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Natchez Trace is not a bike trail

Published 12:01am Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Regarding the article of July 15, “Trace safety an issue for bikers,” the fact remains that a parkway (“a broad thoroughfare for travel; a public road”) is not a bicycle path, even if the speed limit is a low 50 mph.

A bicycle path, most commonly found near a public road, is a narrow path, commonly of asphalt, which parallels the main thoroughfare.

It need only follow the roadway on one side and would be a commendable addition to the Natchez Trace Parkway, removing the biker from both the fumes and the danger of passing cars.

For drivers following bikers, it would free them from exercising the restraint equal to that required when traveling behind a tractor or funeral procession.

Especially this is so when, given the many blind curves of the Parkway, passing is not an option.

The allocation of funds to lay an asphalt strip parallel to the Trace would be money well spent and add credibility to the now misleading signs picturing a bicycle, which imply such a path.

An entirely separate hurdle facing bikers and hikers from out of state is the absence of published information of a shuttle or car rental service in Natchez which would get them back to Jackson to catch a flight home.

Not being one of the big three, the single-car rental agency in our area does not advertise its existence in sport and travel publications highlighting the Trace, leading many bikers to cut their travels short of Natchez.

 

Candace Bundgard

Natchez resident

 

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  • http://www.facebook.com/george.marshall.35 George Marshall

    The National Park Service has designated the entire Natchez Trace Parkway as a bike route. With the exception of interstates and some special circumstance bicycles are legal on the roads and highways of all states. Bicycle “paths” are nice but realistically do do not meet the needs of biking nattionwide. Bike touring is a huge and growing industry throughout the nation, a trend that is going to continue. Cities throughout the nation are adapting to bicycles as an alternate means of commuting and other purposes. Mississippi is one of those state. I suggest that Candace Bundgard get use to it. 

  • http://www.natchezdemocrat.com khakirat

    I agree with you Candace for this has happen to me more than once that 10 to twenty bikers would take the whole lane and not get over in a single file to the right with me following them up to a mile to be able to pass legally and I just don’t think this is legal correct!! The rangers need to keep this in check before someone might get hurt or killed in a curve and darkness with vehicals meeting in both lanes at the same time!! We may need to get the Obama force to correct this problem for the road is too narrow and Candace there are many that feel as you do about this subject!!

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