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we just do not have enough 10mph + road riders to justify the road closure of any sorts.. it would be a more winnable battle to find funding for 100 miles of a 3 meter bike lanes in and around the metro area. I too also commute on the trace twice daily. I also rode the closed section weekly and enjoyed it. the multi path is too slow for a road bike so i use my mountain bike for fitness. I prefer to stay out of high traffic areas on a bike.
I would not be opposed and actually support funding the bike lane improvements and maintenance through a flat electronic unmanned toll booths for this area of road usage. $0.10 per road usage can add up and there are plenty of routes one can take if they are too bonkers against any form of fee.
In an awesome world, the trace should 3m bike lanes from Nashville to Natchez anyways.. how nice would that be..
I love it how motorized car users claim they pay some license tag rate, tax or other fee that gives them a misguided and misinformed of ownership whereas bicyclists have none. Please remember your civic lessons. State taxes pay for state roads, but don't pay for a lick of this federal parkway. My income taxes pay for this park and it's built for the public
On the other hand Lilly in speaking above is quite honest; her time is simply more important than other people's lives - as she puts it "u're asking us to slow down to a crawl (or re-route our entire commute, in the case of Ms. Morton above), risk striking you in the blinding sun or risk striking another car head-on as we try to get around you." I appreciate your candidness, I hope you continue to speak out as to your values - self-centered and community be damned. I'm sure that if you ever kill a biker because he was too slow, no jury would convict you of a depraved heart murder.
Read my other posts first. To further everyone else's comments. The natchez trace is a parkway that's right not built as a roadway but a parkway and is list as such by the federal government. And Keep in mind cyclist are not freeloaders I have a truck and motorcycle to which both are tagged and insured so I pay my taxes just like everyone else.
SOLUTION: Since the Trace is NOT intended to be a commute highway...it is a PARKWAY, simply close the exits/entrances at I-20, Hwy. 49, I-55, Hwy. 51, Old Canton Road, and Hwy. 43.
Problem solved.
WHY on earth would we close part of a roadway used by taxpaying (tagged) vehicles for freeloaders? Let us tag all bikes on the Trace a few hundred dollars a year each. Then they will have some right to say how the Trace is operated.
I am not a cyclist. But if I were, there is no way I would put my life in danger just to ride a bike, for what ever reason. There is NO space on the shoulder of the Trace to get away from the flow of traffic. As for three feet, Not enough room for me. Remember we are supposed to be looking for little slimmy salamander too! It's your life, How much do you value it?
I have another comment so please read that first to get my opinion. To further my first post I would like to say I am a motorist as well as a cyclist. So yes I pay for a car tag which means I pay road privilege tax so I have every right to ride my bike, walk, ride a motorcycle, drive my truck, and per mississippi law on the books ride my horse on our streets. I don't see the point for either side to argue I am right you are wrong. I believe that some of the points I have read from both sides are valid however with any discussion there has to be middle ground and agreements.
Just stop and think that the residents that live in Clinton that shop and work and sport at north Jackson and the rez with the gas as it saves by fuel used rather than get on 220 or 55 or even other routes. Besides it is a federal control rd and not designed for the bicycle user only. Get a Gripe on your Mental thoughts by the way stay in the 3 foot zone or maybe you should have to pay a fine like the speeders.
RE: "However, that could be offset by placing a Ranger on this section of the Trace to patrol for speeders. Set up speed traps! Set up road blocks! I know there are people who travel it at 60+ mph. Set the ticket prices high and you can have the extra salaries covered in a day!"
This is ridiculous. The Trace is a Federal road. You do realize that those guys are being FURLOUGHED right? They dont' get OVERTIME anymore thanks to sequestration.
And beyond that, Federal traffic money goes to the US Treasury, not to some mythical account that can be used for salaries.
Maybe the writer could write a letter to Congress and say, "We bikers, being 'serious cyclists', refuse to use bike trails. So use that Federal money to pay for Federal law enforcement to use radar". See how that goes. Because the reduction in Federal money under sequestration, under budget cuts, and with competing priorities is going to lead some in Congress to say (regarding bike funds), Use It or Lose It.
But the youngest child in DC knows that speeding tickets on Federal land doesn't go to salaries. It's not how Government works. See: Sequestration See: Federal appropriations law.
Do those cyclists pay road fees for tags as us car drivers do, No, So why should we give them our road that we are paying for????????
No, they should not close the trace for cyclists. Yes, I am a cyclist.
The Natchez Trace was built as a historical/recreational road, not a get to work/school/shopping areas road. So while I use it as a go between all the time I know that anyone riding, running, or even driving 20 mph checking out the scenery has just as much right to be doing that as I do using it as a go between.
Interesting idea, but let's be honest. The writer and other bikers are affluent, largely white suburbanites. The folks driving on the Trace at 7 AM Saturday and Sunday are minority workers heading to low paying jobs, for which if they are five minutes late, they will be fired. I think from a safety standpoint that YES close the Trace on a few Sundays. But, CLOSE IT all other times to bikers. It's too dangerous. Between some violent nuts and a few teens, there have been too many crimes and accidents. But the last one was by a PhD College President. It just seems like suicide to ride the Trace around Jackson, sadly.
It's NOT safe because this road is not designed for bikers. It was in fact designed to separate cars from trucks, wagons, slow moving vehicles, and pedestrians. That's why in other areas of the country, parkways like the Bronx River Parkway have Bike Sundays, where they close off the road so it can be ridden on safely. So, it would have to be announced well in advance. These bikers should pay for ads to ensure the public understands (and to gain support for their cause, too)
But one major unanswered question: Where will all these people park? And how do you compensate for the fact that the Interstate and surrounding roads are under construction and often have weekend closings? That doesn't seem to be addressed.
It's frustrating to many motorists that have other roads closed or constricted due to necessary work, and then they will find that a bunch of rich white yuppies on $2K or more bikes want a road closed to have a grand old time. Yes, I know you drive, bikers, but you aren't rushing to Kangaroo to try to keep your second job working for minimum wage in hopes you aren't evicted. And those folks working on Saturdays and Sundays are. Just a perspective you will hear. Just as the Trace being closed put other traffic on other roads, those other roads are being reconstructed and this makes the Trace a well used alternate route.
The "not important" dig is crazy. It had to do with acquiring the land, and, honestly, if you haven't figured out that stench on your ride, Jackson has deteriorated and the Landfillover there is stinking up land values. Eventually, the landowners realized that the best value was to sell to the Govt in order for that section to be opened up. Do your research, or, take an allergy pill and smell it! Geez.
But it's probably the only safe way to ride a road designed in the old days to keep pedestrians, trucks, and wagons out of traffic (and bikers). It's narrow, has major visibility issues at dusk/dawn, and there is no margin for error. If a college president is not responsible enough or smart enough to avoid tragedy, this might be the only safe way to ride. Good luck, but try to listen to what folks are saying.
I have always thought a toll booth - for both motorists and cyclists - is appropriate for the high-traffic section between Clinton and Ridgeland.
I've only started riding a bike several weeks ago, so my opinion probably doesn't count for much, but I do not think they should *ever* close the Trace again! We waited too long for it! I think that they should do more to make existing trails safer. For example, provide a guardrail on both the spillway and the causeway so a cyclist can safely cross without some yahoo checking his twitter account running over him.
Close a road that working people use to get to work so cyclist will have a nice place to ride ? For real ?
I am a cyclist who rides the Natchez Trace daily. I however do not believe closing this part if the trace to only cyclist is the right thing to do. Yes it was nice while it was closed however that closure put a lot of people that rely on that stretch of road making detours that cost money when it comes to fuel. I do believe we should all share the road. Mind you that roads were not made for automobiles at first. Roads were made for easy routes to and from cities with the early roads being traveled by foot or horse and buggy. I believe motorists as well as cyclist or anyone for that matter need to respect each other and give everyone equal space and respect on our roadways. Motorists be aware of your surroundings and don't text and drive or anything else for that matter that distracts you from the job at hand. Motorists also understand that most cyclists try to stay as close to the white line as possible however there are times that this isnt possible. Mainly due to big pot holes, debris in roadway, or other obsticles many of which you to veer to a avoid. Motoists please respect and understand that we have as much right to the roadways as you do and when approaching us give us three feet and be patient as the little time that it takes to be safe is worth it. Cyclists dont think we are innocent in all things either. We as well need to be alert, wear high viz clothing, and have flashing lights front and rear. Cyclists whenever possible need to keep close to the white line and ride single file when in groups and not side by side. As well if cyclists are planning on a ride with a larger group split it up so that the traffic delay isn't as long for fellow motorists that we share the road with. It is a respect thing that goes both ways and everyone working together can make this happen. Just my to cents
I travel the Natchez Trace often and have for most of my 60 years. I enjoy seeing cyclists using the parkway and encourage all motorists to be especially cautious when driving near them. But I have a problem with closing the parkway, or a section, simply for someone 's personal practice area. Yes, I'm sure early mornings provide the peaceful ambience that most cyclists enjoy, and I, a runner, enjoy it as well. But I would never suggest a road closure so I could enjoy "my space" on the roadway at the expense of those for whom the parkway was designed. That's tantamount to closing a heavily traveled roadway so race car enthusiasts could practice their quarter-mile best times.
It is dangerous for cyclists to be on ANY roadway with automobiles. Our highways, parkways and city streets were not designed with cyclists in mind, they were made for cars and trucks. If you are a cyclist, please bike somewhere safe! Take spin classes in a gym! If you want to be out on the open road, ride in competition events where law enforcement blocks off all traffic!
I don't want cyclists to be hit by cars, and I certainly do not want to hit someone on a bike. All I'm asking is that you not put yourself and others at risk by cycling on busy roadways such as the Natchez Trace.
And before you call ME selfish, think about what YOU want here. By asking motorists to "Share the Road!" you're asking us to slow down to a crawl (or re-route our entire commute, in the case of Ms. Morton above), risk striking you in the blinding sun or risk striking another car head-on as we try to get around you. And for what? So you can get a cardio workout? That's not fair to everyone else on the road — the road that was designed for US, not YOU.
I live in Clinton. I travel this road daily to take my granddaughter to MRA. There are a lot of people who depend on this stretch of road to get to their jobs and school. At this time where our economy is weak and people depend on their jobs, I think it is more important to keep the road open to people trying to make a living. There are plenty of other places for cyclist to use. I am not against cyclist in any way. I just feel it is more important to leave open.