I am avid recreational…

I am avid recreational cyclist who lives in Essex county. I have been cycling here since the early 1980's. I was looking at your proposed route for this county and I have some recommendations. If I follow the proposed route travelling west along the river, it passes under the Ambassador Bridge and very shortly thereafter turns into a short off-road route (green) travelling through Malden Park. The route then turns onto right (south) onto Malden Road. This is not the best route. Malden is a busy road. It travels straight through the shopping district and then the speed becomes 70 kph. There are two alternative routes. If you follow my description on your map, you won't any trouble understanding me.

1. Turn right on Malden and go about 100 meters, under the E.C. Row Expressway, immediately turn left and you are on the brand spanking new Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway. This is a paved dedicated cycling path that runs all the way to Laurier Pkwy. where a cyclist picks up another paved cycling path that heads back toward Malden Rd. However, I would take all the way to Malden road. I would turn left at Disputed, which is 60 kph. I would take Disputed to Kelly, which is 50 kph. and turn left at Snake Lane, which is 40 kph. That will take me to Canard Dr. and finally onto Malden. Now, grant you, this is not the most direct route. I can't compete with a straight line. But, it is considerably more enjoyable and safer. After crossing River Canard, you head up Concession Rd. 2 N.. This you take to Alma. I would not go to Alma, I would turn at Texas Rd. which received $6 million in upgrades two years ago, including a wide paved bicycle lane. These improvement do not yet appear on Google maps. Everything else looks fine. Except Gore Rd, which runs parallel to County Rd. 50 near it's Western end, is pretty and underutilized.

2. The other route I would consider, involved turning at Matchett Rd. instead of Malden. Take Matchett straight up to Martin Lane. A paved bicycle path starts half way up. Incidentally, there has recently been pressure to close Matchett to traffic by Ojibway. I am all for that idea!. I don't think anyone will want to ride down Malden. It's boring and cars go too fast.

Feel free to call me, if you want to run any ideas past a local, or if you have questions about this message.

I seen my duty and I done it.

[Original Comment ID: 208946]