RiverSide Jogging Trail

[sauerkraut]

quote:Originally posted by Ed W

Eventually, the Osage Prairie Trail will connect Tulsa to Barnsdall, I think.  Old rail corridors like this are ideal for bicycling, and they often bring new development that caters to cyclists and pedestrians.  Think of it from the standpoint of a town like Skiatook.  Cyclists ride into town, spend money, and leave.  It's not unique to our area.  The Oil Creek trail between Oil City and Titusville, PA, had a Pizza Hut just past the northern terminus.  That restaurant had bike 3-4 deep along the wall every weekend in the summer.  

Linking such trails would benefit tourism since cycling tourists spend just as much money as their motoring counterparts (except for fuel) yet they do it in a smaller area.  Oklahoma has more remaining original miles of Route 66 than any other state.  We have the Chisholm Trail.  We have diverse ecosystems and frontier history that can attract tourists.  It makes sense to slow them down and have them spend more money along the way.

Not that being mercenary is a bad thing....

RailTrails are very common & popular, even with street crossings, many cities have them. Cyclists have a legal right to ride on the roads, We runners do not as far as I know. I'm not a cyclist, and have not rode a bike in years, but I do know cars and non-motor vehicles don't mix. The times I have ran on the streets I  have had cans and bottles thrown at me and I even have been spit at by passing cars... I stick to the jogging trails. I am training for the "TurkeyDay  Race" a 10K race for Thanksgiving, so I need to do alot of timed speed runs. This past summer I did a 5K race and missed 1st place by a lousy 31 seconds in my age group. I need to run where I can focus on my time, speed and pace and not have to worry about motor traffic.[]

[charky]

Looks like the stretch from 41st to the Pedestrian Bridge is very close to being opened. Lighting is up and the asphalt is down and leveled. Still need to paint the paths though. The new bridge (Crow Creek?) looks great.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by charky

Looks like the stretch from 41st to the Pedestrian Bridge is very close to being opened. Lighting is up and the asphalt is down and leveled. Still need to paint the paths though. The new bridge (Crow Creek?) looks great.

Yes, that's the crow creek bridge. It's hard for me to judge how far the park is off. They have a lot of the hard work done it seems.

[sauerkraut]

This is good news. I'm surprised Tulsa spends money to have lights on the jogging trail, I don't know of any other jogging trail with street lights. It looks like the RiverSide trail will be super when they get everything done.. Tulsa is doing good, Hey- I'm going to be in Fort Worth, Texas next month and I plan to do some hard runs on the famous Trinity Jogging Trail at least I hope the weather should be warmer. I can't run good in cold weather- When I lived in Texas back in the 1980's I ran the Trinity Trail all the time. In Spring there is tons of wildflowers on the banks of the river.[]

[stageidea]

I am really excited for Riverparks to be done with construction hopefully this summer so I can enjoy the updated trails.  Everything is looking really nice.  

I wish now they would now just update the trails at LaFortune as they are slowly falling apart.

[sauerkraut]

I don't see why it takes Tulsa so long- Other cities build trails fast. I wish they would just put down the pavement first then work on all the other frills, landscaping, and stuff while the main trail is open.[}:)]

[Ed W]

quote:Originally posted by sauerkraut

I don't see why it takes Tulsa so long- Other cities build trails fast. I wish they would just put down the pavement first then work on all the other frills, landscaping, and stuff while the main trail is open.[}:)]

A trail may cross multiple jurisdictions between governments and departments within those governments.  For instance, a given trail could involve federal, state, city, county, and tribal lands.  Each has to sign off on it, and after it's built, each may be responsible for maintenance on its section.  Even within one governmental unit, say the City of Tulsa, both Public Works and the Parks Department may have responsibilities for different parts of a trail.  All of this has to be coordinated prior to construction.

The old rule-of-thumb was that trail construction cost roughly $1 million per lane mile exclusive of expensive infrastructure like bridges or traffic signals.  For a fraction of that money, we could provide the League's bicycling education package to every interested resident.  It would complete the intent of the trail and on-street route system by equipping cyclists with the skills and knowledge to navigate the entire road network safely and comfortably.

[TurismoDreamin]

I'm getting pretty excited about this new portion of the trail opening up real soon from I-44 to the pedestrian bridge. It's my favorite part to run and play disc golf. I think I will enjoy this town just that much more when it opens along with the QT park and the new disc golf course.

I wish someone would tell those construction workers to stop parking their heavy vehicles on newly paved asphalt. I don't want to run on an uneven trail!

[sauerkraut]

Other cities can build jogging trails real fast, I just don't see why Tulsa is so slow. I agree the workers should not park their old heaps on the fresh pavement. My favorite section is to run from the far south parking areas (101st street) up to the I-44 Bridge and back, parts of the old trail were in very bad shape. I like the section that runs near the river (where the trail curves in from RiverSide Drive)- that reminds me a bit of the Fort Worth  Trinity Trail. I hate the casino section where the trail crosses the driveway, the last thing I want to do is worry about motor traffic going in & out when I'm doing a timed run. I like the trails that have no traffic crosings best. My e-mail box is full of the up-coming 2009 races and running events.[8D]

[charky]

quote:Originally posted by sauerkraut

Other cities can build jogging trails real fast, I just don't see why Tulsa is so slow.[8D]

You just don't give up...do you?

Others have explained why it is taking so long.

Workers have to dig up and remove the old asphalt trails. Regrade and widen for the new trails. Pour concrete for the curbs...pour new asphalt...level and paint. Not to mention all new lighting...new seating areas and a large new park at 41st.

I rather the city take the time to do it right...instead of a half-azzed job.

Good for Tulsa...the new sections of the trails that are open are awesome!!

[Hoss]

quote:Originally posted by charky

quote:Originally posted by sauerkraut

Other cities can build jogging trails real fast, I just don't see why Tulsa is so slow.[8D]

You just don't give up...do you?

Others have explained why it is taking so long.

Workers have to dig up and remove the old asphalt trails. Regrade and widen for the new trails. Pour concrete for the curbs...pour new asphalt...level and paint. Not to mention all new lighting...new seating areas and a large new park at 41st.

I rather the city take the time to do it right...instead of a half-azzed job.

Good for Tulsa...the new sections of the trails that are open are awesome!!

It wouldn't be so bad if he didn't live in Columbus OH and act like he knows what is going on around here on a day-by-day basis.

There, I did it.

I know some of you were patiently waiting.

[swake]

quote:Originally posted by Hoss

quote:Originally posted by charky

quote:Originally posted by sauerkraut

Other cities can build jogging trails real fast, I just don't see why Tulsa is so slow.[8D]

You just don't give up...do you?

Others have explained why it is taking so long.

Workers have to dig up and remove the old asphalt trails. Regrade and widen for the new trails. Pour concrete for the curbs...pour new asphalt...level and paint. Not to mention all new lighting...new seating areas and a large new park at 41st.

I rather the city take the time to do it right...instead of a half-azzed job.

Good for Tulsa...the new sections of the trails that are open are awesome!!

It wouldn't be so bad if he didn't live in Columbus OH and act like he knows what is going on around here on a day-by-day basis.

There, I did it.

I know some of you were patiently waiting.

Hey, if you lived in Columbus in February you'd probably be dreaming of living somewhere else too.

[Renaissance]

He's weirdly critical of Tulsa's trails at times but at least he's pro-runner.  There are folks out there who I'm sure don't think dollar-one should be put into anything of the sort.

[Hoss]

quote:Originally posted by Floyd

He's weirdly critical of Tulsa's trails at times but at least he's pro-runner.  There are folks out there who I'm sure don't think dollar-one should be put into anything of the sort.

I don't mind him being pro-runner.  At least live here to make an educated opinion.  I realize he used to live here.

Twenty years ago...

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by swake


Hey, if you lived in Columbus in February you'd probably be dreaming of living somewhere else too.

I've been there in about every month of the year and glad I live here. People think our river smells funny.