year process of developing a General Management Plan for the park. A major component of this process was public comment. When asked what issues or concerns the public had about the park there was one subject that buried any other topic, bicycle use. What made this result interesting was that comments were split 50/50 between those that were pro cycling and those that were anti cycling. Public suggestions ranged from building a bike lane the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway to completely banning bicycles from the park. National Park Service planners and managers were amazed at the emotional dichotomy on this topic.
In 2005 a contactor was given the job of examining the bicycle use on The Blue Ridge Parkway and the feasibility of building a bike trail along 469 mile length of the park. Although cycling is commonly found anywhere on the Parkway the study conducted by David Evans and Associates found that most of the day use was concentrated in four areas.
Waynesboro Mile Post 0 – 14
Roanoke Mile Post 105 – 121
Boone/Blowing Rock Mile Post 270 – 305
Asheville Mile Post 375 – 398
The Study’s look at the possibility of constructing a multi-use or bicycle trail along the length of the Blue Ridge Parkway found that in only 20% of the park would it be physically practicable for such construction. The majority of this would be in the Roanoke area. Such construction would take millions of dollars and at present there are no plans to even plan such a major project.
Watch for future blog entries with more information on bicycle use on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The LaCoste Family and friends are the best examples of southwestern Virginia family ingenuity. The family patriarch, Paul, has had a passion for his family, his friends, Floyd County, and the Blue Ridge Parkway for all his life. What better way to celebrate all four than to combine them all into one event – the Tour de Floyd.
The tour is now in its third year -a scenic 63 mile long bicycle ride with nearly half the distance along the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway.
Family affair it is, because all the house members pitch in the night before to bake home-made oatmeal-raisen and scumptous chocolate chip cookies.
We are soliciting your comments and suggestions for next year’s tour. Let’s hear them? You say, “more cookies?”
Scott Berry at the North Carolina / Virginia line ...
During my cycling trip of the Parkway, I experienced 3 days of pouring rain. However, the beauty, closeness with nature and wonderful roads made the journey very memorable. I hope to celebrate my 50th birthday in two years witrh a return trip.
Further …
I have to tell you that my bicycling trip on the Parkway was something that I will never forget. Coming from the flat lands of Illinois I found the road surfaces to be very good, the views to be breathtaking and the cycling in the mountains to be very challenging.
While it was quite a relief to finally see the final mile marker, I hated that the journey had ended. This is a trip that I will take again someday.
Thanks again for the e-mail and keep up the great work preserving the Parkway. I truly consider this one of the greatest man made accomplishments east of the Mississippi!
Scott Berry
Tom Sheffield and Allen Walker at the Craggy Visitor Center
South to north cycling trip. Rode with a friend (Allen Walker) and my daughter, Maggie, who drove our support vehicle. We stayed in motels in Asheville, Blowing Rock, Stuart, and Lynchburg. Took a nap (in the support vehicle) during a thunder storm near the state line. Found myself in some strange gear ratios (53:27) or (39:12) due to the persistent up-and-down terrain that numbs the mind, as well as the legs!
A National Treasure!
Steve Talevi at the end of his journey and the Blue Ridge Parkway
These are words I could use countless times to describe my recent nine-day bicycle journey along the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) from Waynesboro, Va., to Cherokee, N.C. Indeed, their use would become monotonous if I described only the views of the mountains and valleys from my bicycle. However, the people I met and my experiences along the 469-mile long parkway resulted in lifetime memories.
The hills and mountains of the BRP define it. I quickly learned that on the BRP, either I would be going up or down; level ground does not occur often. Indeed, the nearly nine-mile long climb from Glendale Springs to north of Benge Gap allowed me to coast (and rest) three miles to milepost (MP) 270. Similarly, the very next climb was rewarded with a three mile downhill coast into Deep Gap. The downgrade extending from U.S. 221 near MP 305 to Linville Falls Visitors Center at MP 316 would only serve as a respite and warning for what was to come: the approach to Mount Mitchell and the 17-mile climb from south of the French Broad River at MP 393 to Frying Pan Tunnel at MP 410. Read more »
